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Psalms 67:1

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¶ To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm [or] Song. God be merciful unto us, and bless us; [and] cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.

To the chief Musician {H5329}{H8764)} on Neginoth {H5058}, A Psalm {H4210} or Song {H7892}. God {H430} be merciful {H2603}{H8799)} unto us, and bless {H1288}{H8762)} us; and cause his face {H6440} to shine {H215}{H8686)} upon us; Selah {H5542}.

For the leader. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song: God, be gracious to us, and bless us. May he make his face shine toward us, (Selah)

May God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah

God be merciful unto us, and bless us, And cause his face to shine upon us; [Selah

Commentary

Psalm 67:1 (KJV) opens with a profound prayer for divine favor, setting a foundational tone for the entire psalm. This verse, addressed "To the chief Musician on Neginoth," likely indicates its use in public worship with stringed instruments, highlighting its liturgical significance.

Context

Psalm 67 is often characterized as a missionary psalm, beginning with a specific request for God's blessing upon His people, Israel, but quickly expanding to a universal vision for all nations to know God's salvation. Verse 1 serves as the crucial opening plea, establishing the desire for God's manifest presence and favor to be evident among His own, as a prerequisite for His glory to be revealed to the world. It is a prayer that seeks God's active involvement and benevolence.

Key Themes

  • Divine Mercy and Grace: The opening phrase, "God be merciful unto us," is a foundational appeal for God's compassion and unmerited favor. It acknowledges human dependence on divine grace.
  • Abundant Blessing: The request to "bless us" encompasses a desire for prosperity, well-being, protection, and all forms of spiritual and material favor from God. It's a comprehensive plea for God's goodness to be poured out.
  • God's Manifest Presence and Favor: To "cause his face to shine upon us" is a powerful, ancient metaphor. It signifies God's approval, His illuminating presence, His guidance, and His open favor. When God's face shines upon someone, it implies His benevolent attention and blessing, dispelling darkness and bringing light and joy. This echoes the famous Aaronic blessing found in Numbers 6:24-26.

Linguistic Insights

  • Neginoth: This Hebrew term in the superscription specifies that the psalm was to be accompanied by stringed instruments, indicating its musical and worshipful context in ancient Israel.
  • Selah: Appearing at the end of the verse, "Selah" is a common Hebrew interjection found throughout the Psalms. While its exact meaning is debated, it is generally understood to be a musical or liturgical instruction, likely indicating a pause for reflection, a musical interlude, or a change in vocal or instrumental emphasis. It invites the listener to ponder the preceding words deeply.

Practical Application

Psalm 67:1 offers a timeless model for prayer, reminding us of our constant need for God's mercy, blessing, and guiding presence. It encourages believers to regularly seek God's face, trusting that His favor brings light and joy into our lives. Furthermore, understanding the broader context of Psalm 67, this verse subtly implies that the blessings we receive are not solely for our own benefit, but also to enable us to be a light to the world, reflecting God's goodness so that others might come to know Him. It is a prayer for personal spiritual flourishing that leads to global impact, aligning with the concept of being blessed to be a blessing.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 4:6 (18 votes)

    ¶ [There be] many that say, Who will shew us [any] good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:6 (14 votes)

    For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

  • Psalms 4:1 (9 votes)

    ¶ To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me [when I was] in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

  • Numbers 6:24 (7 votes)

    The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

  • Numbers 6:27 (7 votes)

    And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

  • Psalms 31:16 (7 votes)

    Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.

  • Psalms 80:1 (7 votes)

    ¶ To the chief Musician upon Shoshannimeduth, A Psalm of Asaph. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest [between] the cherubims, shine forth.