Bible Strands
Psalms 68:1
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A song. God arises. His enemies are scattered, and those who hate Him flee His presence.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David, addressed to the choirmaster as a song, declares God's rising against His enemies. The superscript marks it for liturgical use.
The words — יָקוּם (yāqûm, "may he arise") and יָפוּצוּ (yāpûṣû, "may they be scattered") are both jussive forms, framing the verse as an invocation rather than a report.
The thread — Numbers 10:35 echoes the formula nearly verbatim: "Rise up, O LORD! May Your enemies be scattered; may those who hate You flee." Isaiah 51:9 and 42:13 extend the image of God awakening as a warrior.
Why it lands — The jussive mood places the reader inside a prayer, not a history lesson; the verse asks one to align with the speaker's orientation—toward God's action, not toward the enemies' fate.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
To the chief Musician, A Psalm or Song of David. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
Cross-references
- Numbers 10:35 Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, “Rise up, O LORD! May Your enemies be scattered; may those who hate You flee before You.”
- Isaiah 51:9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD. Wake up as in days past, as in generations of old. Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced through the dragon?
- Isaiah 42:13 The LORD goes forth like a mighty one; He stirs up His zeal like a warrior. He shouts; yes, He roars in triumph over His enemies:
- Psalms 44:26 Rise up; be our help! Redeem us on account of Your loving devotion.
- Psalms 89:10 You crushed Rahab like a carcass; You scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.
- Psalms 132:8 Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength.
- Ezekiel 12:14 And I will scatter to every wind all the attendants around him and all his troops, and I will draw a sword to chase after them.
- Psalms 7:6 Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; rise up against the fury of my enemies. Awake, my God, and ordain judgment.
- Isaiah 33:3 The peoples flee the thunder of Your voice; the nations scatter when You rise.
- John 14:23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.