Psalms 68:4

Sing to God! Sing praises to His name. Exalt Him who rides on the clouds—His name is the LORD—and rejoice before Him.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist issues a corporate worship command to the assembly immediately after describing the righteous rejoicing before God and just before declaring God’s role as protector of the vulnerable.

The words — שִׁירוּ (Shiru) means “sing,” and סֹלּוּ (Solu) means “lift up” or “exalt,” both functioning as imperatives directing the community’s vocal response.

The thread — The motif of singing to God’s name appears in Psalms 66:4 and Isaiah 12:4, while the image of God riding the clouds connects to Deuteronomy 33:26.

Why it lands — The text demands vocal praise and public exaltation of Yahweh’s sovereignty, requiring the reader to actively join the assembly in declaring God’s character rather than passively observing it.

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

שִׁ֤ירוּ׀Shi.rusing לֵֽאלֹהִים֮le./lo.Himto/ God זַמְּר֪וּza.me.Rusing praises to שְׁ֫מ֥וֹshe.M/oname/ his סֹ֡לּוּSo.lulift up לָרֹכֵ֣בla./ro.Khevto the/ rider בָּ֭עֲרָבוֹתBa./'a.ra.Votin the/ clouds בְּיָ֥הּbe./Yah[is] <in>/ Yahweh שְׁמ֗וֹshe.M/oname/ his וְעִלְז֥וּve./'il.Zuand/ exult לְפָנָֽיו׃le./fa.Na/v<to>/ before/ him

King James Version

Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah, and rejoice before him.

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 33:26 “There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to your aid, and the clouds in His majesty.
Isaiah 12:4 and on that day you will say: “Give praise to the LORD; proclaim His name! Make His works known among the peoples; declare that His name is exalted.
Psalms 66:4 All the earth bows down to You; they sing praise to You; they sing praise to Your name.” Selah
Psalms 104:3 laying the beams of His chambers in the waters above, making the clouds His chariot, walking on the wings of the wind.
Psalms 66:2 Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious.
Psalms 68:33 to Him who rides upon the highest heavens of old; behold, His mighty voice resounds.
Exodus 6:3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by My name the LORD I did not make Myself known to them.
Psalms 18:10 He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.
Psalms 67:4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You judge the peoples justly and lead the nations of the earth. Selah
Isaiah 40:3 A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.