The Meaning of Psalms 68:3 Explained

Psalms 68:3

KJV: But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.

YLT: And the righteous rejoice, they exult before God, And they joy with gladness.

Darby: But the righteous shall rejoice: they shall exult before God and be glad with joy.

ASV: But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God: Yea, let them rejoice with gladness.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But let the righteous  be glad;  let them rejoice  before  God:  yea, let them exceedingly  rejoice. 

What does Psalms 68:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 68:1-11 - The Leader Of His People
This is one of the grandest odes in literature. It was probably composed when the Ark was brought in triumph from the house of Obed-edom to the newly acquired hill of the Lord, 2 Samuel 6:1-23. It is evidently a processional hymn, intended to be sung by bands of white-robed priests and Levites. In this paragraph the Ark was lifted to the shoulders of its bearers, while a measured strain was chanted, Psalms 68:1-6. Then, as the procession moved forward, the march through the wilderness was recited, Psalms 68:7-11.
Let God arise! These opening words are borrowed from the formula used by Moses, Numbers 10:35. Through the smoke of many a battlefield have they rung out! Cromwell's "Ironsides" charged to their music. In Psalms 68:5-6 we learn that God has a special care for lonely people and prisoners. The former He introduces to families, John 19:26-27. The latter are brought out into prosperity. Psalms 68:11, r.v. seems to have a modern fulfillment in the exodus of noble women from happy homes in Christian lands to publish the gospel of Christ to the heathen. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 68

1  A prayer at the removing of the ark
4  An exhortation to praise God for his mercies
7  for his care of the church
19  for his great works

What do the individual words in Psalms 68:3 mean?

But the righteous let be glad let them rejoice before God and Yes let them rejoice exceedingly
וְֽצַדִּיקִ֗ים יִשְׂמְח֣וּ יַֽ֭עַלְצוּ לִפְנֵ֥י אֱלֹהִ֗ים וְיָשִׂ֥ישׂוּ בְשִׂמְחָֽה

וְֽצַדִּיקִ֗ים  But  the  righteous 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
יִשְׂמְח֣וּ  let  be  glad 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׂמַח  
Sense: to rejoice, be glad.
יַֽ֭עַלְצוּ  let  them  rejoice 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: עָלַץ  
Sense: to rejoice, exult.
לִפְנֵ֥י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
אֱלֹהִ֗ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וְיָשִׂ֥ישׂוּ  and  Yes  let  them  rejoice 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שׂוּשׂ  
Sense: to exult, rejoice.
בְשִׂמְחָֽה  exceedingly 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: שִׂמְחָה  
Sense: joy, mirth, gladness.