What Does Psalm 68:35 Mean in the King James?
O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Awe issues from God’s set-apart places and arrives among the people as strength and power.
THE MEANING
God’s presence meets the reader with awe, rising from what is set apart to him. That same God gives strength and power to the people now; reverence and empowerment belong in one encounter. The final blessing names God as the source of both.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This verse undoes the belief that an awe-inspiring God leaves the people overwhelmed and powerless: he gives them strength and power.
THE ROOT
עֹז
ʿoz
GROWS FROM
עזז
To be strong or mighty.
The verse names strength as something God gives to the people. Its root family carries active strength and might, and the next word deepens that gift with another term for power.
ALSO GROWS
ʿāzaz: To be strong.
עָזַז
The verb gives the noun strength an active force: this is capacity given to the people.
ʿāzuz: Mighty, strong.
עָזוּז
This related form echoes the might God gives in the verse.
תַּעֲצֻמוֹת
taʿatsumot
GROWS FROM
עצם
To grow strong, become mighty, or increase in number.
The word for power comes from a family that also describes being mighty or strong. Beside עֹז (ʿoz, strength), it layers the gift as robust capacity rather than a single narrow kind of force.
ALSO GROWS
ʿatsum: Mighty, numerous.
עָצוּם
This form carries the root’s sense of strength and abundant capacity.
ʿotsem: Might, strength.
עֹצֶם
This noun makes the family resemblance to the verse’s word for power explicit.
נוֹרָא
nora
GROWS FROM
ירא
To fear or stand in awe.
The KJV’s “terrible” carries the sense of awe-inspiring presence. That awe rises from places set apart to God, and the same verse names him as the giver of strength to the people.
ALSO GROWS
yare: To fear, stand in awe.
יָרֵא
The verb shows the response carried by the word rendered “terrible.”
yir’ah: Fear, awe.
יִרְאָה
This noun links the verse’s awe-inspiring presence with the wider language of reverence.
THE PATTERN
The awe-inspiring God gives strength to the people, and the gift carries blessing.
The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.THE THREAD
The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.Psalm 29:11 uses the same Hebrew word עֹז (ʿoz, strength) and joins the gift of strength to a blessing for the people. Its wording opens Psalm 68:35 further: the same pattern holds, strength given, people blessed.
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