Psalm Chapter 67 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
3 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
5 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
6 Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 67:1
Verse: אֱלֹהִים יְשַׁמֵּרֵנוּ וְיָבֹרֵךְ אֹתָנוּ
Transliteration: Elohim yeshamerenu v’yavor’ekh otanu
English: “May God be gracious to us and bless us; may His face shine upon us.”
Focus Word: בָּרַךְ (Barakh)
- Root: ב-ר-ך (Bet-Resh-Kaf)
- Meaning: “To bless,” “to kneel in worship,” “to bestow favor.”
- Deeper Insight: Barakh conveys divine favor and prosperity, and is often linked to active worship and acknowledgment of God’s goodness.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| יָחָנֵּנוּ — yachannenu | Verse 1 — “God be merciful to us…” | “To show favor,” be gracious. | Yachannenu (“be gracious”) expresses desire for divine kindness (“merciful/gracious”). It opens the Psalm with hopeful supplication. The word highlights dependence on God’s benevolence. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| בָּרַךְ — barakh | Verse 1 — “…and bless us…” | “To bless,” bestow favor. | Barakh (“to bless”) conveys divine enrichment (“bless”). It reflects covenant favor extended to the faithful. The term anticipates universal blessing. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| הֵאִיר — he’ir | Verse 1 — “…cause His face to shine…” | “To shine,” illumine. | He’ir (“to shine”) expresses divine pleasure (“shine”). It signifies approval and guidance. The word recalls priestly benediction. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| דֶּרֶךְ — derekh | Verse 2 — “That Your way may be known…” | “Way,” path, manner. | Derekh (“way”) denotes God’s righteous manner of ruling (“way”). It emphasizes revelation to the nations. The term reinforces missionary intention. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| יֵשַׁע — yesha | Verse 2 — “…Your salvation among all nations.” | “Salvation,” deliverance. | Yesha (“salvation”) highlights liberating acts of God (“salvation”). It reflects His global redemptive purpose. The word anchors the Psalm’s universal vision. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| יוֹדוּ — yodu | Verse 3 — “Let the peoples praise You…” | “To praise,” give thanks. | Yodu (“to praise”) signifies public acknowledgment (“praise”). It encompasses nations recognizing God’s glory. The term frames global worship. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| יִשְׁפֹּט — yishpot | Verse 4 — “For You shall judge the people righteously…” | “To judge,” govern. | Yishpot (“to judge”) depicts just rule (“judge”). It assures fairness in divine government. The word strengthens hope for global equity. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| נַחֵם — nachem | Verse 4 — “…and govern the nations…” | “To lead,” guide. | Nachem (“to guide”) expresses wise direction (“govern/lead”). It shows God actively shepherding nations. The term expands the Psalm’s international scope. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| יְבָרְכֵנוּ — yevar’khenu | Verse 6 — “God shall bless us…” | “He will bless,” enrich. | Yevar’khenu (“he will bless”) affirms certainty of divine favor (“bless”). It signals confident expectation. The word reinforces covenant assurance. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| יִירְאוּ — yire’u | Verse 7 — “…that all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.” | “To fear,” revere. | Yire’u (“to fear/revere”) describes awe toward God (“fear”). It reflects global recognition of His authority. The term concludes the Psalm with universal worship. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 67 |
|---|---|---|
| John Brown (Edinburgh, 1722–1787) | Self-Interpreting Bible | Notes that the Psalm envisions global recognition of God’s goodness, linking blessing to mission. |
| Henry Scougal (University of Aberdeen, 1650–1678) | Life of God in the Soul of Man | Observes that God’s mercy calls for heartfelt worship and ethical living. |
| Johann Albrecht Bengel (University of Tübingen, 1687–1752) | Gnomon Novi Testamenti | Highlights the Psalm as demonstrating the relationship between divine blessing and human obedience. |
| George Buchanan (St Andrews / Paris, 1506–1582) | Commentaries on the Psalms | Notes the universality of God’s praise as a theological principle extending beyond Israel. |
| Francis Turretin (Academia Genevensis / Geneva, 1623–1687) | Institutio Theologiae Elencticae | Observes that the Psalm models prayer for both national prosperity and global recognition of God’s rule. |
| Scholar & Work | View |
|---|---|
| John Calvin – Commentary on the Psalms | Calvin sees the psalm as a prayer for God’s blessing so His ways may be known globally. The nations are invited into the joy of divine rule. God’s blessing spreads His fear among all peoples. |
| Matthew Henry – Exposition on the Psalms | Henry interprets the psalm as a missionary hymn for the conversion of the nations. God’s saving power is for all. Praise expands as His mercy flows. |
| Albert Barnes – Notes on the Psalms | Barnes reads the psalm as expressing the universal scope of God’s salvation. His righteous government brings gladness to all nations. The earth yields increase under His favor. |
| John Morison – Practical Exposition of the Psalms | Morison views the psalm as a call for divine blessing with global consequences. God’s rule brings joy and justice. Thanksgiving rises from fruitful fields. |
| William Walford – Commentary on the Psalms | Walford highlights the psalm’s wide horizon embracing all nations. God’s governance gives equity. The harvest becomes a symbol of universal blessing. |
| Andrew A. Bonar – Christ and His Church in the Psalms | Bonar interprets the psalm as the Church’s prayer for worldwide revival. God’s mercy brings nations to praise. His blessing covers the earth. |
| Joseph Parker – People’s Bible Notes | Parker views the psalm as expressing hope for global worship. God judges with fairness. His favor yields abundance. |
| Thomas Dale – Exposition of the Psalms | Dale sees the psalm’s joy as arising from God’s righteous rule. All nations are called to rejoice. God’s blessing shapes the world. |
| Horatius Bonar – Psalm Meditations | Bonar reads the psalm as a vision of worldwide praise flowing from God’s grace. God blesses His people for the sake of the nations. The earth rejoices under His favor. |
| Christopher Wordsworth – Commentary on the Psalms | Wordsworth interprets the psalm as a prophecy of the Church’s mission. God’s way is to be known to all lands. Praise rises from the ends of the earth. |
