Psalms 68:33
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
To him that rides on the heavens of heavens, which were of old; see, he does send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.
American King James Version (AKJV)
To him that rides on the heavens of heavens, which were of old; see, he does send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.
American Standard Version (ASV)
To him that rideth upon the heaven of heavens, which are of old; Lo, he uttereth his voice, a mighty voice.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
To him who goes or the clouds of heaven, the heaven which was from earliest times; he sends out his voice of power.
Webster's Revision
To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.
World English Bible
To him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old; behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.
English Revised Version (ERV)
To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which are of old; lo, he uttereth his voice, and that a mighty voice.
Definitions for Psalms 68:33
Clarke's Psalms 68:33 Bible Commentary
Rideth upon the heavens - He who manages the heavens, directing their course and influence, he formed every orb, ascertained its motion, proportioned its solid contents to the orbit in which it was to revolve, and the other bodies which belong to the same system. As an able and skillful rider manages his horse, so does God the sun, moon, planets, and all the hosts of heaven.
He doth send out his voice - At his word of command they run, shed, or reflect their light; and without the smallest deviations obey his will.
Mighty voice - He thunders in the heavens, and men tremble before him.
Barnes's Psalms 68:33 Bible Commentary
To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens - The highest heavens. The heaven of heaven would properly mean the heaven above that which is heaven to us; that is, the heaven above the sky. This is represented as the special dwelling-place of God. The Jews were accustomed to speak of three heavens:
(a) The aerial heaven, or the region above us, where the birds fly, and the winds blow;
(b) the starry heavens, or the firmament in which the stars are fixed; and
(c) the heaven above all, the abode of God and of angels.
The word "rideth" here means that he appears there as a conqueror, or that he moves in majesty and glory. See the notes at Psalm 18:10.
Which were of old - The words "of old" refer here to the heavens, and denote their antiquity. He rides upon those ancient heavens. He occupies a position above those ancient works of his power.
Lo, he doth send out his voice - Margin, as in Hebrew, "give." The reference is to thunder. The design of this is to increase the impression of his majesty and power.
And that a mighty voice - See the notes at Psalm 29:3.
Wesley's Psalms 68:33 Bible Commentary
68:33 Heavens - The highest heavens; dwelling there in infinite glory, and from thence looking down upon all the inhabitants of the earth, and ruling them by his almighty power. Of old - From the beginning of the world; whereas the ark was only some hundred years old. A voice - His gospel, published by Christ and his apostles, assisted by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven; which might well be called God's voice, and that a mighty voice, because it produced such great and wonderful effects.