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Psalm 67

ScriptureDepth's study of Psalm 67

“let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you.”

Psalms 67:3

The psalmist calls on God to receive praise from all peoples, which initiates a desire for universal reverence and joy in God's just governance.

What Psalm 67 is about

The psalmist prays for God's mercy, blessing, and for His face to shine upon the people (v. 1). This blessing serves a purpose: to make God's way known on earth and His salvation among all nations (v. 2). The psalmist calls for all peoples to praise God and repeats this call, emphasizing the desire for universal praise (vv. 3-5). The earth has yielded its increase, and God will bless His people (v. 6). Ultimately, all the ends of the earth shall fear Him (v. 7).

God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

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Psalm 67 at a glance

  1. Psalm 67:1A Prayer for Blessing
  2. Psalm 67:2Purpose of God’s Blessing
  3. Psalm 67:3–4Call for Universal Praise
  4. Psalm 67:5Repetition of Praise
  5. Psalm 67:6God’s Continued Blessing
  6. Psalm 67:7Global Reverence for God

Key verse: Psalms 67:3

One thing to notice

A structural parallel exists between the requests in verses 1 and 6. Verse 1 begins with a plea for God’s mercy and blessing, while verse 6 reflects on the blessings received, stating, 'The earth has yielded its increase.' The two verses correspond to each other in theme.

Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.

Chapter text

Read Psalm 67 (WEB)

A Prayer for Blessing Psalm 67:1

Verse 1. May God be merciful to us, bless us,and cause his face to shine on us.Selah.

Purpose of God’s Blessing Psalm 67:2

Verse 2. That your way may be known on earth,and your salvation among all nations,

Call for Universal Praise Psalm 67:3–4

Verse 3. let the peoples praise you, God.Let all the peoples praise you.Verse 4. Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy,for you will judge the peoples with equity,and govern the nations on earth.Selah.

Repetition of Praise Psalm 67:5

Verse 5. Let the peoples praise you, God.Let all the peoples praise you.

God’s Continued Blessing Psalm 67:6

Verse 6. The earth has yielded its increase.God, even our own God, will bless us.

Global Reverence for God Psalm 67:7

Verse 7. God will bless us.All the ends of the earth shall fear him.

World English Bible (public domain)

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Main themes in Psalm 67

Divine Blessing

In v. 1, the psalmist prays for God’s mercy and blessing, invoking the imagery of God’s face shining upon them. This blessing serves a purpose, as seen in v. 2, where the psalmist connects God’s favor to the knowledge of His way and salvation among all nations. The psalm affirms that God will bless His people, as stated in v. 6, promising continued abundance and divine favor.

Global Mission

The chapter urges that God’s way and salvation be known 'among all nations' in v. 2. This universal mission is central to the psalm, as it calls for 'the peoples' to praise God, highlighting the inclusive nature of the worship in vv. 3-4. The prayer extends beyond Israel to all nations, inviting them into the knowledge and worship of the true God.

Joy in God's Reign

In v. 4, the psalmist calls for the nations to be glad and sing for joy, underscoring the joy found in God’s equitable judgment and governance. This joy is rooted in the assurance of God's righteous rule over the earth, providing a sense of security and hope for all peoples. The affirmation in v. 7 that 'all the ends of the earth shall fear him' suggests that joy accompanies reverence for God’s authority.

Praise and Worship

Praise and worship are central in Psalm 67, particularly in verses 3 and 5, where the psalmist calls for 'the peoples' to praise God. This collective response from nations expresses a joyful worship that is intended to resonate globally. The psalm progresses towards a universal acknowledgment of God's blessings, culminating in reverence from all corners of the earth.

Chapter outline

How Psalm 67 unfolds

  1. Psalm 67:1 A Prayer for Blessing

    The psalmist asks God to 'be merciful to us, bless us,' and to 'cause his face to shine on us' (v. 1), expressing a deep need for divine favor and protection.

  2. Psalm 67:2 Purpose of God’s Blessing

    The purpose of the blessing is articulated in verse 2, where it states that God's way may be known on earth and his salvation among all nations. The verses connect divine blessing to the revelation of God to the world.

  3. Psalm 67:3–4 Call for Universal Praise

    The psalmist calls for all peoples to 'praise you, God' and expresses that nations should 'be glad and sing for joy' because God will 'judge the peoples with equity' (vv. 3-4).

  4. Psalm 67:5 Repetition of Praise

    Verse 5 reiterates the invitation for all peoples to 'praise you, God,' emphasizing a collective response to divine greatness.

  5. Psalm 67:6 God’s Continued Blessing

    In verse 6, it is stated that 'the earth has yielded its increase' and that 'God, even our own God, will bless us,' affirming God's provision.

  6. Psalm 67:7 Global Reverence for God

    The final verse asserts that 'God will bless us' and that 'all the ends of the earth shall fear him,' pointing to a vision of reverence for God's authority.

Key verses

  • Psalms 67:3The psalmist calls on God to receive praise from all peoples, which initiates a desire for universal reverence and joy in God's just governance.

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Study questions

Questions for studying Psalm 67

SummarizeObserveInterpretApply

Uses your daily Ask questions.

  1. observeIn v1, what does the psalmist ask God to do with 'his face'?
  2. observeIn v3, what is repeated concerning the peoples in relation to God?
  3. interpretThe phrase 'judge the peoples with equity' in v4: how does this relate to God's governance?
  4. interpretIn v6, what does the psalmist mean by 'the earth has yielded its increase' in the context of blessing?
  5. applyWhen has God's blessing in your life prompted you to share joy with others, as in v3?

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Cross-references

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Where to go from here

Psalm 67: frequently asked questions

What is Psalm 67 about?+
The psalmist prays for God's mercy, blessing, and for His face to shine upon the people (v. 1).
What is the key verse in Psalm 67?+
Psalms 67:3: “let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you.”
What are the main themes of Psalm 67?+
The main themes of Psalm 67 are Divine Blessing, Global Mission, Joy in God's Reign, Praise and Worship.

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Study Notes