The Meaning of Psalms 68:30 Explained

Psalms 68:30

KJV: Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.

YLT: Rebuke a beast of the reeds, a company of bulls, With calves of the peoples, Each humbling himself with pieces of silver, Scatter Thou peoples delighting in conflicts.

Darby: Rebuke the beast of the reeds, the assembly of the strong, with the calves of the peoples: every one submitteth himself with pieces of silver. Scatter the peoples that delight in war.

ASV: Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, The multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples, Trampling under foot the pieces of silver: He hath scattered the peoples that delight in war.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Rebuke  the company  of spearmen,  the multitude  of the bulls,  with the calves  of the people,  [till every one] submit  himself with pieces  of silver:  scatter  thou the people  [that] delight  in war. 

What does Psalms 68:30 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 68:26-35 - The God Of The Whole Earth
The constituent parts of the procession are now described, and in these closing verses the triumphal note rings out. It tells of the confidence of Israel in her ultimate dominance of the world, which was to be not physical, but moral and spiritual.
The psalmist sees tribe after tribe passing into the sanctuary, and indicates each as it goes by Zebulun and Naphtali were mentioned in Deborah's song, already quoted. They are specially noticed here, because they who have done well in the wars of the Lord will ever be rewarded. Among the results of God's enthronement among His people is the submission of the kings of unnamed lands. In Psalms 69:30, r.v., the beast of the reeds is probably the crocodile, and refers to Egypt. Bulls and calves refer to the princes of surrounding nations and their subjects. Ethiopia reaches out her hands, offering tribute. The whole world is subdued to worship before the great God of Israel. He giveth strength and power unto His people. Let us avail ourselves of His gracious provisions. Let us ask Him to command our strength, Psalms 68:28; Psalms 68:35. [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 68:30 mean?

Rebuke the beasts of the reeds the herd of mighty [bulls] with the calves of the peoples [Till everyone] submits himself with pieces of silver Scatter the peoples war [who] delight in
גְּעַ֨ר חַיַּ֪ת קָנֶ֡ה עֲדַ֤ת אַבִּירִ֨ים ׀ בְּעֶגְלֵ֬י עַמִּ֗ים מִתְרַפֵּ֥ס בְּרַצֵּי־ כָ֑סֶף בִּזַּ֥ר עַ֝מִּ֗ים קְרָב֥וֹת יֶחְפָּֽצוּ

גְּעַ֨ר  Rebuke 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: גָּעַר  
Sense: (Qal) to rebuke, reprove, corrupt.
חַיַּ֪ת  the  beasts 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
קָנֶ֡ה  of  the  reeds 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קָנֶה  
Sense: reed, stalk, bone, balances.
עֲדַ֤ת  the  herd 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עֵדָה  
Sense: congregation, gathering.
אַבִּירִ֨ים ׀  of  mighty  [bulls] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: אַבִּיר  
Sense: mighty, valiant.
בְּעֶגְלֵ֬י  with  the  calves 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: עֵגֶל  
Sense: calf, bull-calf.
עַמִּ֗ים  of  the  peoples 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
מִתְרַפֵּ֥ס  [Till  everyone]  submits  himself 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רָפַשׂ  
Sense: (Hithpael).
בְּרַצֵּי־  with  pieces 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: רַץ  
Sense: piece, bar.
כָ֑סֶף  of  silver 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֶּסֶף  
Sense: silver, money.
בִּזַּ֥ר  Scatter 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּזַר  
Sense: to scatter, disperse.
עַ֝מִּ֗ים  the  peoples 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
קְרָב֥וֹת  war 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: קְרָב  
Sense: battle, war.
יֶחְפָּֽצוּ  [who]  delight  in 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: חָפֵץ 
Sense: to delight in, take pleasure in, desire, be pleased with.