The Meaning of Psalms 68:9 Explained

Psalms 68:9

KJV: Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.

YLT: A shower of free-will gifts thou shakest out, O God. Thine inheritance, when it hath been weary, Thou hast established it.

Darby: Thou, O God, didst pour a plentiful rain upon thine inheritance, and when it was weary thou strengthenedst it.

ASV: Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, Thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou, O God,  didst send  a plentiful  rain,  whereby thou didst confirm  thine inheritance,  when it was weary. 

What does Psalms 68:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 68:1-11 - The Leader Of His People
This is one of the grandest odes in literature. It was probably composed when the Ark was brought in triumph from the house of Obed-edom to the newly acquired hill of the Lord, 2 Samuel 6:1-23. It is evidently a processional hymn, intended to be sung by bands of white-robed priests and Levites. In this paragraph the Ark was lifted to the shoulders of its bearers, while a measured strain was chanted, Psalms 68:1-6. Then, as the procession moved forward, the march through the wilderness was recited, Psalms 68:7-11.
Let God arise! These opening words are borrowed from the formula used by Moses, Numbers 10:35. Through the smoke of many a battlefield have they rung out! Cromwell's "Ironsides" charged to their music. In Psalms 68:5-6 we learn that God has a special care for lonely people and prisoners. The former He introduces to families, John 19:26-27. The latter are brought out into prosperity. Psalms 68:11, r.v. seems to have a modern fulfillment in the exodus of noble women from happy homes in Christian lands to publish the gospel of Christ to the heathen. [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 68:9 mean?

A rain plentiful You sent God Your inheritance and when it was weary You Whereby confirmed
גֶּ֣שֶׁם נְ֭דָבוֹת תָּנִ֣יף אֱלֹהִ֑ים נַחֲלָתְךָ֥ וְ֝נִלְאָ֗ה אַתָּ֥ה כֽוֹנַנְתָּֽהּ

גֶּ֣שֶׁם  A  rain 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: גֶּשֶׁם  
Sense: rain, shower.
נְ֭דָבוֹת  plentiful 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: נְדָבָה  
Sense: voluntariness, free-will offering.
תָּנִ֣יף  You  sent 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: הֲנָפָה 
Sense: to move to and fro, wave, besprinkle.
אֱלֹהִ֑ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
נַחֲלָתְךָ֥  Your  inheritance 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: נַחֲלָה  
Sense: possession, property, inheritance, heritage.
וְ֝נִלְאָ֗ה  and  when  it  was  weary 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לָאָה  
Sense: to be weary, be impatient, be grieved, be offended.
כֽוֹנַנְתָּֽהּ  Whereby  confirmed 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, second person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: כּוּן 
Sense: to be firm, be stable, be established.