God’s Word Translation
Psalms 68:18
18You went to the highest place. You took prisoners captive. You received gifts from people, even from rebellious people, so that the Lord God may live there.
Psalms 68:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
- New International Version (NIV)When you ascended on high, you took many captives; you received gifts from people, even from the rebellious— that you, Lord God, might dwell there.
- English Standard Version (ESV)You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.
- New King James Version (NKJV)You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive; You have received gifts among men, Even from the rebellious, That the Lord God might dwell there.
Context of Psalms 68:18
16Why do you look with envy, you mountains with many peaks, at the mountain where God has chosen to live? Certainly, the Lord will live there forever. 17The chariots of God are twenty thousand in number, thousands upon thousands. The Lord is among them. ⌞The God of⌟ Sinai is in his holy place. You went to the highest place. You took prisoners captive. You received gifts from people, even from rebellious people, so that the Lord God may live there. 19Thanks be to the Lord, who daily carries our burdens for us. God is our salvation. Selah 20Our God is the God of victories. The Almighty Lord is our escape from death.
Read all of Psalms 68Psalms 68:18 word by word
עָ֘לִ֤יתָ לַמָּר֨וֹם׀ שָׁ֘בִ֤יתָ שֶּׁ֗בִי לָקַ֣חְתָּ מַ֭תָּנוֹת בָּאָדָ֑ם וְאַ֥ף ס֝וֹרְרִ֗ים לִשְׁכֹּ֤ן׀ יָ֬הּ אֱלֹהִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thou hast ascendedעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
- on highמָרוֹםmârôm · heightH4791
- thou hast led captivityשְׁבִיshebîy · captivityH7628
- captiveשָׁבָהshâbâh · to take captiveH7617
- thou hast receivedלָקַחlâqach · to take: recieveH3947
- giftsמַתָּנָהmattânâh · giftH4979
- for menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- the rebelliousסָרַרsârar · to rebelH5637
- also, that the Lordיָהּyâhh · LORDH3050
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- might dwellשָׁכַןshâkan · to dwellH7931
Cross-references for Psalms 68:18
- Psalms 24:3Who may go up the Lord’s mountain? Who may stand in his holy place?
- Psalms 47:5God has gone up with a joyful shout. The Lord has gone up with the sound of a ram’s horn.
- Psalms 110:1The Lord said to my Lord, “Take the honored position—the one next to me [God the Father] on the heavenly throne until I put your enemies under your control.”
- Mark 16:9After Jesus came back to life early on Sunday, he appeared first to Mary from Magdala, from whom he had forced out seven demons.
- Luke 24:51While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken to heaven.
- Acts 1:2until the day he was taken to heaven. Before he was taken to heaven, he gave instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles, whom he had chosen.
- Ephesians 4:8That’s why the Scriptures say: “When he went to the highest place, he took captive those who had captured us and gave gifts to people.”
- Hebrews 4:14We need to hold on to our declaration of faith: We have a superior chief priest who has gone through the heavens. That person is Jesus, the Son of God.
- Hebrews 6:20where Jesus went before us on our behalf. He has become the chief priest forever in the way Melchizedek was a priest.
- Hebrews 8:1The main point we want to make is this: We do have this kind of chief priest. This chief priest holds the honored position—the one next to the majestic God [the Father] on the heavenly throne.
- 1 Peter 3:22Now Christ has gone to heaven where he holds the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the throne. Angels, rulers, and powers have been placed under his authority.
- Judges 5:12Get up! Get up, Deborah! Get up! Get up and create a song! Barak, attack! Take your prisoners, son of Abinoam.
- Luke 24:49“I’m sending you what my Father promised. Wait here in the city until you receive power from heaven.”
- John 14:16I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper who will be with you forever.
- John 16:7However, I am telling you the truth: It’s good for you that I’m going away. If I don’t go away, the helper won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
- Acts 1:4Once, while he was meeting with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait there for what the Father had promised. Jesus said to them, “I’ve told you what the Father promises:
Commentaries on Psalms 68:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Thou hast ascended on high - When the ark had reached the top of Sion, and was deposited in the place assigned for it, the singers joined in the following chorus. This seems to be an allusion to a military triumph. The conqueror was placed on a very elevated chariot. Led captivity captive - The conquered kings and generals were usually tied behind the chariot of the conqueror - bound to it, bound together, and walked after it, to grace the triumph of the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Thou hast ascended on high - That is, Thou hast gone up to the high place; to thy throne; to thine abode. The idea is, that God had descended or come down from his dwelling-place in the case referred to in the psalm, and that having now secured a victory by vanquishing his foes, and having given deliverance to his people, he had now returned, or reascended to his seat. This may either mean his throne on earth, or his abode in heaven. It would seem most…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-21Verses 15-21 The ascension of Christ must here be meant, and thereto it is applied, Ep 4:8. He received as the purchase of his death, the gifts needful for the conversion of sinners, and the salvation of believers. These he continually bestows, even on rebellious men, that the Lord God might dwell among them, as their Friend and Father. He gave gifts to men. Having received power to give eternal life, the Lord Jesus bestows it on as many as were given…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18You have ascended on high: The Most High victoriously established his reign in Zion. captives … gifts: This image shows a victorious ruler leading a victory march after battle. Paul applied this image to Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:8–13).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. From the scene of conquest He ascends to His throne, leading-- captivity captive--or, "many captives captive" (Jud 5:12). received gifts for men--accepting their homage, even when forced, as that of rebels. that the Lord God might dwell--or literally, "to dwell, O Lord God" (compare Psa 68:16)--that is, to make this hill, His people or Church, His dwelling. This Psalm typifies the conquests of the Church under her divine leader, Christ. He, indeed…Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 68:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 68
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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