God’s Word Translation
Psalms 68:2
2Blow them away like smoke. Let wicked people melt in God’s presence like wax next to a fire.
Psalms 68:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
- New International Version (NIV)May you blow them away like smoke— as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.
- English Standard Version (ESV)As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God!
- New King James Version (NKJV)As smoke is driven away, So drive them away; As wax melts before the fire, So let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
Context of Psalms 68:2
1God will arise. His enemies will be scattered. Those who hate him will flee from him. Blow them away like smoke. Let wicked people melt in God’s presence like wax next to a fire. 3But let righteous people rejoice. Let them celebrate in God’s presence. Let them overflow with joy. 4Sing to God; make music to praise his name. Make a highway for him to ride through the deserts. The Lord is his name. Celebrate in his presence.
Read all of Psalms 68Psalms 68:2 word by word
כְּהִנְדֹּ֥ף עָשָׁ֗ן תִּ֫נְדֹּ֥ף כְּהִמֵּ֣ס דּ֭וֹנַג מִפְּנֵי־אֵ֑שׁ יֹאבְד֥וּ רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים מִפְּנֵ֥י אֱלֹהִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- As smokeעָשָׁן‛âshân · smokeH6227
- is driven awayנָדַףnâdaph · to driveH5086
- as waxדּוֹנַגdônag · waxH1749
- meltethמָסַסmâsas · to meltH4549
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- the fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
- let the wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
- perishאָבַד'âbad · to perishH6
- of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
Cross-references for Psalms 68:2
- Psalms 37:20But wicked people will disappear. The Lord’s enemies will vanish like the best part of a meadow. They will vanish like smoke.
- Isaiah 9:18Surely wickedness burns like fire. It burns up briars and thorns. It sets the underbrush in the forest on fire, and it whirls upward in clouds of smoke.
- Hosea 13:3That is why they will be like fog in the morning and like morning dew that disappears quickly. They will be like straw blown away from threshing floors. They will be like smoke rising from chimneys.
- Psalms 97:5The mountains melt like wax in the presence of the Lord, in the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
- Isaiah 64:2Be like the fire that kindles brushwood and makes water boil. Come down to make your name known to your enemies. The nations will tremble in your presence.
- Micah 1:4Mountains will melt under him like wax near a fire. Valleys will split apart like water pouring down a steep hill.
- Psalms 76:7You alone must be feared! Who can stand in your presence when you become angry?
- Psalms 80:16The vine has been cut down and burned. Let them be destroyed by the threatening look on your face.
- Nahum 1:5The mountains quake because of him. The hills melt. The earth draws back in his presence. The world and all who live in it draw back as well.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:8He will take revenge on those who refuse to acknowledge God and on those who refuse to respond to the Good News about our Lord Jesus.
- Revelation 6:16They said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the anger of the lamb,
Commentaries on Psalms 68:2
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2As smoke is driven away - To wit, by the wind. Smoke - vapor - easily disturbed and moved by the slightest breath of air - represents an object of no stability, or having no power of resistance, and would thus represent the real weakness of the most mighty armies of men as opposed to God. So drive them away - With the same ease with which smoke is driven by the slightest breeze, so do the enemies of God disappear before his power. Compare the notes at…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2Both smoke and wax represent a temporary existence (Psalms 22:12–18; 37:20; 102:3).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-351-3. Compare Nu 10:35; Psa 1:4; 22:14, on the figures here used. before him--as in Psa 68:2, from His presence, as dreaded; but in Psa 68:3, in His presence, as under His protection (Psa 61:7).Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 68:2
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries