New Living Translation
Psalms 68:18
18When you ascended to the heights, you led a crowd of captives. You received gifts from the people, even from those who rebelled against you. Now the Lord God will live among us 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, O rugged mountains, at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live, where the Lord himself will live forever? 17Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots, the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary. When you ascended to the heights, you led a crowd of captives. You received gifts from the people, even from those who rebelled against you. Now the Lord God will live among us there. 19Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms. Interlude 20Our God is a God who saves! The Sovereign Lord rescues us 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 climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?
- Psalms 47:5God has ascended with a mighty shout. The Lord has ascended with trumpets blaring.
- Psalms 110:1The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”
- Mark 16:9After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons.
- Luke 24:51While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven.
- Acts 1:2until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit.
- Ephesians 4:8That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”
- Hebrews 4:14So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.
- Hebrews 6:20Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
- Hebrews 8:1Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven.
- 1 Peter 3:22Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.
- Judges 5:12“Wake up, Deborah, wake up! Wake up, wake up, and sing a song! Arise, Barak! Lead your captives away, son of Abinoam!
- Luke 24:49“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
- John 14:16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.
- John 16:7But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.
- Acts 1:4Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before.
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
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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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