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Psalms 65:12

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 65:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness; And the hills are girded with joy.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness; And the hills are girded with joy.
Psalms 65:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 65

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it, Thou greatly enrichest it; The river of God is full of water: Thou providest them grain, when thou hast so prepared the earth.
10Thou waterest its furrows abundantly; Thou settlest the ridges thereof: Thou makest it soft with showers; Thou blessest the springing thereof.
11Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; And thy paths drop fatness.
12They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness; And the hills are girded with joy.
13The pastures are clothed with flocks; The valleys also are covered over with grain; They shout for joy, they also sing. Psalm 66 For the Chief Musician. A song, a Psalm.
← Psalms 65:11Psalms 65:13 →
← Full Chapter 65 Psalms Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“wilderness--places, though not inhabited by men, fit for pasture (Lev 16:21-22; Job 24:5). pastures--is literally, "folds," or "enclosures for flocks"; and in Psa 65:13 it may be "lambs," the same word used and so translated in Psa 37:20; so that "the flocks are clothed with lambs" (a figure for abundant increase) would be the form of expression. Next: Psalms Chapter 66”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness - The waste places, or the waste parts of the land; the uncultivated places, the places of rocks and sands. The word wilderness in the Scriptures does not mean, as with us, a tract of country covered with trees, but a place of barren rocks or sands - an uncultivated or thinly inhabited region. See the notes at Matthew 3:1; notes at Isaiah 35:1. In those wastes, however, there would be valleys, or places watered by springs and streams that would afford pastures for flocks and herds. Such are the “pastures of the wilderness” referred to here. God’s passing along those valleys would seem to “drop,” or distil, fertility and beauty, causing grass and…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Wilderness - Which though neglected by men, are furnished with food for beasts. Psalms 65:13”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“drop: Psa 104:10-13; Job 38:26, Job 38:27 rejoice: Heb. are girded with joy, Psa 65:6; Isa 55:9-13, Isa 61:10, Isa 61:11 Psalms 65:13”
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Related study paths

Read Psalms 65 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification