Psalms 68:31

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 68:31 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall haste to stretch out her hands unto God.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall haste to stretch out her hands unto God.
Psalms 68:31 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 68

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
31Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall haste to stretch out her hands unto God.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For who [is] God save the Lord? etc.] Or Jehovah: there is but one God, and Jehovah is he; there is none besides him, nor any like him: there are many that are called gods, nominal deities, who are not by nature gods; fictitious ones, the idols of the Gentiles, made of gold, silver, brass, wood, and stone; but there is but one true God: there are gods, in an improper sense, as civil magistrates; but there is none really and truly so but the Lord; which is to be understood, not of Jehovah the Father, to the exclusion of the Son and Spirit; for the Son is Jehovah, and the Spirit is Jehovah; both are so called, as well as the Father, and all three one God; or who [is] a rock save our God? to…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Princes--or, literally, "fat ones," the most eminent from the most wealthy, and the most distant nation, represent the universal subjection. stretch out her hands--or, "make to run her hands," denoting haste.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Princes shall come out of Egypt - That is, Shall come and acknowledge the true God. Egypt is referred to here as one of the most prominent of the foreign nations then known; and the idea is, that the distinguished men of foreign nations - the rulers and princes of the world - would come and submit themselves to God, and be united to his people. The word rendered “princes” here - חשׁמנים chashmaniym - occurs nowhere else in the Scriptures. It means, according to Gesenius (Lexicon), the fat; then, the rich; the opulent; nobles. It is the word from which the name “Hasmonean” (or Asmonean), which was given by the Jews to the Maccabees, or Jewish princes in the time of the Jewish history between…”
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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
“Ethiopia - He names these, as the ancient enemies of God, and of his people; but by them he understands all other nations of the like character. Unto God - Begging mercy of him. This prophecy, as also the next verse, evidently belongs to the times of the Messiah. Psalms 68:33”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Princes: Psa 72:8-11; Isa 19:18-25, Isa 45:14, Isa 60:6, Isa 60:7, Isa 66:19 Ethiopia: Zep 3:10; Act 8:27-40 stretch: Psa 44:20, Psa 88:9, Psa 143:6; Kg1 8:22 Psalms 68:32”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification