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Psalms 68:8

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 68:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The earth trembled, The heavens also dropped [rain] at the presence of God: Yon Sinai [trembled] at the presence of God, the God of Israel.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The earth trembled, The heavens also dropped [rain] at the presence of God: Yon Sinai [trembled] at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
Psalms 68:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 68

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
5A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, Is God in his holy habitation.
6God setteth the solitary in families: He bringeth out the prisoners into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
7O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, When thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah
8The earth trembled, The heavens also dropped [rain] at the presence of God: Yon Sinai [trembled] at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, Thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
10Thy congregation dwelt therein: Thou, O God, didst prepare of thy goodness for the poor.
11The Lord giveth the word: The women that publish the tidings are a great host.
← Psalms 68:7Psalms 68:9 →
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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
“even Sinai itself--literally, "that Sinai," as in Jdg 5:5.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The earth shook - See Exodus 19:16-18. The heavens also dropped at the presence of God - That is, dropped down rain and food. The idea is that the very heavens seemed to be shaken or convulsed, so that rain and food were shaken down - as ripe fruit falls from a tree that is shaken. Compare the notes at Isaiah 34:4. So also, Isaiah 64:1-3. The meaning is not that the heavens themselves dropped down, but that they dropped or distilled rain and food. Even Sinai itself was moved - This was true; but this does not seem to be the idea intended here, for the words “even” and “was moved” are not in the original. The Hebrew is, literally, “This Sinai;” meaning probably” this was at Sinai,” or, “this…”
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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
“Dropped - Poured down great showers, which accompanied those mighty thunders. Psalms 68:9”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“68:8-10 The earth trembled as in an earthquake (see Exod 19:18). • the heavens poured down rain: Wells in the desert and rain showers in Canaan supplied an abundance of water.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“earth: Psa 77:18, Psa 114:7; Isa 64:1, Isa 64:3; Hab 3:13; Heb 12:26; Rev 11:19 the heavens: Jdg 5:4, Jdg 5:5 Sinai: Exo 19:16, Exo 19:18; Deu 5:23-25 the God: Psa 68:35, Psa 41:13; Isa 45:3 Psalms 68:9”
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Related study paths

Read Psalms 68 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification