Psalms 68 · Verse 18

Psalms 68:18

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.

Psalms 68:18, King James Version

Psalms 68:18 in other translations

BSB	You have ascended on high; You have led captives away. You have received gifts from men, even from the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.
WEB	You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts among people, yes, among the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell there.
ASV	Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led away captives; Thou hast received gifts among men, Yea, among the rebellious also, that Jehovah God might dwell with them.
YLT	Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast taken captive captivity, Thou hast taken gifts for men, That even the refractory may rest, O Jah God.
DARBY	Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts in Man, and even for the rebellious, for the dwelling there of Jah Elohim.
BBE	You have gone up on high, taking your prisoners with you; you have taken offerings from men; the Lord God has taken his place on the seat of his power.
Webster	Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yes, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

What does Psalms 68:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

18. 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, "who was with the Church in the wilderness" (Ac 7:38) is the Lord, described in this ideal ascension. Hence Paul (Ep 4:8) applies this language to describe His real ascension, when, having conquered sin, death, and hell, the Lord of glory triumphantly entered heaven, attended by throngs of adoring angels, to sit on the throne and wield the scepter of an eternal dominion. The phrase "received gifts for (or literally, among) men" is by Paul, "gave gifts to men." Both describe the acts of a conqueror, who receives and distributes spoils. The Psalmist uses "receiving" as evincing the success, Paul "gave" as the act, of the conqueror, who, having subdued his enemies, proceeds to reward his friends. The special application of the passage by Paul was in proof of Christ's exaltation. What the Old Testament represents of His descending and ascending corresponds with His history. He who descended is the same who has ascended. As then ascension was an element of His triumph, so is it now; and He, who, in His humiliation, must be recognized as our vicarious sacrifice and the High Priest of our profession, must also be adored as Head of His Church and author of all her spiritual benefits.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 18 Thou 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 victor. Thou hast received gifts for men - "And gave gifts unto men;" Eph 4:8. At such times the conqueror threw money among the crowd. Thou hast received gifts among men, באדם baadam, In Man, in human nature; and God manifest in the flesh dwells among mortals! Thanks be to God for his unspeakable Gift! By establishing his abode among the rebellious the prophet may refer to the conquest of the land of Canaan, and the country beyond Jordan. Yea, for the rebellious also - Even to the rebellious. Those who were his enemies, who traduced his character and operations, and those who fought against him now submit to him, and share his munificence; for it is the property of a hero to be generous. That the Lord God might dwell among them - יה אלהים yah Elohim, the self-existing God; see on Psa 68:4 (note). The conqueror now coming to fix his abode among the conquered people to organize them under his laws, to govern and dispense justice among them. The whole of this is very properly applied by St. Paul, Eph 4:5, to the resurrection and glory of Christ; where the reader is requested to consult the note.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 68:15-21

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…

Read the full comment on Psalms 68:15-21 →

Psalms 68:18 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

עָ֘לִ֤יתָ'a.Li.tayou went upH5927

לַמָּר֨וֹם\׀la.ma.Romto the heightH4791

שָׁ֘בִ֤יתָsha.Vi.tayou took captiveH7617

שֶּׁ֗בִיShe.vicaptive[s]H7628

לָקַ֣חְתָּla.Kach.tayou tookH3947

מַ֭תָּנוֹתMa.ta.notgiftsH4979

בָּאָדָ֑םba.'a.Damamong <the> humankindH120

וְאַ֥ףve.'Afand evenH637

ס֝וֹרְרִ֗יםso.Rimrebellious [people]H5637

לִשְׁכֹּ֤ן\׀lish.Konto dwellH7931

יָ֬הּyahYahwehH3050

אֱלֹהִֽים\׃'E.lo.HimGodH430

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 68:18

Ephesians 4:8-10
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Revelation 21:3
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
2 Corinthians 6:16
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
1 Peter 3:22
Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Psalms 110:1
A Psalm of David. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Titus 3:3-7
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; …
Colossians 1:18-19
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
John 16:7
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Judges 5:12
Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.
Acts 1:2-9
Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. …
Psalms 24:3
Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
Psalms 47:5
God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

ascended.
24:3,7-10; 47:5; 110:1; Mr 16:9; Lu 24:51; Ac 1:2-9; Eph 4:8-10
Heb 4:14; 6:20; 8:1; 1Pe 3:22
led.
Jud 5:12
received.
Lu 24:49; Joh 14:16,17; 16:7,13-15; Ac 1:4; 2:4,33-38; Eph 4:8
for men. Heb. in the man.
1Co 15:45-47; Col 1:18,19; 2:3,9; Heb 1:3
rebellious.
Pr 1:22,23; Isa 55:7; Mt 9:13; Lu 24:47; Ac 2:23,36,38-41; 9:17
1Co 6:9-11; 1Ti 1:13-15; Tit 3:3-7
that.
78:60; 132:13,14; 2Ch 6:18; Isa 57:15; Eze 48:35; Joh 14:17,23
2Co 6:16; Re 1:20; 2:1; 21:3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Psalms 68:17
The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
Psalms 68:18
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.
Psalms 68:19
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

Read all of Psalms 68

Psalms 68:18 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Subiste á lo alto, cautivaste la cautividad, tomaste dones para los hombres, y también para los rebeldes, para que habite entre ellos JAH Dios.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Les chars de Dieu sont par vingt mille, par milliers redoublés; le Seigneur est au milieu d’eux: c’est un Sinaï en sainteté.
German Elberfelder 1871	Du bist aufgefahren in die Höhe, du hast die Gefangenschaft gefangen geführt; du hast Gaben empfangen im Menschen, und selbst für Widerspenstige, damit Jehova, Gott, eine Wohnung habe.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et ne avertas faciem tuam a puero tuo; quoniam tribulor, velociter exaudi me.