Psalm 68 10

Psalm 68:10 kjv

Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.

Psalm 68:10 nkjv

Your congregation dwelt in it; You, O God, provided from Your goodness for the poor.

Psalm 68:10 niv

Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, God, you provided for the poor.

Psalm 68:10 esv

your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.

Psalm 68:10 nlt

There your people finally settled,
and with a bountiful harvest, O God,
you provided for your needy people.

Psalm 68 verses

Psalm 68 10 Meaning

This verse declares God's steadfast provision for His chosen people, His "congregation," securing their dwelling place in the land and particularly manifesting His benevolent character by supplying from His abundance for the ʿānî, the humble and needy. It emphasizes God's comprehensive care, extending from the establishment of the nation to compassionate attention to its most vulnerable members.

Psalm 68 10 Context

Psalm 68 is a majestic hymn of divine triumph, celebrating Yahweh as the powerful Warrior-King who scatters His enemies, leads His people in victorious procession, and establishes His sacred dwelling among them. Drawing imagery from the Exodus, the giving of the Law at Sinai, and the Ark's procession to Zion, the psalm proclaims God's supreme authority and providential care. Verse 10 specifically describes the blessed outcome of God's actions: the secure settlement of Israel within the promised land, followed by an emphasis on God's compassionate sustenance for all, especially for the ʿānî, illustrating God’s commitment to His people both corporately and individually. This provision starkly contrasts with ancient pagan deities, who were often depicted as capricious or demanding, not as consistently benevolent providers for the humble.

Psalm 68 10 Word analysis

• Your congregation (ʿădāṯeḵā עֲדָתְךָ): From ʿēdâ (assembly, community), this term refers to Israel as God's specially chosen and convened assembly. It signifies their collective identity and covenant relationship with God, underscoring their unique status as a people belonging to Him and called by Him.
• dwelled in it (habbāh yāšəḇū הַבָּהּ יָשְׁבוּ): Habbāh (in it/her) points back to the "habitation," "inheritance," or "sanctuary" that God provides, likely Zion or the land of Israel mentioned in preceding verses. Yāšəḇū (they dwelt, resided securely) conveys a sense of stable, permanent, and peaceful settlement, a direct fulfillment of God's promise to grant His people a land where they could reside without fear of being dispossessed, a significant theme post-Exodus.
• You, O God, provided (tāḵîn... ʾělōhîm תָּכִין... אֱלֹהִים): Tāḵîn (You prepared, established, made ready) stems from the root kûn, meaning to make firm, fix, or provide. This emphasizes God's intentional, purposeful, and active preparation and ongoing sustenance for His people. It implies a divinely ordained arrangement and continuous care. ʾělōhîm, the divine name for God, directly addresses Him as the ultimate source of this providential work.
• from Your goodness (bəṭôḇāṯəḵā בְּטוֹבָתְךָ): Ṭôḇâ (goodness, prosperity, blessing, bounty) signifies God's inherent generous character. This phrase underscores that His provision is not grudging or minimal, but springs from His abundant and benevolent nature, demonstrating His profound kindness and overflowing grace as the foundational motive for His actions towards His people.
• for the poor (leʿānî לֶעָנִי): ʿānî (poor, afflicted, humble, oppressed, lowly). This is a multi-faceted term. While encompassing material poverty, it primarily signifies those who are dependent, downtrodden, and often without human recourse, thereby casting themselves entirely upon God. God's special attention to the ʿānî throughout Scripture highlights His righteousness, mercy, and justice, marking Him as uniquely concerned with the vulnerable, a characteristic often lacking in human power structures.

Psalm 68 10 Bonus section

The inclusion of "for the poor" (leʿānî) in a triumphal psalm like Psalm 68 is profoundly significant. It showcases that God's victory and glory are intertwined with His justice and care for the vulnerable, not just with power displays. This perspective elevates humility and dependence as central to a right relationship with God, inviting individuals and the entire community to understand that their sustenance and flourishing come directly from God's gracious hand, not from their own strength or societal systems alone. This resonates deeply with the spiritual "poverty" of acknowledging one's complete dependence on God.

Psalm 68 10 Commentary

Psalm 68:10 vividly portrays God’s intimate relationship with His people. Having victoriously led them and settled His "congregation" securely in the Promised Land, His benevolence doesn’t stop there. He ensures, "from His goodness," continuous provision specifically for the ʿānî—the poor, the afflicted, the humble who rely utterly on Him. This commitment goes beyond corporate establishment to tender, personal care for individuals. It underscores a consistent biblical theme: God identifies with and cares for the marginalized, revealing His justice and compassion as foundational aspects of His divine nature, making Him distinct from all human and false deities. It serves as a reminder for believers to reflect this divine care in their own communities.