Psalm 68 15

Psalm 68:15 kjv

The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.

Psalm 68:15 nkjv

A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; A mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan.

Psalm 68:15 niv

Mount Bashan, majestic mountain, Mount Bashan, rugged mountain,

Psalm 68:15 esv

O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan; O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!

Psalm 68:15 nlt

The mountains of Bashan are majestic,
with many peaks stretching high into the sky.

Psalm 68 verses

Psalm 68 15 Meaning

Psalm 68:15 portrays Bashan as a prominent and majestic mountain range, associating its grandiosity with a perceived "hill of God." However, this seemingly honorific description is actually setting the stage for a divine comparison and ultimately a contrast, affirming God's unique choice of Mount Zion as His dwelling place in the subsequent verses. It acknowledges Bashan's physical impressiveness while hinting at its spiritual inferiority compared to Zion, which God deliberately chose despite its lower physical stature.

Psalm 68 15 Context

Psalm 68 is a psalm of procession, conquest, and triumphant worship, celebrating God's power as He marches forth to lead His people, conquer their enemies, and ultimately establish His dwelling place in Zion. The surrounding verses speak of God scattering His enemies (v. 1-6), His miraculous provision in the wilderness (v. 7-10), His victories through Israel (v. 11-14), and then, crucially, His ascension to His chosen sanctuary (v. 18-20). Verse 15 introduces Bashan, a fertile, impressive, and geographically significant region east of the Jordan, known for its high peaks and as the territory of Og, an Anakim king defeated by Israel. Historically, such "high places" (often mountains or hills) were significant religious sites for Canaanite and other pagan deities. This verse subtly contrasts Bashan's inherent worldly grandeur, possibly associated with pagan strength or beauty, with God's divine and humble choice of Zion as His permanent holy mountain, despite Zion being physically less imposing than Bashan.

Psalm 68 15 Word analysis

• The hill (Hebrew: Har, הַר): This term typically means "mountain" or "hill." Its repetition emphasizes its imposing nature. In ancient cultures, mountains were often considered abodes of deities due to their elevation and majesty.
• of God (Hebrew: Elohim, אֱלֹהִים): Here, Elohim functions as a superlative, similar to "cedars of God" meaning "mighty cedars." So, "the mountain of God" suggests an exceedingly majestic, impressive mountain, one that might seem worthy of a deity. However, in the context of Psalm 68 and the following verse, it could also hint at a pagan claim or a natural place where people might conceive of God dwelling, yet it's contrasted with His true dwelling.
• is as the hill of Bashan (Hebrew: har Bashan, הַר בָּשָׁן): "Bashan" (בָּשָׁן) refers to a fertile and prominent region with high mountains and broad plains to the east of the Jordan. Known for its majestic oak trees and strong bulls, it was synonymous with power and natural splendor. Physically, it was significantly taller and more rugged than Mount Zion. The phrase "is as" highlights the comparative beauty and loftiness attributed to Bashan.
• an high hill (Hebrew: har gavnunim, הַר גַּבְנוּנִים): The word gavnunim (גַּבְנוּנִים) is unique in the Old Testament. Its root means "hump" or "protuberance," leading to interpretations like "many-peaked hill," "rugged mountain," "mountain of humps," or "majestic mountain" (due to its prominent, rounded peaks). This further emphasizes Bashan's impressive physical characteristics and potentially a sense of proud elevation. It underscores its imposing physical presence, the very attribute that will be rhetorically questioned in the subsequent verse.
• as the hill of Bashan (Hebrew: har Bashan, הַר בָּשָׁן): This repetition of "Bashan" reinforces the comparison and the image of Bashan's grandeur, driving home the point of its physical majesty before the crucial theological pivot.

Words-group Analysis:

• "The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan": This parallelism highlights Bashan's exceptional physical eminence. By calling it a "hill of God" (in the sense of an immensely grand mountain), the psalmist acknowledges its worldly splendor. However, the use of gavnunim can carry a nuance of self-importance or pride in its rugged, "humped" form, preparing for the divine judgment upon its boastful appearance in the following verse. The very description that praises its size sets it up for the subsequent contrast, where Bashan's natural strength is rendered irrelevant in light of God's sovereign choice of a different, seemingly humbler, mountain.

Psalm 68 15 Bonus section

The Hebrew word gavnunim (גַּבְנוּנִים) implies a cluster of many prominent peaks or rounded heights. This imagery of "humps" or "protuberances" in Bashan further distinguishes its geological characteristics. The contrast is not just about height, but also about the general imposing and rugged nature of Bashan versus the relatively gentle slopes of Zion. The choice of the physically less imposing Mount Zion (often considered humble in comparison to mountains like Bashan or Hermon) serves as a theological statement. It aligns with a broader biblical pattern where God often bypasses worldly strength, beauty, or grandeur in favor of something seemingly weak, small, or despised (e.g., His choice of Israel among nations, David among his brothers, the foolishness of the cross). The rivalry between mountains, whether implied or explicit, represents a deeper theological truth about where true spiritual authority and divine presence reside – not in worldly might, but in God's specific, sovereign designation.

Psalm 68 15 Commentary

Psalm 68:15 introduces Mount Bashan as an example of impressive natural grandeur, labeling it "the hill of God" to denote its extraordinary height and majesty. It emphasizes its "high" and "humped" peaks, creating a vivid image of its formidable presence. However, this acknowledgment of Bashan's worldly prominence serves as a literary device to magnify God's unique and sovereign choice of Mount Zion, despite its comparative physical inferiority. It subtly creates a polemic against the pagan idea that deity must reside in the most physically imposing or naturally awe-inspiring location. The subsequent verses reveal that God did not choose Bashan, nor any other physically grand mountain, but Zion. This passage teaches that God's favor and presence are not determined by physical impressiveness, but by His sovereign will and election. It underscores a key biblical principle: God often chooses what appears humble or insignificant in the eyes of the world to demonstrate His power and presence.