Psalm - 68:8



8 The earth trembled. The sky also poured down rain at the presence of the God of Sinai- at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Psalm 68:8.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
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.
The earth was moved, and the heavens dropped at the presence of the God of Sina, at the presence of the God of Israel.
The earth trembled, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God, yon Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
The earth hath shaken, Yea, the heavens have dropped before God, This Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
The earth was shaking and the heavens were streaming, because God was present; even Sinai itself was moved before God, the God of Israel.
O God, when Thou wentest forth before Thy people, When Thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah
The earth trembled. The sky also poured down rain at the presence of the God of Sinai at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

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 took place at Sinai." The correct translation perhaps would be, "The heavens distilled rain at the presence of God, this at Sinai, at the presence of God."
At the presence of God, the God of Israel - The whole region seemed to be moved and awed at the presence of God, or when he came down to visit his people. The earth and the heavens, all seemed to be in commotion.

The earth shook,.... Not only about Sinai, but in other places; see Psalm 114:1. It may also design the dread and trembling of the inhabitants of the earth, when they heard of the wonderful things God did for his people, Exodus 15:14;
the heavens also dropped at the presence of God; the Targum supplies, dew; to which may be added, quails and manna: though it rather seems to design a large shower of rain, which followed the lightning and thunder, when the law was given;
even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel: it is said to quake greatly, Exodus 19:18. The words of this verse and Psalm 68:7 seem to be borrowed out of the song of Deborah, Judges 5:4. Like effects followed the promulgation of the Gospel, even a shaking of the heavens and of the earth as an emblem of the removing of the ceremonial rites and Mosaic ordinances. Let it be observed, that Christ, who went before the Israelites in the wilderness, and whom they tempted and rebelled against, is called the God of Israel.

even Sinai itself--literally, "that Sinai," as in Judges 5:5.

Dropped - Poured down great showers, which accompanied those mighty thunders.

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