The Meaning of Psalms 68:31 Explained

Psalms 68:31

KJV: Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.

YLT: Come do fat ones out of Egypt, Cush causeth her hands to run to God.

Darby: Great ones shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall quickly stretch out her hands unto God.

ASV: Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall haste to stretch out her hands unto God.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Princes  shall come out  of Egypt;  Ethiopia  shall soon stretch out  her hands  unto God. 

What does Psalms 68:31 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 68:26-35 - The God Of The Whole Earth
The constituent parts of the procession are now described, and in these closing verses the triumphal note rings out. It tells of the confidence of Israel in her ultimate dominance of the world, which was to be not physical, but moral and spiritual.
The psalmist sees tribe after tribe passing into the sanctuary, and indicates each as it goes by Zebulun and Naphtali were mentioned in Deborah's song, already quoted. They are specially noticed here, because they who have done well in the wars of the Lord will ever be rewarded. Among the results of God's enthronement among His people is the submission of the kings of unnamed lands. In Psalms 69:30, r.v., the beast of the reeds is probably the crocodile, and refers to Egypt. Bulls and calves refer to the princes of surrounding nations and their subjects. Ethiopia reaches out her hands, offering tribute. The whole world is subdued to worship before the great God of Israel. He giveth strength and power unto His people. Let us avail ourselves of His gracious provisions. Let us ask Him to command our strength, Psalms 68:28; Psalms 68:35. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 68

1  A prayer at the removing of the ark
4  An exhortation to praise God for his mercies
7  for his care of the church
19  for his great works

What do the individual words in Psalms 68:31 mean?

Will come Envoys out of Egypt Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God
יֶאֱתָ֣יוּ חַ֭שְׁמַנִּים מִנִּ֣י מִצְרָ֑יִם כּ֥וּשׁ תָּרִ֥יץ יָ֝דָ֗יו לֵאלֹהִֽים

יֶאֱתָ֣יוּ  Will  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָתָה  
Sense: to come, arrive.
חַ֭שְׁמַנִּים  Envoys 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: חַשְׁמַן  
Sense: ambassadors, bronze (meaning uncertain).
מִנִּ֣י  out 
Parse: Preposition
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
מִצְרָ֑יִם  of  Egypt 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרַיִם  
Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.
כּ֥וּשׁ  Ethiopia 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: כּוּשׁ 
Sense: a Benjamite mentioned only in the title of Ps 7.
תָּרִ֥יץ  will  quickly  stretch  out 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: רוּץ 
Sense: to run.
יָ֝דָ֗יו  her  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc, third person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
לֵאלֹהִֽים  to  God 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).