The Meaning of Psalms 68:6 Explained

Psalms 68:6

KJV: God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

YLT: God -- causing the lonely to dwell at home, Bringing out bound ones into prosperity, Only -- the refractory have inhabited a dry place.

Darby: God maketh the solitary into families; those that were bound he bringeth out into prosperity: but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

ASV: God setteth the solitary in families: He bringeth out the prisoners into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

God  setteth  the solitary  in families:  he bringeth out  those which are bound  with chains:  but the rebellious  dwell  in a dry  [land]. 

What does Psalms 68:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 68:1-11 - The Leader Of His People
This is one of the grandest odes in literature. It was probably composed when the Ark was brought in triumph from the house of Obed-edom to the newly acquired hill of the Lord, 2 Samuel 6:1-23. It is evidently a processional hymn, intended to be sung by bands of white-robed priests and Levites. In this paragraph the Ark was lifted to the shoulders of its bearers, while a measured strain was chanted, Psalms 68:1-6. Then, as the procession moved forward, the march through the wilderness was recited, Psalms 68:7-11.
Let God arise! These opening words are borrowed from the formula used by Moses, Numbers 10:35. Through the smoke of many a battlefield have they rung out! Cromwell's "Ironsides" charged to their music. In Psalms 68:5-6 we learn that God has a special care for lonely people and prisoners. The former He introduces to families, John 19:26-27. The latter are brought out into prosperity. Psalms 68:11, r.v. seems to have a modern fulfillment in the exodus of noble women from happy homes in Christian lands to publish the gospel of Christ to the heathen. [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 68:6 mean?

God sets the solitary in families He brings out prisoners into prosperity but the rebellious dwell in a dry [land]
אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ מ֘וֹשִׁ֤יב יְחִידִ֨ים ׀ בַּ֗יְתָה מוֹצִ֣יא אֲ֭סִירִים בַּכּוֹשָׁר֑וֹת אַ֥ךְ ס֝וֹרֲרִ֗ים שָׁכְנ֥וּ צְחִיחָֽה

אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
מ֘וֹשִׁ֤יב  sets 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
יְחִידִ֨ים ׀  the  solitary 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: יָחִיד  
Sense: only, only one, solitary, one.
בַּ֗יְתָה  in  families 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
מוֹצִ֣יא  He  brings  out 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
אֲ֭סִירִים  prisoners 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אָסִיר  
Sense: prisoner, captive, bondman.
בַּכּוֹשָׁר֑וֹת  into  prosperity 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: כֹּושָׁרָה  
Sense: prosperity.
ס֝וֹרֲרִ֗ים  the  rebellious 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: סָרַר  
Sense: to rebel, be stubborn, be rebellious, be refractory.
שָׁכְנ֥וּ  dwell 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁכַן  
Sense: to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside.
צְחִיחָֽה  in  a  dry  [land] 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: צְחִיחָה  
Sense: scorched land, parched, scorched.