The Meaning of Psalms 76:6 Explained

Psalms 76:6

KJV: At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.

YLT: From Thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, Both rider and horse have been fast asleep.

Darby: At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.

ASV: At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, Both chariot and horse are cast into a deep sleep.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

At thy rebuke,  O God  of Jacob,  both the chariot  and horse  are cast into a dead sleep. 

What does Psalms 76:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 76:1-12 - "the Wrath Of Man Shall Praise Thee"
In Psalms 76:2, tabernacle may be rendered "covert," and dwelling-place, "lair." God is compared to the lion, that dreaded monarch of beasts, who finds his home in a den, into which no inferior animal may intrude. Even the hunter's bows and arrows are broken in pursuit of him. As the mountains yielded prey to the young lion, so the hills around Jerusalem, where Sennacherib had pitched his camp, would be full of Assyrian spoil for the armies of the Lion of Judah. The stout-hearted captains of Assyria would there sleep their last sleep, Psalms 76:5.
Some of the meek of the earth may read these lines, Psalms 76:9. They do not avenge themselves. Weak and helpless, they turn their eyes to God, who cannot fail them. When He speaks His sentence of acquittal, no voice will be raised to dispute it. For when He arises in judgment He will save all the meek of the earth. There is a "thus far and no farther" to the wrath of man. God will not allow it to go beyond certain limits, and it is remarkable how He is able to make man's wrath to subserve His purposes. Bring God the gift, of your love. Fear not, ye humble souls, but let your enemies be in fear! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 76

1  A declaration of God's majesty in the church
11  An exhortation to serve him reverently

What do the individual words in Psalms 76:6 mean?

At Your rebuke God of Jacob were cast into a dead sleep and both the chariot and horse
מִ֭גַּעֲרָ֣תְךָ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יַעֲקֹ֑ב נִ֝רְדָּ֗ם וְרֶ֣כֶב וָסֽוּס

מִ֭גַּעֲרָ֣תְךָ  At  Your  rebuke 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: גְּעָרָה  
Sense: a rebuke, reproof.
אֱלֹהֵ֣י  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יַעֲקֹ֑ב  of  Jacob 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
נִ֝רְדָּ֗ם  were  cast  into  a  dead  sleep 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רָדַם  
Sense: (Niphal) to be asleep, be unconscious, be in heavy sleep, fall into heavy sleep, be fast asleep.
וְרֶ֣כֶב  and  both  the  chariot 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֶכֶב  
Sense: a team, chariot, chariotry, mill-stone, riders.
וָסֽוּס  and  horse 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: סוּס 
Sense: swallow, swift.