Psalms 68:16 Meaning and Explanation
“Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →High hills are addressed with a rhetorical question: God has chosen Zion as his eternal dwelling.
The Context of Psalms 68:16
God's choice of Zion as eternal dwelling place.
What Does Psalms 68:16 Mean?
The personified hills are challenged: why do you leap or claim prominence? The answer is clear—God has chosen a different hill for his dwelling. The choice is divine prerogative and eternal resolve. Whether or not this hill is geographically highest, it is spiritually supreme because God will dwell there forever.
The assertion is bold and declarative: God's presence establishes Zion's significance, not geography or natural grandeur. The permanence ('for ever') marks this as irrevocable covenant commitment. The verse transforms an ordinary hill into the cosmic center through divine election and presence.
Psalms 68:16 in the Original Language
חָפֵץ (ḥāfēṣ), 'desireth'—meaning to delight in or choose with approval, emphasizing divine volition and pleasure in the choice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 68:16
What does Psalms 68:16 mean?
High hills are addressed with a rhetorical question: God has chosen Zion as his eternal dwelling.
What is the context of Psalms 68:16?
God's choice of Zion as eternal dwelling place.