Psalms 68:2 Meaning and Explanation
“As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The wicked vanish before God's presence as smoke and melting wax disappear before fire.
The Context of Psalms 68:2
Continuation of the opening petition, using nature imagery to depict the fate of the wicked.
What Does Psalms 68:2 Mean?
This verse develops the petition through vivid comparisons: enemies should dissolve like smoke in wind and wax before a flame. These images underscore the utter helplessness of opposition when confronted with divine power, emphasizing divine supremacy rather than strength based on human effort.
The parallelism (smoke dissipating / wax melting) reinforces that God's presence itself causes destruction of the wicked. The verse transforms the petition into poetic conviction: when God acts, evil has no substance before him.
Psalms 68:2 in the Original Language
אָבַד (avaḏ), 'perish'—from a root meaning to wander or be lost, capturing the complete undoing of the wicked.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 68:2
What does Psalms 68:2 mean?
The wicked vanish before God's presence as smoke and melting wax disappear before fire.
What is the context of Psalms 68:2?
Continuation of the opening petition, using nature imagery to depict the fate of the wicked.