Psalms 68:30 Meaning and Explanation
“Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Rebuke hostile armies and warring peoples; subdue them until all submit with tribute.
The Context of Psalms 68:30
Petition against hostile armies and those devoted to warfare.
What Does Psalms 68:30 Mean?
A petition for divine rebuke against 'the company of spearmen' (armies) and animal imagery ('multitude of the bulls, calves of the people'). The latter is likely a metaphor for hostile nations or their violence. The petition asks God to subdue them until they submit and bring silver tribute—again, the image of enforced submission rather than willing obedience.
The final phrase—'scatter thou the people that delight in war'—expresses a desire to break the power of those whose nature is warfare and conquest. The petition reflects a theology where God's power is the ultimate restraint on human aggression and the means by which peace replaces perpetual conflict.
Psalms 68:30 in the Original Language
שׁוֹר (šôr), 'bulls'—used metaphorically for strong, aggressive peoples or their warrior energy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 68:30
What does Psalms 68:30 mean?
Rebuke hostile armies and warring peoples; subdue them until all submit with tribute.
What is the context of Psalms 68:30?
Petition against hostile armies and those devoted to warfare.