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Psalms 68:31

in Psalms 68

Envoys will arrive from Egypt; Cush will stretch out her hands to God.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV

ASV

Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall haste to stretch out her hands unto God.

KJV

Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.

This verse in Psalms 68

Commentary

13 notes on this verse

A commentator

Jerome

Homily 7, on Psalm 67 · Written before 420.

Legates shall come out of Egypt. Egypt is interpreted "darkness": out of the darkness of this world. Ethiopia shall stretch out her hand before to God. Because we who were black with sins and passions went before the Israelite people, and believe in the Savior: just as she who had a flow of blood went before the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue, and is healed.

This site's exposition

Summon Your power, O God

on Psalms 68:28-31

Verse 29 ties the nations' gifts to the temple at Jerusalem. Verse 30 asks God to rebuke the beast in the reeds and the herd of bulls until it submits and brings bars of silver. Envoys come from Egypt and Cush stretches out her hands.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

Augustine of Hippo

Exposition on Psalm 68 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

"There shall come ambassadors out of Egypt, Ethiopia shall prevent the hands of Him" [Psalm 68:31]. Under the name of Egypt or of Ethiopia, he has signified the faith of all nations, from a part the whole: calling the preachers of reconciliation ambassadors. "For Christ," he says, "we have an embassy, God as it were exhorting through us: we beseech you for Christ to be reconciled to God." [2 Corinthians 5:20] Not then of the Israelites alone, whence the Apostles were chosen, but also from the rest of the nations that there should be preachers of Christian peace, in this manner has been mystically prophesied. But by that which he says, "shall prevent the hands of Him," he says this, shall prevent the vengeance of Him: to wit, by turning to Him, in order that their sins may be forgiven, lest by continuing sinners they be punished. Which thing also in another Psalm is said, "Let us come before the face of Him in confession." As by hands he signifies vengeance, so by face, revelation and presence, which will be in the Judgment. Because then, by Egypt and Ethiopia he has signified the nations of the whole world; immediately he has subjoined, "to God (are) the kingdoms of the earth." Not to Sabellius, not to Arius, not to Donatus, not to the rest of the bulls stiff-necked, but "to God (are) the kingdoms of the earth." But the greater number of Latin copies, and especially the Greek, have the verses so punctuated, that there is not one verse in these words, "to God the kingdoms of the earth," but, "to God," is at the end of the former verse, and so there is said, "Ethiopia shall come before the hands of her to God," and then there follows in another verse, "Kingdoms of the earth, sing ye to God, psalm ye to the Lord" [Psalm 68:32]. […]

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Acts 8:26A · Written before 735.

proposed

"Arise and go to the south." It is well that it was in the south that this man was sought, found and washed clean. Burning with devotion in his breast, he deserved to be consecrated to God as, so to speak, the firstfruits of the …

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

Princes shall come out of Egypt,.... The Vulgate Latin and all the Oriental versions render it "ambassadors". This verse is a prophecy of the conversion of the Gentiles, under the names of Egypt and Ethiopia; which will be at the same time that the kings of the earth will become Christians, and antichrist will be destroyed. The Gospel is said to be preached in Egypt by Mark the Evangelist; and no doubt but there were conversions there in the first times of the Gospel; but there will be more in the latter day; see Psa 87:

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

This was in part fulfilled by the accession of many proselytes to the Jewish religion in the days of David and Solomon; but it was to have its full accomplishment in the conversion of the Gentile nations to the faith of Christ, and the making of them fellow-heirs, and of the same body, with the seed of Israel, Eph. iii.

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

proposed

Ethiopia - He names these, as the ancient enemies of God, and of his people; but by them he understands all other nations of the like character. Unto God - Begging mercy of him. This prophecy, as also the next verse, evidently belongs to the times of the Messiah.
6 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Out of all nations some shall be gathered in to Christ and be owned by him. Praise to God for His Sovereign Dominion. 32 Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth;

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

There is that in God's temple, that beauty and benefit in the service of God and in communion with him, and in the gospel of Christ which went forth from Jerusalem, that is enough to invite kings themselves to bring presents to God, to present themselves to him as living sacrifices, and with themselves the best performances.

The Nineteenth Century4 voices

A commentator

Charles Spurgeon

1834–1892

The Treasury of David, Vol. 3 (1872)

Princes shall come out of Egypt. Old foes shall be new friends. Solomon shall find a spouse in Pharaoh's house. Christ shall gather a people from the realm of sin. Great sinners shall yield themselves to the sceptre of grace, and great men shall become good men, by coming to God. Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. Cush shall hasten to present peace offerings. Sheba's queen shall come from the far south. Candace's chamberlain shall ask of Him who was led as a lamb to the slaughter.

A commentator

Charles Spurgeon

1834–1892

The Treasury of David, Vol. 3 (1872)

proposed

Princes shall come out of Egypt. Old foes shall be new friends. Solomon shall find a spouse in Pharaoh's house. Christ shall gather a people from the realm of sin. Great sinners shall yield themselves to the sceptre of grace, and great men shall become good men, by coming to God. Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. Cush shall hasten to present peace offerings. Sheba's queen shall come from the far south. Candace's chamberlain shall ask of Him who was led as a lamb to the slaughter. Abyssinia shall yet be converted, and Africa become the willing seeker after grace, eagerly desiring and embracing the Christ of God. Poor Ethiopia, thy hands have been long manacled and hardened by cruel toil, but millions of thy sons have in their bondage found the liberty with which Christ made men free; and so thy cross, like the cross of Simon of Cyrene, has been Christ's cross, and God has been thy salvation. Hasten, O Lord, this day, when both the civilization and the barbarism of the earth shall adore thee, Egypt and Ethiopia blending with glad accord in thy worship! Here is the confidence of thy saints, even thy promise; hasten it in thine own time, good Lord.

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Aethiopta shall soon stretch out her hands unto God - This verse had its literal fulfillment under Solomon, when Egypt formed an alliance with that king by his marriage with Pharaoh’s daughter; and when the queen of Sheba came to Jerusalem to hear the wisdom of Solomon. But as this may be a prophetic declaration of the spread of Christianity, it was literally fulfilled after the resurrection of our Lord. There were Egyptians at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, who, St. Hilary tells us, on their return to their own country proclaimed what they had seen, and became in that country the ambassadors of Christ. The Ethiopian eunuch was one of the first among the Gentiles who received the Gospel. Thus princes or chief men came out of Egypt, and Ethiopia stretched out her hands to God. The words themselves refer to the sending ambassadors, and making alliances. The Hebrew is very emphatic: כוש תריץ ידיו לאלהים cush tarits yadiav lelohim; Cush will cause her hands to run out to God. She will, with great alacrity and delight, surrender her power and influence unto God. The Chaldee paraphrases well: “The sons of Cush will run, that they may spread out their hands in prayer before God.”
Princes shall come out of Egypt - That is, Shall come and acknowledge the true God. Egypt is referred to here as one of the most prominent of the foreign nations then known; and the idea is, that the distinguished men of foreign nations - the rulers and princes of the world - would come and submit themselves to God, and be united to his people. The word rendered “princes” here - חשׁמנים chashmaniym - occurs nowhere else in the Scriptures. It means, according to Gesenius (Lexicon), the fat; then, the rich; the opulent; nobles. It is the word from which the name “Hasmonean” (or Asmonean), which was given by the Jews to the Maccabees, or Jewish princes in the time of the Jewish history between the Old and New Testaments, is supposed to have been derived. The Septuagint, the Vulgate, and the Syriac, render it “legates” or “ambassadors.” Luther renders it “princes.” The reference is undoubtedly to men of station or rank. Ethiopia - Hebrew, “Cush.” On the meaning of this word in the Scriptures, see the notes at Isa 11:11. Shall soon stretch out her hands - literally, “Shall make its hands to run.” The expression denotes the eagerness or haste with which it would be done. The act is an act of supplication, and the reference is to prayer. Unto God - To the true God. The nation will supplicate the mercy of God, or will worship him. The idea, in accordance with that in the previous verses, is, that the country here referred to would become subject to the true God. It is a view of the future; of the time when the nations would be converted to the true faith, or would acknowledge the true God. […]

The words behind it

8 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • יֶאֱתָ֣יוּthey will come

    yeetayuH857

  • חַ֭שְׁמַנִּיםenvoys

    chashmanimH2831

  • מִנִּ֣יfrom

    miniH44801188 times

  • מִצְרָ֑יִםEgypt

    mitzrayimH4714641 times

  • כּ֥וּשׁCush

    kushH3568

  • תָּרִ֥יץit will cause to run

    taritzH7323103 times

  • יָ֝דָ֗יוhands its

    yadavH30271618 times

  • לֵאלֹהִֽים׃to God

    lelohimH4302601 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Isaiah 45:14

    This is what the LORD says: “The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, along with the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you and will be yours; they will trudge…

    it leads to

    • Isaiah 49:23

      Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow to you facedown and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD;…

    • 1 Corinthians 14:25

      and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”

    • Jeremiah 16:19

      O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of distress, the nations will come to You from the ends of the earth, and they will say, “Our fathers inherited nothing…

    • Isaiah 61:5–6

      Strangers will stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners will be your plowmen and vinedressers.

    • Acts 10:25–26

      As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him.

  • Through

    Zephaniah 3:10

    From beyond the rivers of Cush My worshipers, My scattered people, will bring Me an offering.

    it leads to

    • Isaiah 11:11

      On that day the Lord will extend His hand a second time to recover the remnant of His people from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and…

  • Through

    Psalms 44:20

    If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,

    it leads to

    • Psalms 81:9

      There must be no strange god among you, nor shall you bow to a foreign god.

    • Job 11:13

      As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him,

Where this verse is studied

About Psalms

Sower with Setting Sun. Vincent van Gogh, mid July 1888. Sotheby's, New York, 18 November 2025, lot 4. Public domain.
Sower with Setting Sun. Vincent van Gogh, mid July 1888. Sotheby's, New York, 18 November 2025, lot 4. Public domain.
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 68; Bede, Commentary on Acts 8:26A; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 3; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; Jerome, Homily 7, on Psalm 67; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.