Psalms 68:2
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.
Original Language Analysis
עָשָׁ֗ן
As smoke
H6227
עָשָׁ֗ן
As smoke
Strong's:
H6227
Word #:
2 of 11
smoke, literally or figuratively (vapor, dust, anger)
כְּהִמֵּ֣ס
melteth
H4549
כְּהִמֵּ֣ס
melteth
Strong's:
H4549
Word #:
4 of 11
to liquefy; figuratively, to waste (with disease), to faint (with fatigue, fear or grief)
מִפְּנֵ֥י
at the presence
H6440
מִפְּנֵ֥י
at the presence
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
6 of 11
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
יֹאבְד֥וּ
perish
H6
יֹאבְד֥וּ
perish
Strong's:
H6
Word #:
8 of 11
properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים
so let the wicked
H7563
רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים
so let the wicked
Strong's:
H7563
Word #:
9 of 11
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
Cross References
Psalms 37:20But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.Micah 1:4And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.Isaiah 9:18For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.Psalms 97:5The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.Hosea 13:3Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.Psalms 80:16It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
Historical Context
Psalm 68 likely accompanied the ark's procession, celebrating God's victories over Israel's enemies. The vivid imagery would have resonated with Israelites who witnessed God's judgments on Egypt, Canaan, and successive oppressors.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the certainty of God's ultimate triumph over evil provide comfort when wickedness seems to prevail?
- What does it mean that evil 'melts' before God's presence—how does His holiness actively oppose sin?
- In what ways should this vision of God's power over His enemies shape your prayers and spiritual warfare?
Analysis & Commentary
The imagery of smoke driven away and wax melting before fire depicts the total inability of God's enemies to withstand His presence. 'Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered' echoes Numbers 10:35, the prayer when the ark moved forward. Smoke disperses helplessly before wind; wax loses all form before heat—so the wicked perish before God's holiness. This isn't vindictive delight in destruction but affirmation that evil cannot coexist with absolute holiness and justice.