Psalms 68:31
Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
Original Language Analysis
מִנִּ֣י
H4480
מִנִּ֣י
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
3 of 8
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
תָּרִ֥יץ
shall soon stretch out
H7323
תָּרִ֥יץ
shall soon stretch out
Strong's:
H7323
Word #:
6 of 8
to run (for whatever reason, especially to rush)
Cross References
Isaiah 45:14Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.Zephaniah 3:10From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.Psalms 44:20If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;Psalms 143:6I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
Historical Context
Egypt and Cush were ancient superpowers with their own religions and gods. Their eventual worship of Yahweh demonstrated His supremacy over all false deities and His power to save peoples of every race and nation.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the inclusion of formerly hostile nations encourage evangelism to seemingly unreachable peoples?
- What does 'stretching out hands to God' signify—desperation, worship, submission, or all three?
- In what ways has God already fulfilled this vision through the gospel's global spread?
Analysis & Commentary
Princes from Egypt and Ethiopia (Cush) 'stretching out hands unto God' depicts willing submission to Israel's God by historically proud nations. Egypt enslaved Israel; Ethiopia represented distant, foreign peoples. Their voluntary worship fulfills prophecies that all nations will honor Yahweh (Isaiah 19:19-25). This anticipates the gospel's spread to Africa and worldwide, as seen in Philip's Ethiopian eunuch convert (Acts 8:26-39).