Psalms 68:13

KJV

Though ye have lien among the pots, [yet shall ye be as] the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

KJV (with Strong's)

Though ye have lien {H7901}{H8799)} among the pots {H8240}, yet shall ye be as the wings {H3671} of a dove {H3123} covered {H2645}{H8737)} with silver {H3701}, and her feathers {H84} with yellow {H3422} gold {H2742}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Even if you lie among the animal stalls, there are wings of a dove covered with silver and its plumes with green gold.

Berean Standard Bible

Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, the wings of the dove are covered with silver, and her feathers with shimmering gold.”

American Standard Version

When ye lie among the sheepfolds, It is asthe wings of a dove covered with silver, And her pinions with yellow gold.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 68:13 presents a profound and transformative image, contrasting a past state of deep humiliation and degradation with a future of radiant beauty and honor bestowed by divine intervention. It powerfully illustrates God's sovereign ability to elevate His people from the lowest depths of affliction, adorning them with unparalleled splendor, signifying His favor, purity, and the glorious destiny prepared for those who are in covenant with Him, moving them from shame to a position of esteemed glory.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 68 is a grand, complex, and triumphal hymn, often understood as a processional psalm celebrating God's victorious march and His gracious dealings with Israel. It likely commemorates significant historical events such as the bringing of the Ark of the Covenant to Zion, symbolizing God's dwelling among His people ([2 Samuel 6](/2-samuel/6 "2 Samuel 6 - David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem")), or recalling God's powerful leadership of Israel through the wilderness, reminiscent of the ancient victory song of Deborah in [Judges 5](/judges/5 "Judges 5 - The Song of Deborah"). Verse 13 appears within a section that recalls past suffering, possibly during periods of oppression or exile, and contrasts it sharply with the glorious future God promises and bestows upon His chosen ones. It follows verses that speak of God's care for the vulnerable (the fatherless and widows) and His triumph over His enemies, setting a dramatic stage for the radical transformation described. The verse serves as a powerful assurance that despite past or present lowliness, God's people are destined for glory.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The phrase "though ye have lien among the pots" (Hebrew: *shafatayim*) is rich with cultural implications. It likely refers to the ash-heaps, cooking areas, or even animal stalls where the poor, enslaved, or deeply afflicted might have slept or worked, signifying a state of extreme lowliness, dirtiness, or servitude. This imagery would resonate deeply with Israel's historical experiences of bondage in Egypt ([Exodus 1](/exodus/1 "Exodus 1 - Israel's Oppression in Egypt")) and their later exilic experiences in Babylon, where they endured hardship and disgrace. Doves were common birds in ancient Israel, often associated with purity, peace, and vulnerability (e.g., [Song of Solomon 2:14](/song-of-solomon/2-14 "Song of Solomon 2:14 - The Voice of the Dove")). The transformation of their wings with "silver" and "yellow gold" (or "gleaming gold") signifies immense value, beauty, and divine favor, elevating the imagery from the mundane to the magnificent. These precious metals were symbols of wealth, royalty, and divine presence in the ancient Near East.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several central themes of Psalm 68 and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Deliverance and Triumph**, showcasing God's active intervention to rescue and elevate His people from dire circumstances, demonstrating His power over all forms of oppression. Secondly, it emphasizes the radical **Transformation from Humiliation to Glory**, illustrating God's ability to take what is lowly, despised, and degraded, and adorn it with radiant beauty and honor. This theme echoes throughout scripture, from the raising of the humble (e.g., [1 Samuel 2:8](/1-samuel/2-8 "1 Samuel 2:8 - Hannah's Prayer")) to the promise of future glorification for believers. Finally, it underscores **God's Gracious Provision and Adornment**, revealing that God not only delivers but also beautifies and enriches His people, signifying His profound favor and covenant faithfulness, much like the promise of "beauty for ashes" in [Isaiah 61:3](/isaiah/61-3 "Isaiah 61:3 - Beauty for Ashes").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Pots (Hebrew, _shâphâth'_):** This word (H8240) refers to a "stall" or "pot," often understood in its dual form (*shafatayim*) to mean "double rows of pots" or "hearths." It signifies a lowly, dirty, and degraded place, perhaps where camp followers or slaves might sleep near cooking fires or ash heaps. It powerfully conveys a state of affliction, servitude, or abject humiliation, representing the lowest possible social or physical condition.
* **Dove (Hebrew, _yôwnâh'_):** This term (H3123) denotes a "dove" or "pigeon," a common bird in the Near East. While often associated with peace or innocence, here the focus is on its typically plain wings. The imagery of its wings being transformed by precious metals emphasizes a radical change from commonness to extraordinary splendor and value, highlighting the object of divine beautification.
* **Covered (Hebrew, _châphâh'_):** This primitive root (H2645) means "to cover," "to veil," "to encase," or "to protect." In this context, it describes the divine action of overlaying or adorning the dove's wings with silver and gold. It signifies God's active role in beautifying and glorifying His people, not merely a passive change but an intentional act of divine adornment and protection.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Though ye have lien among the pots":** This opening clause vividly describes a past or present condition of extreme degradation, suffering, or servitude. It paints a picture of being in a lowly, dirty, and despised state, akin to a servant or prisoner sleeping amidst the grime of a cooking area or ash pile. It speaks to a period of hardship and humiliation endured by the people of God, emphasizing the depth from which they are to be elevated.
* **"yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver":** This marks a dramatic and divinely promised shift. The common dove's wings, once plain and perhaps soiled by the "pots," are now envisioned as being adorned with shimmering silver. This symbolizes a transition from impurity to purity, from commonness to exquisite beauty, and from disgrace to a state of divine favor and distinction. The silver suggests a refined, radiant quality, indicative of God's cleansing and beautifying work.
* **"and her feathers with yellow gold":** This phrase further amplifies the imagery of splendor and value, adding another layer of magnificent adornment. The "yellow gold" (Hebrew: *chărûwts*, H2742, implying "gleaming" or "fine" gold, and *yᵉraqraq*, H3422, "yellowish") suggests a brilliant, radiant glory. Together with the silver, it signifies that the once-lowly people will be elevated to a state of unparalleled beauty, honor, and preciousness in God's sight, reflecting His own glory upon them and marking them as His treasured possession.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 68:13 is rich with literary artistry, primarily employing vivid **Imagery** to paint a powerful picture of transformation. The stark contrast between "lien among the pots" and "wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold" creates a profound visual and emotional impact. This contrast functions as a powerful **Antithesis**, highlighting the vast difference between the former state of humiliation and the promised state of glory. The verse also utilizes **Metaphor**, comparing the transformed people of God to the beautifully adorned wings of a dove, suggesting their new identity and elevated status. Furthermore, **Symbolism** is deeply embedded: the "pots" symbolize degradation, suffering, or lowliness, while the "dove" often symbolizes peace, purity, or vulnerability, and the "silver" and "gold" powerfully symbolize divine favor, purity, immense value, and radiant glory. The entire verse serves as a powerful **Prophetic Promise** of future exaltation and beautification by God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly illustrates God's redemptive power and His unwavering commitment to transforming the circumstances and status of His people. It speaks to the divine principle that suffering, humiliation, or lowliness are not the ultimate end of the story for those in covenant with God, but often a prelude to greater glory and divine beautification. God takes what is lowly, despised, or afflicted and elevates it, adorning it with His own splendor and favor. This transformation is not merely external; it reflects an internal change and a new identity bestowed by God, moving His people from shame to honor, from a state of degradation to one of radiant beauty and preciousness in His eyes. It underscores God's faithfulness to redeem and glorify His chosen ones, turning their ashes into beauty and their mourning into joy, demonstrating His sovereign power to bring light out of darkness and glory out of dust.

* [Isaiah 61:3](/isaiah/61-3 "Isaiah 61:3 - Beauty for Ashes")
* [1 Peter 5:10](/1-peter/5-10 "1 Peter 5:10 - God of All Grace")
* [Romans 8:18](/romans/8-18 "Romans 8:18 - Present Suffering and Future Glory")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 68:13 offers a profound message of hope and assurance for all who have experienced hardship, felt overlooked, or endured periods of deep suffering. It reminds us that our past or present difficulties, no matter how degrading or painful, do not define our ultimate worth or destiny in God's plan. God sees our affliction, and in His perfect timing and sovereign power, He is capable of bringing about a radical transformation, lifting us from the "pots" of our struggles and adorning us with a beauty and honor that only He can bestow. This transformation is not necessarily about material wealth, but about spiritual glory, purity, and a renewed identity in Him. It calls us to trust in God's redemptive work, believing that He can bring forth something precious and beautiful even from the ashes of our lives, ultimately elevating us to a place of honor and intimate fellowship with Him. This promise encourages perseverance through trials, knowing that God's ultimate purpose is our glorification and sanctification, making us radiant reflections of His grace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Where in your life have you experienced a "lying among the pots" moment, and how did God begin to transform it, or how might He still be at work?**
* **What does this verse teach you about God's view of your suffering and His ultimate plan for your life and identity?**
* **How can the promise of future glory and divine adornment encourage you in your current struggles or feelings of inadequacy?**

### FAQ
**What does "lien among the pots" specifically mean, and why is it used?**

Answer: The phrase "lien among the pots" (Hebrew: *shafatayim*, derived from *shâphâth* H8240) is interpreted in various ways, but generally refers to a state of extreme lowliness, degradation, or servitude. It could literally mean sleeping or working among cooking pots, hearths, or ash-heaps, which would be a dirty and undignified condition. Symbolically, it represents a period of deep suffering, humiliation, or oppression, like Israel's bondage in Egypt ([Exodus 1](/exodus/1 "Exodus 1 - Israel's Oppression in Egypt")) or their exile. Its use here serves as a powerful contrast to the glorious transformation that God promises, emphasizing the depth from which He lifts His people and the radical nature of His redemptive work.

**Is this verse a promise of material wealth or prosperity for believers?**

Answer: While the imagery of "silver" and "yellow gold" certainly evokes preciousness and value, the primary emphasis of Psalms 68:13 is on spiritual and positional transformation rather than a guarantee of material wealth. The verse speaks to God's ability to elevate His people from a state of lowliness and disgrace to one of radiant beauty, honor, and purity in His sight. This divine adornment signifies God's favor and the glorious identity He bestows upon His chosen ones. While God may bless materially, the core promise here is about spiritual glorification and the beauty of a life transformed by His grace, reflecting His own glory, much like the church is described as being adorned for Christ ([Revelation 21:2](/revelation/21-2 "Revelation 21:2 - The New Jerusalem Coming Down")) and believers are called to put on Christ's righteousness ([Romans 13:14](/romans/13-14 "Romans 13:14 - Put on the Lord Jesus Christ")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 68:13 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ and His redemptive work, which then extends to all who are united with Him by faith. Christ, though "in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped" ([Philippians 2:6](/philippians/2-6 "Philippians 2:6 - Christ's Humiliation")), but instead "emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" ([Philippians 2:7](/philippians/2-7 "Philippians 2:7 - Christ's Humiliation")). He truly "lay among the pots" of human suffering and degradation, enduring the scorn of humanity, the rejection of His own people ([John 1:11](/john/1-11 "John 1:11 - He Came to His Own")), and ultimately submitting to the ignominy of death on a cross, becoming sin for us ([2_corinthians/5-21](/2-corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Our Righteousness")). Yet, it was precisely through this profound humiliation that God "highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name" ([Philippians 2:9](/philippians/2-9 "Philippians 2:9 - Christ's Exaltation")), crowning Him with "glory and honor" ([Hebrews 2:9](/hebrews/2-9 "Hebrews 2:9 - Jesus Crowned with Glory and Honor")). For believers, this transformation becomes our reality in Christ: we, who were "dead in trespasses and sins" ([Ephesians 2:1](/ephesians/2-1 "Ephesians 2:1 - Dead in Sins")), are now raised with Him and "seated with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" ([Ephesians 2:6](/ephesians/2-6 "Ephesians 2:6 - Seated with Christ in Heavenly Places")). The "silver" and "gold" of the dove's wings beautifully foreshadow the radiant righteousness of Christ that covers us ([Isaiah 61:10](/isaiah/61-10 "Isaiah 61:10 - Garments of Salvation")), and the future glory we will share with Him, when He presents His church to Himself "without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless" ([Ephesians 5:27](/ephesians/5-27 "Ephesians 5:27 - Christ and the Church")). Thus, Christ's journey from humble birth to glorious ascension is the perfect embodiment of this psalm's promise, and His glory is now our inheritance.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 105:37

He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and [there was] not one feeble [person] among their tribes.

1 Corinthians 6:9

¶ Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

1 Corinthians 6:11

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Genesis 49:14

Issachar [is] a strong ass couching down between two burdens:

Psalms 74:19

O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude [of the wicked]: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.

1 Kings 4:20

¶ Judah and Israel [were] many, as the sand which [is] by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.

1 Kings 4:21

And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.