Why leap ye, ye high hills? [this is] the hill [which] God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell [in it] for ever.
Why leap {H7520}{H8762)} ye, ye high {H1386} hills {H2022}? this is the hill {H2022} which God {H430} desireth {H2530}{H8804)} to dwell in {H3427}{H8800)}; yea, the LORD {H3068} will dwell {H7931}{H8799)} in it for ever {H5331}.
You rugged mountain, why look with envy at the mountain God wants for his place to live? Truly, ADONAI will live there forever.
Why do you gaze in envy, O mountains of many peaks? This is the mountain God chose for His dwelling, where the LORD will surely dwell forever.
Why look ye askance, ye high mountains, At the mountain which God hath desired for his abode? Yea, Jehovah will dwell in it for ever.
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Deuteronomy 12:5
¶ But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, [even] unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: -
Psalms 132:13
For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired [it] for his habitation. -
Psalms 132:14
This [is] my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. -
Revelation 21:2
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. -
Revelation 21:3
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God. -
Hebrews 12:22
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, -
Hebrews 12:23
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Psalms 68:16 is a poetic declaration of God's sovereign choice of Mount Zion as His dwelling place, contrasting it with other impressive mountains. This verse is part of a grand triumphal psalm celebrating God's power, His march with Israel, and His ultimate establishment of His presence in Jerusalem.
Context of Psalms 68:16
Psalm 68 is a magnificent song of victory, often associated with the procession of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem or a similar great triumph. It depicts God as a mighty warrior leading His people, scattering His enemies, and providing for the needy. Amidst this celebration of divine power and provision, the psalm addresses the physical landscape. The "high hills" mentioned likely refer to other prominent, perhaps taller or more majestic, mountains in the region, such as Mount Bashan or Mount Hermon. The rhetorical question, "Why leap ye, ye high hills?", suggests a sense of awe, perhaps even envy or rivalry, from these other peaks towards the comparatively modest Mount Zion, which God chose as His special habitation.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word translated "leap" (rātsad - רָצַד) can convey a sense of watching with envy, trembling, or even looking askance. It paints a vivid picture of the other mountains perhaps jealously or humbly observing Zion's unique privilege. The phrase "God desireth to dwell in" uses the Hebrew word ḥāmad (חָמַד), which implies a deep delight, pleasure, or strong desire. It signifies God's profound affection and choice for Zion, not merely a passive acceptance. The final phrase, "for ever" (lā'ad - לָעַד), emphasizes the eternal and perpetual nature of God's dwelling.
Cross-References and Connections
The theme of God choosing Zion is echoed in other psalms, such as Psalm 132:13-14, which states, "For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it." This divine choice for a specific dwelling place on earth finds its roots in God's command to build the Tabernacle (Exodus 25:8) and later Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 8:13). In the New Testament, the concept of Zion expands to encompass the heavenly Jerusalem and the spiritual dwelling of God among His people through Christ. Believers are said to have "come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem" (Hebrews 12:22), signifying a spiritual reality that transcends the physical mountain.
Practical Application
Psalms 68:16 reminds us that God's favor and presence are not contingent on outward appearances or worldly impressiveness. He often chooses the humble, the overlooked, or the seemingly less significant to display His glory. For believers today, this principle applies to our own lives: God delights to dwell in the hearts of His people through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), making each believer a "temple of God." The ultimate fulfillment of God dwelling with His people "for ever" is envisioned in the new heaven and new earth, where the tabernacle of God will be with humanity, and He will dwell with them (Revelation 21:3). This verse offers assurance that God's desire for fellowship with His people is eternal and will ultimately be realized in its fullest sense.