Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 68:5
A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, [is] God in his holy habitation.
5. The orphan and the widow are typical examples of the friendless and unprotected who are under God’s special guardianship (Psa 10:14; Psa 146:9; Hos 14:3). They are the subjects of a special clause in the earliest legislation (Exo 22:22 ff.), which is reechoed by the latest of the prophets (Mal 3:5). Cp. Isa 1:17; Isa 1:23.
his holy habitation ] Not the temple but heaven, whence He ‘looks down’ to bless His people (Deu 26:15), and rules the world, espousing the cause of the humblest, whom men are most prone to despise. For the phrase cp. Jer 25:30; Zec 2:13; 2Ch 30:27. In Isa 63:15 a different Heb. word is used.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A father of the fatherless – Or, of orphans. Compare Psa 10:14, Psa 10:18. That is, God takes the place of the parent. See Jer 49:11 : Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me. This is one of the most tender appellations that could be given to God, and conveys one of the most striking descriptions that can be given of his character. We see his greatness, his majesty, his power, in the worlds that he has made – in the storm, the tempest, the rolling ocean; but it is in such expressions as this that we learn, what we most desire to know, and what we cannot elsewhere learn, that he is a Father; that he is to be loved as well as feared. Nothing suggests more strikingly a state of helplessness and dependence than the condition of orphan children and widows; nothing, therefore, conveys a more affecting description of the character of God – of his condescension and kindness – than to say that he will take the place of the parent in the one case, and be a protector in the other.
And a judge of the widows – That is, He will see justice done them; he will save them from oppression and wrong. No persons are more liable to be oppressed and wronged than widows. They are regarded as incapable of defending or vindicating their own rights, and are likely to be deceived and betrayed by those to whom their property and rights may be entrusted. Hence, the care which God manifests for them; hence, his solemn charges, so often made to those who are in authority, and who are entrusted with power, to respect their rights; hence, his frequent and solemn rebukes to those who violate their rights. See the notes at Isa 1:17. Compare Deu 10:18; Deu 14:29; Deu 24:17; Exo 22:22; Job 24:3, Job 24:21; Jer 7:6; Mal 3:5; Jam 1:27.
Is God in his holy habitation – Where he dwells; to wit, in heaven. The design of the psalmist seems to be to take us at once up to God; to let us see what he is in his holy home; to conduct us into his very presence, that we may see him as he is. What a man is we see in his own home – when we get near to him; when we look upon him, not on great or state occasions, when he is abroad, and assumes appearances befitting his rank and office, but in his own house; as he is constantly. This is the idea here, that if we approach God most nearly, if we look upon him, not merely in the splendor and magnificence in which he appears in governing the worlds, in his judgments, in storm and tempest, riding on the clouds and controlling the ocean, but, as it were, in his own dwelling, his quiet heavens – if we look most closely at his character, we shall find that character best represented by the kind and benignant traits of a father – in his care for widows and orphans. In other words, the more we see of God – the more we become intimately acquainted with his real nature – the more evidence we shall find that he is benevolent and kind.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
He now enters upon some of the matters or reasons for which God is to be extolled; whereof this is one, that he is the patron of such as are injured and oppressed, and have not power to help themselves.
In his holy habitation; either in his tabernacle, or in heaven. Though he dwells there, yet the eyes of his fatherly providence and care run to and fro to help his people when they are distressed.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5, 6. are illustrated by theprotection to the helpless, vindication of the innocent, andpunishment of rebels, ascribed to Him.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
A father of the fatherless,…. In a literal sense, so as to show mercy to them, take care of then, and protect them; and this is a character which the great God often assumes, partly to express his power and providence over such, and partly to signify his tenderness, mercy, and goodness to them; and in which he should be imitated by civil magistrates, and by all good men: for it was not only a law in Israel to show regard to such, and take care not to afflict them, but it is also a branch of pure undefiled Christian religion, Jas 1:27, in attending to which we resemble the great Author of it, who is here intended. Moreover, this may be understood in a spiritual sense of such who are deserted by their friends, or are called to leave father and mother for the sake of Christ and his Gospel; and who are like fatherless ones, in an helpless condition in themselves, and are sensible of it; and will not trust in the creature, nor in any works of their own, but apply to Christ, where they have help and salvation, in whom the fatherless find mercy, Ho 14:3; and who afterwards, when they are without the presence of Christ, and sensible communion with him, are like orphans or fatherless children; but Christ, who is the father of such, will not leave them so, will have pity on them, show favour to them, provide everything needful for them, and will come and visit them, as in Joh 14:18; where the word “orphans” or “fatherless” is used of Christ’s disciples;
and a Judge of the widows; of such who are widows indeed in a literal sense, and especially that are believers, his elect that cry unto him; see Lu 18:2; and of such who are so in a spiritual sense; even of the whole church of Christ, who may, even now, be said to be in a widowhood estate, as well as under the former dispensation; since Christ, her bridegroom, is gone to heaven, and who yet, in the mean time, is her Judge, protector, and defender; and when she is made ready for him, as a bride adorned for her husband, will come and take her to himself, and she shall remember the reproach of her widowhood no more,
Isa 54:4;
[is] God in his holy habitation: in heaven, the habitation of his holiness, where is Christ the high and Holy One; and has respect to the poor and lowly, the fatherless and the widow: or in his church, his holy temple, where he dwells and walks, and grants his gracious presence, and will do to the end of the world, according to his promise; or in his holy human nature, the temple and the tabernacle, in which the Godhead dwells.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(5) The LXX. and Vulg. prefix to this verse, They shall be troubled by the face of Him who is, &c, which seems to indicate that the abrupt introduction of this description of God is due to some loss in the text.
A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows.These epithets of God seem to have become at a very early period almost proverbial.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. Father of the fatherless This fatherly tenderness toward the most helpless of our race is “Jah’s” especial honour, while coupled with the character of a righteous judge, as in the next sentence.
Is God in his holy habitation Of which the place of the shekinah in the “holy of holies” was the symbol.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 68:5. A father of the fatherless, &c. The meaning is, that God, who is present with us in his sanctuary, or in the ark of his presence, will provide for and defend, as a father, those who have been rendered fatherless by the sword; and as a judge avenge the widows’ cause upon those who have unrighteously cut off their husbands; referring to the unjust wars which were made upon his people, and the cruelties exercised towards them by their enemies in their passage through the desarts.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 68:5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, [is] God in his holy habitation.
Ver. 5. A father of the fatherless, &c. ] Pupillorum pater, et viduarum vindex, a title that God much glorieth in; and although he rideth upon the heavens, and is higher than the highest, yet so low stoopeth he to our meanness; neither will he leave his people orphans or comfortless, Joh 14:18 , for
God is in his holy habitation
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 68:5-6
5A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows,
Is God in His holy habitation.
6God makes a home for the lonely;
He leads out the prisoners into prosperity,
Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
Psa 68:5-6 Notice the types of persons God acts as advocate on their behalf (i.e., Exo 22:23).
1. orphans Exo 22:22; Deu 14:29; Deu 24:17; Psa 146:9; Isa 1:17; Jer 7:6; Jas 1:27
2. widows Exo 22:22; Deu 14:29; Deu 24:17; Psa 146:9; Isa 1:17; Jer 7:6; Jas 1:27
3. lonely BDB 402, KB 405, from Arabic to be alone
4. poor Job 31:16-20; Psa 69:33 (lit. bondman, BDB 64); YHWH provides for the needy (BDB 776) in Psa 68:10
Notice that in Psa 68:6 there is a distinction between the characteristic, ongoing actions of God
1. makes a home (lit. causes to dwell) BDB 442, KB 444, Hiphil participle
2. leads out BDB 422, KB 425, Hiphil participle
for the poor and needy as contrasted with the permanent dwelling (BDB 1014, KB 1496, Qal perfect) of the stubborn/rebellious who will not change (BDB 710, KB 770, Qal participle) and who will dwell in a parched land (BDB 850, only here in the OT, but which is common imagery of the lack of YHWH’s presence and a sign of His judgment, cf. Psa 78:17; Psa 107:34; Psa 107:40).
the rebellious dwell in a parched land One wonders if these rebels are the same people referred to in Psa 68:1-2. But the context of Psa 68:5-6 implies they are unfaithful covenant Israelites.
Note that prosperity marks the faithful followers, while lack of rain marks the rebels. This type of theology based on covenant obedience (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 27-30) is known as the two ways (cf. Psa 68:7-10; Deu 30:15-20; Psalms 1).
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
holy habitation: i.e. which David had prepared for the Ark on Zion.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
A father: Psa 10:14, Psa 10:18, Psa 82:3, Psa 82:4, Psa 146:9, Job 31:16, Job 31:17, Jer 49:11, Hos 14:3
a judge: Psa 72:2, Psa 72:4, Deu 10:18, Job 29:12, Job 29:13, Isa 1:23, Jer 5:28, Luk 18:2-7, Eph 5:1
in his: Psa 33:14, 2Ch 6:2, 2Ch 30:27, Isa 57:15, Isa 66:1, Act 7:48, Act 7:49
Reciprocal: Num 27:6 – General Num 27:7 – General Job 29:16 – a father Psa 109:31 – poor Pro 15:25 – but Pro 22:23 – the Lord Jer 22:3 – do no violence Zec 2:13 – for 1Ti 5:3 – widows Jam 1:27 – To visit
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 68:5-6. A father of the fatherless He now proceeds to mention some of the reasons for which God is to be praised. Of these this is one, that he is the patron of such as are injured and oppressed, and have not power to help themselves; is God in his holy habitation In his tabernacle, or rather, in heaven. Though he is in a peculiar manner present and dwells there, yet the eyes of his fatherly providence and care run to and fro through the earth, to observe and help his people when they are in distress. God setteth the solitary Hebrew, , jechidim, such as are left single and alone, and are destitute of help; in families Hebrew, he causeth them to sit down in houses: he blesseth them with partners in life, and a posterity, and with the safe and comfortable enjoyment of the social blessings attending it. He bringeth out those which were bound, &c. He setteth captives and prisoners at liberty, as he did the Israelites. But the rebellious Those that rebel against God, as the Egyptians did; dwell in a dry land Are deprived of all true comfort, and plagued with manifold calamities. This part of the Psalm, from Psa 68:1 to Psa 68:6, inclusive, Dr. Chandler supposes to have been sung just as the Levites took up the ark on their shoulders: and certainly it was a proper exordium to this great solemnity: containing a solemn acknowledgment of God, a devout prayer for the dispersion of his enemies, and an exhortation to his people to rejoice before him, and to celebrate his praises, who guided their forefathers in the desert; when he redeemed them from Egyptian bondage, avenged them of their enemies, enlarged them into families, enriched them with the spoils of Egypt, and condemned their oppressors to poverty, disgrace, and misery.