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Psalm 68:21
But God will strike through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness.
19Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation. Selah.
20God is to us a God of deliverance. To GOD, the Lord, belongs escape from death.
21But God will strike through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness.
22The Lord said, “I will bring you again from Bashan, I will bring you again from the depths of the sea,
23that you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”
Notice
The violent image of a shattered head makes judgment hard to soften, especially when it follows praise for the God who bears burdens and delivers from death.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What do you notice about the turn from deliverance in verse 20 to violence in verse 21?
Write on thisWhat weight does “still continues in his guiltiness” carry in this description of God's enemy?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Habakkuk 3:13You went out for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your anointed. You crushed the head of the land of wickedness. You stripped them head to …Both passages portray God striking an enemy's head, with the surrounding words in Psalm 68 also naming God's deliverance.
Luke 13:5I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.”Continued guilt faces God's blow in the psalm; Jesus warns that those who do not repent will perish.
Psalm 110:6He will judge among the nations. He will heap up dead bodies. He will crush the ruler of the whole earth.Both psalms describe divine judgment through violent bodily images: a struck head in Psalm 68 and heaped bodies in Psalm 110.
Psalm 7:12If a man doesn’t repent, he will sharpen his sword; he has bent and strung his bow.Both passages connect persistence in wrongdoing with divine violence, using a struck head in one and prepared weapons in the other.
Revelation 2:14–16But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the …The psalm names continued guilt; Revelation names people holding to teaching that leads to idolatry and sexual immorality.
Amos 9:1I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and he said, “Strike the tops of the pillars, that the thresholds may shake. Break them in pieces on the head of all …Both texts describe lethal judgment involving blows to the head, with God directing or carrying out the destruction.
Ezekiel 18:27–30Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he will save his soul alive.The psalm describes judgment on someone continuing in guilt; Ezekiel describes life for someone who turns from wickedness.
Hebrews 12:25See that you don’t refuse him who speaks. For if they didn’t escape when they refused him who warned on the earth, how much more will we not escape who turn …Both texts warn of divine judgment, describing continued guilt in the psalm and refusal of God's warning in Hebrews.
Proverbs 1:24–33Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;The connection is limited: the psalm names continued guilt, while Proverbs describes refusal to heed a call.
Psalm 55:23But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.Both psalms name God as the one who brings destruction upon wrongdoers, with Psalm 55 specifying bloodthirsty and deceitful people.
Hebrews 2:1–3Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away.The connection is limited: the psalm describes continued guilt, while Hebrews warns against drifting from what was heard.
Exodus 9:2For if you refuse to let them go, and hold them still,Both describe persistence in wrongdoing: continuing in guilt in the psalm and refusing to release people in Exodus.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. guilt and confession. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
These violent words give you no warrant to harm anyone. The judgment described belongs to God, and continued guilt does not escape his rule.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).