Psalms 68:14

When the sovereign judge ¹  scatters kings, ²  let it snow ³  on Zalmon!

When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, it was like snow fallen on Zalmon.

When the Almighty scattered the kings there, It was snowing in Zalmon.

The Almighty scattered the enemy kings like a blowing snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.

On that day that Shaddai scattered the kings, snow fell on Black Mountain.

When the Most High put the kings to flight, it was as white as snow in Salmon.

When the Almighty scattered kings there, snow fell on Zalmon.

When the Almighty scattered kings in it, It was white as snow in Zalmon.

When the sovereign judge ¹  scatters kings, ²  let it snow ³  on Zalmon!

¹ tn The divine name used here is שַׁדַּי (“Shaddai”). Shaddai/El Shaddai is the sovereign king/judge of the world who grants life, blesses and kills, and judges. In Genesis he blesses the patriarchs with fertility and promises numerous descendants. Outside Genesis he both blesses (protects) and takes away life and/or happiness.

² tn The Hebrew text adds “in it.” The third feminine singular pronominal suffix may refer back to God’s community/dwelling place (v. 10).

³ tn The verb form appears to be a Hiphil jussive from שָׁלַג (shalag), which is usually understood as a denominative verb from שֶׁלֶג (sheleg, “snow”) with an indefinite subject. The form could be taken as a preterite, in which case one might translate, “when the sovereign judge scattered kings, it snowed on Zalmon” (cf. NIV, NRSV). The point of the image is unclear. Perhaps “snow” suggests fertility and blessing (see v. 9 and Isa 55:10), or the image of a snow-capped mountain suggests grandeur.

³ sn Zalmon was apparently a mountain in the region, perhaps the one mentioned in Judg 9:46 as being in the vicinity of Shechem.