Psalms 68:27 (KJV)

What does Psalms 68:27 mean?

Psalms 68:27 pictures representatives of Israel’s tribes taking part in a gathering to honor God. By naming groups from both the south and the north, the verse presents the gathering as reaching across the land, rather than belonging to one local group alone.

Following the procession described in verse 26, the psalm’s speaker points out Benjamin, Judah, Zebulun, and Naphtali. The rulers and princes give the scene a public, organized character: the tribes appear through their leaders and those with them.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 68:27

• “little” — צָעִיר (tsaʿir): This word can mean small or young. Here it marks Benjamin as a lesser or younger tribe, while still placing Benjamin among those present.
• “council” — רִגְמָה (rigmah): This word is often understood as a company or throng. The KJV’s “council” pictures a group associated with Judah’s princes, rather than a prince appearing alone.

Why Psalms 68:27 matters

• The gathering includes distant parts of Israel. Judah and Benjamin were in the south, while Zebulun and Naphtali were in the north.
• The named tribes give the procession a human face. Instead of describing only a crowd, the verse points to recognizable groups and their leaders.
• Benjamin’s place is striking because the verse calls the tribe “little” but names it first. The order gives the smaller tribe a visible place in the scene.