Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.

PSALMS 68:29KJV
Know the Bible

Psalms 68:29 (KJV)

What does Psalms 68:29 mean?

Psalms 68:29 says that because of God’s temple in Jerusalem, kings from other nations will come and bring gifts to honor God. The verse points to the respect and recognition that God’s presence in Jerusalem inspires among powerful rulers.

In this psalm, the writer (traditionally David) is speaking to God, celebrating God’s power and the special role of Jerusalem as the place of God’s temple. The verse looks ahead to a time when even foreign kings will acknowledge God’s greatness by bringing offerings to His temple, showing how God’s influence reaches beyond Israel.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 68:29

  • The word for “temple” is הֵיכָל (heikhal), which often refers to a grand palace or sanctuary, emphasizing the majesty and importance of God’s dwelling in Jerusalem.
  • “Jerusalem” is יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yerushalayim), highlighting the specific city chosen as the center of worship and God’s presence.
  • “Kings” is מֶלֶךְ (melech), meaning rulers or leaders of other nations, showing that the honor given to God is not limited to Israel.
  • The word for “bring” is יָבֹאוּ (yavo’u), which means to come or to bring, suggesting an act of approaching with respect or tribute.
  • “Presents” is שַׁי (shai), meaning gifts or offerings, often understood as valuable items given to show honor or allegiance.

Why Psalms 68:29 matters

  • Psalms 68:29 clarifies that the temple in Jerusalem is not just important for Israel, but is meant to be recognized by the wider world, showing God’s universal significance.
  • The verse helps correct the idea that only Israelites honored God; it envisions a future where even foreign kings bring gifts, pointing to a broader impact of God’s presence.
  • This verse connects to the larger theme of Psalms 68, which celebrates God’s power, His care for His people, and His ultimate authority over all nations.

Where else these words appear

“presents” Hebrew H7862 · used in 3 verses

  • Psalms 76:11 Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.
  • Isaiah 18:7 In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion.

“bring” Hebrew H2986 · used in 18 verses

  • Job 10:19 I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.
  • Psalms 60:9 Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
  • Isaiah 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

“temple” Hebrew H1964 · used in 76 verses

  • 1 Samuel 1:9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
  • Nehemiah 6:10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.
  • Ezekiel 41:1 Afterward he brought me to the temple, and measured the posts, six cubits broad on the one side, and six cubits broad on the other side, which was the breadth of the tabernacle.