Psalms 78:67 (KJV)

What does Psalms 78:67 mean?

Psalms 78:67 says that God did not choose the tribe of Ephraim or the descendants of Joseph to be the center of worship for Israel. Instead, God passed over them and chose another tribe for a special role.

This verse is part of a longer psalm where the writer, Asaph, is telling the story of Israel’s history to teach lessons about faithfulness and God’s choices. Here, the focus is on how God made a deliberate decision not to make Ephraim—the leading tribe among Joseph’s descendants—the main place for His worship, even though Ephraim had been important in earlier times.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 78:67

• "refused" (מָאַס, ma'as): This word means to reject or refuse. It shows that God made an active decision not to choose the tribe of Joseph for this special honor.
• "tabernacle" (אֹהֶל, ohel): This word means tent or dwelling. Here, it refers to the place where God’s presence was symbolized among the people, highlighting that God did not pick Joseph’s line for this sacred role.
• "Joseph" (יוֹסֵף, Yosef): Joseph represents the tribes descended from him, mainly Ephraim and Manasseh. Mentioning Joseph connects this decision to a major branch of Israel’s family.
• "chose" (בָּחַר, bachar): This word means to select or choose. It emphasizes that God’s actions were purposeful and not random.
• "tribe" (שֵׁבֶט, shevet): This term means a tribe or clan, referring to the divisions of Israel’s people.
• "Ephraim" (אֶפְרָיִם, Ephrayim): Ephraim was the most prominent tribe among Joseph’s descendants and had a leading role in northern Israel, so passing over them was significant.

Why Psalms 78:67 matters

• This verse helps clear up why the center of Israel’s worship and leadership shifted from the northern tribes (like Ephraim) to the tribe of Judah, where Jerusalem and the temple would be established.
• It highlights that God’s choices are not always based on human expectations or past prominence; even a leading tribe like Ephraim could be passed over.
• In the context of the whole psalm, this verse shows how God’s decisions shape the story of His people, setting up the next verses where Judah and David are chosen for special roles.