But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.
PSALMS 78:68KJVWhat does Psalms 78:68 mean?
Psalms 78:68 says that God chose Judah and Mount Zion as the people and place at the center of the story the psalm is telling. The verse presents that choice as an expression of God’s love for Zion, a hill in Jerusalem.
After the contrast with Ephraim in verse 67, the psalm moves to Judah and Zion. For its first hearers, Zion would have brought to mind the place where God’s sanctuary stood in Jerusalem. The pairing of a tribe with a place links a group of people to a particular location.
The Hebrew behind Psalms 78:68
- “tribe” — שֵׁבֶט (shevet): This word can mean a staff or rod, as well as a tribe. Here it names Judah as one of the groups that made up the people of Israel.
- “loved” — אָהַב (ahav): This word means to love or have affection for someone or something. Here it describes God’s attachment to Zion, giving a personal note to the choice of a place.
Why Psalms 78:68 matters
- The choice of Zion leads into the picture of a lasting sanctuary. Verse 69 describes God building his sanctuary there “like high palaces” and “like the earth which he hath established for ever.”
- Judah also provides the setting for the choice of a leader. Verses 70–71 move from Zion to David, whom God takes from tending sheep to lead his people.