Deuteronomy 33 5

Deuteronomy 33:5 kjv

And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.

Deuteronomy 33:5 nkjv

And He was King in Jeshurun, When the leaders of the people were gathered, All the tribes of Israel together.

Deuteronomy 33:5 niv

He was king over Jeshurun when the leaders of the people assembled, along with the tribes of Israel.

Deuteronomy 33:5 esv

Thus the LORD became king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together.

Deuteronomy 33:5 nlt

The LORD became king in Israel ?
when the leaders of the people assembled,
when the tribes of Israel gathered as one."

Deuteronomy 33 verses

Deuteronomy 33 5 Meaning

Deuteronomy 33:5 declares the divine sovereignty of God over Israel, His chosen nation, when they stood unified in their commitment to Him. It speaks of God being the true King over "Jeshurun," a poetic and affectionate name for Israel, emphasizing their unique status and calling to uprightness. This kingship was manifested and affirmed through the communal gathering of the leaders and all the tribes of Israel, signifying a national recognition and submission to His rule, particularly in the context of receiving His divine law and establishing His covenant kingdom.

Deuteronomy 33 5 Context

Deuteronomy 33 forms the final blessing of Moses upon the twelve tribes of Israel before his death, mirroring Jacob's blessings in Genesis 49. Following a recount of the foundational events at Mount Sinai (vv. 2-4), this verse pivots to establish the essence of Israel's national identity: a people whose ultimate ruler is the Almighty God. It harkens back to the pivotal moment when God established His covenant at Sinai, receiving the Law (the "inheritance of the assembly of Jacob" in v.4), which formed the basis of His theocratic rule over them. The verse specifically portrays Israel in its ideal state – united and submitting to God's kingship – at the moment of their foundational covenantal establishment. This sets the stage for the individual blessings to each tribe, as a nation under one divine King.

Deuteronomy 33 5 Word analysis

• He: Refers to YHWH, the Lord God. While v.4 speaks of Moses delivering the Law, the context of verses 2-4 establishes the majestic coming of God Himself from Sinai as the source of power and authority. This verse continues the description of God's majestic activity among His people.
• was king (מֶלֶךְ, melech): Signifies divine sovereignty. This is not a human, earthly king, but God Himself as the ultimate authority and ruler of His people. His kingship is inherent, not bestowed, and exercised through His Law and covenant. This concept establishes Israel as a theocracy.
• in Jeshurun (בִּישֻׁרוּן, bi-Yeshurun): "The Upright One." A poetic, affectionate, and honorific title for Israel. This term appears only four times in the Old Testament (Deut 32:15; 33:5, 26; Isa 44:2). It speaks to Israel's calling and ideal state as a righteous, faithful nation, set apart for God's purposes, though they often failed to live up to it. Its use here reminds them of their potential and foundational identity.
• when the heads of the people were gathered: (בְּהִתְאַסֵּף רָאשֵׁי עָם, b'hitassef rashei am) This highlights a formal, collective assembly. "Heads" (rashei) denotes the leaders, elders, or chieftains of the tribes and clans. Their gathering implies consent, representation, and a formal agreement to God's rule. This imagery strongly evokes the assembly at Sinai, where the covenant was established and affirmed by the whole people through their representatives (Exod 19, 24).
• all the tribes of Israel together: (יַחַד שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, yachad shivtei Yisrael) This emphasizes the complete unity and solidarity of the nation. It signifies that God's kingship was not over a faction or a segment, but over the entirety of His chosen people. The "togetherness" (yachad) points to their corporate identity and their collective, willing submission to God's reign and Law as one united body.

Deuteronomy 33 5 Bonus section

The concept of God being "king in Jeshurun" is significant because it predates the request for and establishment of human monarchy in Israel (1 Samuel 8). Moses, through this blessing, highlights that Israel's true, ideal King was always God Himself. Any human king was meant to serve as His vice-regent, ruling under Him and according to His Law. This foundational truth about God's direct sovereignty serves as a standard against which all future leadership in Israel, both secular and religious, was to be measured. The collective gathering signifies not only submission but also participation; Israel became a nation where everyone, from leaders to common people, had a role in living out the divine kingdom's principles.

Deuteronomy 33 5 Commentary

Deuteronomy 33:5 portrays God's foundational reign over Israel, describing Him as King over "Jeshurun"—a name accentuating Israel's divinely purposed uprightness. This declaration is rooted in the moment the nation coalesced as a unified body under His covenant Law, especially at Sinai. The phrase "when the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together" emphasizes that God's kingship was not arbitrarily imposed but was formally acknowledged by the entirety of the community, represented by its leaders. It underscores the theocratic ideal of Israel, where God Himself was the supreme Ruler, and His Law, received at this pivotal gathering, served as the constitution of His kingdom. This verse contrasts God's righteous and unifying rule with the fragmented, often ungodly rule of pagan nations. It reminds Israel of its original and purest identity: a people united under their divine King.

Practical examples:

• This teaches believers the importance of corporate unity in submission to God's word (His law) and Christ's leadership.
• It serves as a reminder that the church, the spiritual "Jeshurun," is called to be a people characterized by uprightness and obedience to her King.