Psalm 68:29 kjv
Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.
Psalm 68:29 nkjv
Because of Your temple at Jerusalem, Kings will bring presents to You.
Psalm 68:29 niv
Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring you gifts.
Psalm 68:29 esv
Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings shall bear gifts to you.
Psalm 68:29 nlt
The kings of the earth are bringing tribute
to your Temple in Jerusalem.
Psalm 68 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 2:2-3 | "In the latter days... all nations will stream to it... 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD...'" | Nations flocking to Jerusalem to learn God's ways. |
| Isa 49:7 | "...kings will see and rise, princes will bow down..." | Kings honoring the Servant of the Lord. |
| Isa 49:23 | "Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers..." | Gentile rulers serving Israel. |
| Isa 60:3 | "Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." | Gentiles and kings drawn to Zion's glory. |
| Isa 60:5-7 | "...the wealth of the nations will come to you... bearing gold and frankincense..." | Gentile wealth brought as worship to God. |
| Isa 60:10-11 | "...their kings led in procession... their kings be brought." | Foreigners and their kings serving God's city. |
| Psa 72:10-11 | "May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands bring tribute... May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him." | Messianic king receiving global homage. |
| Zech 14:16 | "Then the survivors from all the nations... will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty..." | Future universal worship of God in Jerusalem. |
| Mal 1:11 | "For from the rising of the sun to its setting My name will be great among the nations..." | God's name universally exalted. |
| 1 Kgs 10:1-10 | Queen of Sheba brings immense wealth to Solomon after hearing of his wisdom. | An early historical instance of foreign tribute to a King connected with Jerusalem's fame. |
| 1 Kgs 8:41-43 | Solomon's prayer for foreigners coming to the temple because of God's great name. | Gentiles seeking God at the temple. |
| Psa 47:7-8 | "For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. God reigns over the nations..." | God's universal kingship over all peoples. |
| Exod 25:8 | "Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them." | God's desire for a dwelling place among His people. |
| 1 Kgs 8:13 | "I have surely built You an exalted house, a place for You to dwell forever." | Solomon dedicates the Temple as God's dwelling. |
| John 2:19-21 | Jesus speaking of destroying and raising the temple in three days, referring to His body. | Jesus is the ultimate temple, fulfilling its purpose. |
| Matt 2:1-11 | The Magi from the East bringing gifts (gold, frankincense, myrrh) to the newborn King of the Jews. | Fulfillment of kings bringing gifts to the Messiah. |
| Acts 15:16-17 | Peter quoting Amos 9:11-12 about rebuilding David's fallen tent so that "the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles." | Gentiles included in God's people. |
| Eph 2:19-22 | Gentiles are "fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God... a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." | The Church as God's spiritual temple where He dwells. |
| Heb 13:15-16 | "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise... and do not forget to do good and to share..." | Spiritual "gifts" of worship and good deeds. |
| Rev 21:24 | "The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it." | Nations and kings bringing honor to the New Jerusalem. |
Psalm 68 verses
Psalm 68 29 Meaning
Psalm 68:29 speaks of the magnetic spiritual pull exerted by God's temple in Jerusalem, which will lead kings of the earth to bring gifts and tribute to the Lord. It anticipates a future time when the divine presence residing in Jerusalem, specifically at His chosen sanctuary, will draw rulers from all nations to acknowledge God's supreme sovereignty through acts of homage and offerings. These gifts signify their submission, worship, and recognition of the Lord as the true King over all creation.
Psalm 68 29 Context
Psalm 68 is a grand psalm of triumph, likely celebrating a major military victory and the establishment of God's dwelling place, possibly the Ark in Jerusalem. It traces God's victorious leadership from the Exodus through the establishment of Zion as His chosen dwelling. The psalm describes God as a divine warrior leading His people, casting down His enemies, and asserting His sovereignty. Verse 29 specifically follows a section that emphasizes God's power and the fear He inspires in surrounding nations. It anticipates the global recognition of God's dominion and the central role of His temple in Jerusalem as the spiritual focal point that attracts international reverence and tribute. The vision extends beyond Israel, portraying a future where all earthly power bows before the King of kings in Zion.
Psalm 68 29 Word analysis
- Because of Your temple (בְּהֵיכָלְךָ - beheykalkha):
- בְּ (be): The preposition can mean "in," "at," or "from" or "because of." Here, it denotes the temple as the reason or the location of the draw. It signifies the emanation of divine glory and influence from this sacred place.
- הֵיכַל (heikal): Refers specifically to the "temple," the sacred building where God's presence dwelt, rather than the general "house" (בַּיִת, bayit). It conveys majesty and spiritual power. This temple, from the Tabernacle to Solomon's Temple, symbolized God's manifest presence among His people and His authority over the earth.
- at Jerusalem (עַל יְרוּשָׁלָיִם - ‘al Yerushalayim):
- עַל ('al): Means "upon," "over," or "at." It specifies Jerusalem as the unique, divinely chosen city where the temple resides. This elevates Jerusalem as the spiritual capital of the world, drawing all peoples. Jerusalem's unique status stems from God's specific choice and establishment of His name there (Deut 12:5, Psa 132:13-14).
- Kings (מְלָכִים - melakhim):
- Plural of "king," denoting rulers, sovereigns, potentates from all nations. This emphasizes the universal scope of God's dominion and the submission of even the most powerful earthly authorities. It directly challenges any notion of a national deity by showcasing Yahweh's reign over all rulers, irrespective of their domain or pantheon.
- will bring gifts (לְךָ יוֹבִילוּ שָׁי - lekha yoviloo shai):
- לְךָ (lekha): "To You," explicitly identifying the Lord (God) as the direct recipient of these offerings, not Israel or its human king, thereby emphasizing direct divine worship.
- יוֹבִילוּ (yoviloo): From the root יָבַל (yabal), "to bring" or "to lead." This indicates a voluntary, purposeful movement on the part of the kings to present their tribute. It's a proactive act of homage.
- שָׁי (shai): "Gifts," "tribute," or "present." These are not merely economic contributions but acts of honor and recognition, signifying allegiance, submission, and reverence for the one true God. They represent the wealth, power, and glory of their nations being consecrated to Him.
- "Your temple at Jerusalem": This phrase highlights the sanctity and centrality of God's dwelling place. The temple is not merely a building but the epicenter of divine revelation and the symbol of God's covenant presence. Its presence in Jerusalem gives the city its preeminence.
- "Kings will bring gifts to You": This word group presents a dramatic shift from God’s dealings with Israel’s enemies to His global reign. The "gifts" symbolize not just material wealth but also the bending of knees, the acknowledgment of supremacy, and ultimately, the turning of hearts to God. This universal tribute is a testament to God's glory spreading far beyond Israel's borders.
Psalm 68 29 Bonus section
The Hebrew word "shai" (שָׁי) for "gifts" in Psalm 68:29, though singular in form, is often understood collectively or intensively, representing a vast array of tribute and recognition. This foreshadows a time when nations, formerly adversaries or unaware, would stream toward Jerusalem as a focal point of worship (as seen in Isaiah and Zechariah), not by conquest alone but by divine attraction emanating from God's presence. The shift from a warrior God fighting Israel's battles to a God universally revered is a key transition in the psalm. This prophetic vision of Gentile inclusion and universal worship, originating in the Old Testament, sets the stage for the Gospel's outreach to every tribe, tongue, people, and nation (Revelation 7:9).
Psalm 68 29 Commentary
Psalm 68:29 serves as a magnificent prophetic declaration within a triumphant psalm, unveiling a future vision of God's universal dominion. It foresees a time when the mere presence of God's "temple at Jerusalem," symbolizing His chosen dwelling and manifest glory, will magnetically draw "kings" – the mightiest earthly rulers – to humble themselves and bring "gifts" to Him. These gifts are more than mere material offerings; they represent the full homage, worship, and allegiance of nations to the one true God. This verse encapsulates the psalmist's understanding that God's reign is not confined to Israel but extends over all the earth, ultimately leading all authority to acknowledge His supreme sovereignty, making Jerusalem the spiritual hub of the world. In the New Testament, this vision finds its ultimate spiritual fulfillment not only in the Gentile wise men bringing gifts to the Christ-child but more profoundly in the Church, the spiritual temple of God, which draws people from all nations to offer spiritual sacrifices of praise and transformed lives to the reigning King, Jesus Christ.