So the LORD became King in Jeshurun when the leaders of the people gathered, when the tribes of Israel came together.
Parallel translations
- WEB He was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together.
- KJV And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.
- NKJV And He was King in Jeshurun, When the leaders of the people were gathered, All the tribes of Israel together.
- NASB “And He was king in Jeshurun, When the heads of the people gathered, The tribes of Israel together.
- NLT The Lord became king in Israel— when the leaders of the people assembled, when the tribes of Israel gathered as one.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Yahweh reigned as king over Jeshurun (Israel) when the people and their tribes gathered together. God Himself is Israel's true King.
Overview
"Jeshurun" is an affectionate poetic name for Israel, meaning "the upright one." The verse celebrates God's kingship over a united nation, established at the founding assembly of the tribes. Israel's monarchy was always meant to be under God's ultimate rule, a kingship perfectly realized in Jesus, the King of kings descended from Israel (Rev. 19:16).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Deut 32:15But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked—becoming fat, bloated, and gorged. He abandoned the God who made him and scorned the Rock of his salvation.
- Judg 17:6In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
- Num 23:21He considers no disaster for Jacob; He sees no trouble for Israel. The LORD their God is with them, and the shout of the King is among them.
- Judg 8:22Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you and your son and grandson—for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”
- Exod 18:19Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him.
- Gen 36:31These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites:
- Judg 9:2“Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.”
- Num 16:13–15Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? Must you also appoint yourself as ruler over us?
- Exod 18:16“Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 33:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.