Read
Psalm 78:68
But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which he loved.
66He struck his adversaries backward. He put them to a perpetual reproach.
67Moreover he rejected the tent of Joseph, and didn’t choose the tribe of Ephraim,
68But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which he loved.
69He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which he has established forever.
70He also chose David his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds;
Notice
“Chose” and “loved” make Judah and Zion more than names on a map, drawing attention to God's purpose and affection in Israel's history.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What changes in your reading when Zion is described as a place God loved?
Write on thisHow does the contrast between Ephraim and Judah shape your response to God's freedom to choose?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 121:1A Song of Ascents. I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from?Both passages mention elevated places, though Psalm 121 asks about help and does not name Zion.
Deuteronomy 12:5But to the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes, to put his name there, you shall seek his habitation, and you shall come there.Both passages describe God's choice of a place among Israel's tribes, with Psalm 78 naming Judah and Zion.
Psalm 87:2The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.Both passages name Zion as a place the Lord loves.
Psalm 2:6“Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.”Zion is the mountain God loves in Psalm 78 and the holy hill where he sets his King in Psalm 2.
Psalm 9:11Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion, and declare among the people what he has done.Both passages connect Zion with the Lord: he loves it in Psalm 78 and dwells there in Psalm 9.
Isaiah 25:6In this mountain, the LORD of Armies will make all peoples a feast of choice meat, a feast of choice wines, of choice meat full of marrow, of well refined …Both passages connect a mountain with God's action, though the supplied Isaiah verse leaves the mountain unnamed.
Exodus 20:24You shall make an altar of earth for me, and shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your cattle. In every place …Both passages connect a place with God's initiative: choosing Zion in the psalm and recording his name in Exodus.
Genesis 49:8–10“Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies. Your father’s sons will bow down before you.Judah receives distinction in both passages: praise from his brothers in Genesis and God's choice of his tribe in Psalm 78.
Genesis 46:12The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.Judah is the shared name: Genesis lists his descendants, while Psalm 78 speaks of God's choice of his tribe.
Deuteronomy 12:11then it shall happen that to the place which the LORD your God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there, there you shall bring all that I command you: …God chooses a place in both passages; Deuteronomy describes worship brought there, while Psalm 78 names Mount Zion.
Deuteronomy 33:7This is for Judah. He said, “Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah. Bring him in to his people. With his hands he contended for himself. You shall be a help against …Both passages concern Judah's relationship with the Lord: divine choice in the psalm and a prayer for help in Deuteronomy.
1 Chronicles 11:5The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here!” Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. The same is David’s city.Zion links the passages as the mountain God loved and the stronghold David took as his city.
Where this verse fits
Sermon or Bible study notes. praise and worship.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The story reaches a place God loves. Even after the rejection named in the preceding verse, God's purpose continues with Judah and Zion.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 78:68. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
Keep goingPsalm 78 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).