Psalm 78:55-56
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse highlights God's active role in securing the land for Israel, not just by driving out enemies but by apportioning it for them – a direct distribution that emphasizes His sovereign gift. Furthermore, saying they "settled in their tents" is a subtle yet powerful image, suggesting they inhabited the very dwelling places of the defeated nations, a tangible sign of their complete displacement and Israel's full possession.
He drove out nations before them; he apportioned them for a possession and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents. Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God and did not keep his testimonies,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm recounts Israel's history to teach present generations about God's faithfulness and their repeated unfaithfulness. After reminding them of God's miraculous provision in the wilderness and His gracious granting of the promised land by driving out the nations, the psalmist immediately pivots to Israel's continued rebellion and idolatry once they settled. This verse, therefore, marks a transition from God's powerful acts of deliverance and establishment to the people's subsequent failure to remain obedient in the land He gave them.
Have you ever felt like you've inherited something good, but it came at someone else's expense? This verse speaks to that reality in a profound way.
This verse highlights a critical moment in Israel's history: the conquest and settlement of Canaan.
God's Action:
Israel's Role:
The land of Canaan was a central promise to Israel. But how was it obtained, and what does that mean for our understanding of blessings?
Ask a follow-up
This verse, when read in context, underscores a vital theological point: the land was a gift from God, not something Israel earned through their own merit or strength.
God's Initiative:
Israel's Obligation:
Understand the original words
nachal · Hebrew Verb
The act of allocating or dividing land as an inheritance. In the context of the Promised Land, it signifies the sovereign distribution of territory to the tribes of Israel as an eternal covenantal gift from God.
nachalah · Hebrew Noun
An inheritance or a settled portion of land held as property. In the biblical context, it refers to the land given by God to His people as a permanent gift, emphasizing their status as His covenant heirs.
nasah · Hebrew Verb
A verb meaning to put to the test, to prove, or to try. In a biblical context, it often refers to humans doubting God's power or character, thereby putting Him to the test.
marah · Hebrew Verb
To act in open resistance against authority. Biblically, it describes the willful defiance of God’s established covenant or commands.
Elyon · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
A title for God emphasizing His supremacy, sovereignty, and transcendence over all creation.
edut · Hebrew Noun
A collective term for God’s revealed laws, warnings, and decrees that bear witness to His nature and requirement for His people.
This verse captures a pivotal moment – the successful conquest and settlement of the Promised Land. It highlights God's direct action in dispossessing the original inhabitants and granting the land as an inheritance to Israel, setting the stage for their national history.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Conquest of Canaan begins
Under Joshua's leadership, after years in the wilderness, the Israelites began the military campaign to conquer the land of Canaan.
c. 1375 BC
Division of the land
Following the conquest, the land of Canaan was systematically divided among the twelve tribes of Israel using a measuring line and lots.
c. 1375 BC - 1075 BC
Period of the Judges
Following Joshua's death, Israel entered a period where they often struggled to maintain full possession of the land and faced internal and external conflicts.
c. 1050 BC
Rise of the Monarchy
As the Judges era waned, the Israelites desired a king, leading to the anointing of Saul and later David, consolidating power and further establishing Israel in the land.
This passage details God's commissioning of Joshua to lead Israel into the promised land, emphasizing God's promise to drive out nations before them and give them the land, echoing the fulfillment described in Psalm 78:55.
Deuteronomy 7:1-6Here, Moses instructs Israel about the nations they will encounter and conquer, reinforcing the idea that God will drive them out to give Israel a holy inheritance, directly aligning with the action in Psalm 78:55.
Judges 1:1-21This chapter shows the initial stages of Israel taking possession of the land after Joshua's death, detailing how they drove out some inhabitants and received their allotted inheritance, illustrating the fulfillment and challenges of the promise in Psalm 78:55.
Psalm 44:2-3This psalm reflects on God's past faithfulness in giving Israel the land, stating they did not gain possession by their own sword but by God's power, which is the same divine enablement implied in Psalm 78:55.
expositorsPsalms 78:1-72: "Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth."
Psalm 78:1-72 THIS psalm is closely related to Psalm 105:1-45 ; Psalm 106:1-48 ; Psalm 107:1-43 . Like them, it treats the history of Israel, and especially the Exodus and wilderness wanderings, for purposes of edification, rebuke, and encouragement. The past is held up as a mirror to the present generation. It has been one long succession of miracles of mercy met by equally continu…
calvinPsalms 78:52-58: "But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock."
- And he made his people to go forth like sheep, and led them in the wilderness like a flock. 53. And he conducted them in safety, and they were not afraid: and the sea covered their enemies. 54. And he brought them to his holy border, [literally to the border of his holiness,] this mountain, [353] which his right hand acquired. [354] 55. He expelled the heathen from before them;…
The verse highlights God's active role in securing the land for Israel, not just by driving out enemies but by apportioning it for them – a direct distribution that emphasizes His sovereign gift. Furthermore, saying they "settled in their tents" is a subtle yet powerful image, suggesting they inhabited the very dwelling places of the defeated nations, a tangible sign of their complete displacement and Israel's full possession.
This psalm recounts Israel's history to teach present generations about God's faithfulness and their repeated unfaithfulness. After reminding them of God's miraculous provision in the wilderness and His gracious granting of the promised land by driving out the nations, the psalmist immediately pivots to Israel's continued rebellion and idolatry once they settled. This verse, therefore, marks a transition from God's powerful acts of deliverance and establishment to the people's subsequent failure to remain obedient in the land He gave them.
This psalm recounts Israel's history to teach present generations about God's faithfulness and their repeated unfaithfulness. After reminding them of God's miraculous provision in the wilderness and His gracious granting of the promised land by driving out the nations, the psalmist immediately pivots to Israel's continued rebellion and idolatry once they settled. This verse, therefore, marks a transition from God's powerful acts of deliverance and establishment to the people's subsequent failure to remain obedient in the land He gave them.
"He drove out nations before them; he apportioned them for a possession and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents. Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God and did not keep his testimonies," — The verse highlights God's active role in securing the land for Israel, not just by driving out enemies but by apportioning it for them – a direct distribution that emphasizes His sovereign gift. F…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
