Psalms 105:44
in Psalms 105He gave them the lands of the nations, that they might inherit the fruit of others’ labor,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he gave them the lands of the nations; And they took the labor of the peoples in possession:
KJV
And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;
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This verse in Psalms 105
Commentary
10 notes on this verseHence rightly also it is said through the Psalmist: "He gave them the lands of the nations, and they took possession of the labors of the peoples, that they might keep his statutes and observe his law." So therefore in this passage, Truth speaking to the inexperienced disciples promises that the kingdom of God will be seen on earth, so that it might be more faithfully hoped for by them in heaven. From that very kingdom which we now see exalted in the world, let us hope for the kingdom which we believe is to be received in heaven.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they took the labours of the people in possession" [Psalm 105:44]. "The lands of the heathen," and "the labours of the people," are the same; and the words, "He gave," are repeated in these, "they took in possession."
"And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they took the labours of the people in possession" [Psalm 105:44]. "The lands of the heathen," and "the labours of the people," are the same; and the words, "He gave," are repeated in these, "they took in possession."
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
): He gave them the lands of the heathen, put them in possession of that which they had long been put in hopes of; and what the Canaanites had taken pains for God's Israel had the enjoyment of: They inherited the labour of the people; and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
And gave them the lands of the Heathen,.... The countries of the seven nations that dwelt in Canaan; the Lord did it, who had a right to do it, being the possessor of heaven and earth; and who was provoked unto it by the sins of these Heathens, as well as promised it to his people the Israelites. And they inherited the labour of the people; dwelled in the houses they had built, which they found full of all good things; enjoyed the vineyards and olive trees they had planted, and possessed the wells which they had dug, Deu 6:
In singing this we must give to God the glory of his wisdom and power, his goodness and faithfulness, must look upon ourselves as concerned in the affairs of the Old-Testament church, both because to it were committed the oracles of God, which are our treasure, and because out of it Christ arose, and these things happened to it for ensamples.
4 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
(2) That they might be obedient. The observance of God's commands by Abraham was the object of the covenant with him (Ge 18:19), as it was also the object of the covenant with Israel, that they might observe God's statutes. remembered . . . and Abraham--or, "remembered His holy word (that is, covenant confirmed) with Abraham."
And gave them the lands of the heathen. He drove out the Canaanites and allotted the lands to the tribes. They were called on to fight, but the Lord wrought so wonderfully that the conquest was not effected by their bow or spear—the Lord gave them the land. And they inherited the labour of the people, they dwelt in houses which they had not built, and gathered fruit front vines and olives which they had not planted. They were not settled in a desert which needed to be reclaimed, but in a land fertile to a proverb, and cultivated carefully by its inhabitants. Like Adam, they were placed in a garden. This entrance into the goodly land was fitly celebrated when the ark was being moved to Zion.
And gave them the lands of the heathen. He drove out the Canaanites and allotted the lands to the tribes. They were called on to fight, but the Lord wrought so wonderfully that the conquest was not effected by their bow or spear—the Lord gave them the land. And they inherited the labour of the people, they dwelt in houses which they had not built, and gathered fruit front vines and olives which they had not planted.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And gave them the lands of the heathen - Of the “nations” of the land of Palestine, according to his promise. See the notes at Psa 78:55. And they inherited the labor of the people - The fruit of their labors. See Deu 6:10-11; Jos 13:7.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיִּתֵּ֣ן | vaiyiten | and he gave | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| לָ֭הֶם | lahem | to them | ||
| אַרְצ֣וֹת | ʾartzot | lands of | H776 → | 2504 times |
| גּוֹיִ֑ם | goyim | nations | H1471 → | 561 times |
| וַעֲמַ֖ל | vaamal | and [the] labor of | H5999 → | 55 times |
| לְאֻמִּ֣ים | leumim | peoples | H3816 → | 31 times |
| יִירָֽשׁוּ׃ | yirashu | they took possession of | H3423 → | 231 times |
וַיִּתֵּ֣ןand he gave
vaiyitenH5414 →2011 times
לָ֭הֶםto them
lahem
אַרְצ֣וֹתlands of
ʾartzotH776 →2504 times
גּוֹיִ֑םnations
goyimH1471 →561 times
וַעֲמַ֖לand [the] labor of
vaamalH5999 →55 times
לְאֻמִּ֣יםpeoples
leumimH3816 →31 times
יִירָֽשׁוּ׃they took possession of
yirashuH3423 →231 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Joshua 24:13So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities that you did not build, and now you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you…
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 6:10–12
And when the LORD your God brings you into the land He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that He would give you—a land with great and splendid cities that you…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Deuteronomy 8:7
For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks and fountains and springs that flow through the valleys and hills;
- Joshua 21:45
Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel had failed; everything was fulfilled.
- Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.
- Deuteronomy 6:10–12
Through
Psalms 78:55He drove out nations before them and apportioned their inheritance; He settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.
it leads to
- Joshua 13:7
Now therefore divide this land as an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”
- Psalms 44:2
With Your hand You drove out the nations and planted our fathers there; You crushed the peoples and cast them out.
- Nehemiah 9:22–25
You gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them every corner of the land. So they took the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and of Og king of Bashan.
- Joshua 13:7
Through
Joshua 24:8Later, I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived beyond the Jordan. They fought against you, but I delivered them into your hand, that you should possess their land when I…
it leads to
- Numbers 21:21–35
Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,
- Numbers 21:21–35
Where this verse is studied
About Psalms
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 105; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 5; Gregory the Dialogist, Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 32; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.