Psalms 105:13

KJV

When they went from one nation to another, from [one] kingdom to another people;

KJV (with Strong's)

When they went {H1980} from one nation {H1471} to another, from one kingdom {H4467} to another {H312} people {H5971};

Complete Jewish Bible

wandering from nation to nation, from this kingdom to that people,

Berean Standard Bible

they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.

American Standard Version

And they went about from nation to nation, From one kingdom to another people.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 105:13 encapsulates a crucial period in Israel's early history, depicting the nomadic existence of the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and their families. This verse highlights their continuous movement across diverse geographical and political landscapes, emphasizing their vulnerability as a small, unrooted group. Yet, it implicitly underscores God's unwavering covenant faithfulness and providential care, which preserved and protected them through every transition, laying the groundwork for the fulfillment of His promises to His chosen people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 105 is a historical psalm, a hymn of praise recounting God's steadfast covenant faithfulness to Israel from the time of Abraham through the Exodus and the establishment in the Promised Land. It serves as a national remembrance and celebration of divine acts. Verses 8-15 specifically focus on God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants, detailing how a numerically small and vulnerable group was supernaturally preserved and prospered. Verse 13, "When they went from one nation to another, from [one] kingdom to another people," serves as a concise summary of the patriarchs' migratory lifestyle, directly following the declaration in [Psalm 105:12](/psalms/105-12 "Psalm 105:12 - Israel's Small Beginnings") that they were "but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it." This sets the stage for the miraculous protection described in [Psalm 105:14-15](/psalms/105-14 "Psalm 105:14-15 - God's Protection of the Patriarchs"), where God "suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes."
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period described in Psalm 105:13 refers to the patriarchal age, spanning from Abraham's call in Ur of the Chaldees to the descent into Egypt. This era was characterized by a semi-nomadic existence in the land of Canaan, a region populated by various independent city-states and tribal groups (e.g., Canaanites, Perizzites, Hittites, Amorites). For a small, unaligned family group like Abraham's, moving "from one nation to another" presented significant dangers, including potential conflict, famine, and exploitation. Without a fixed homeland, political alliances, or military strength, their survival was precarious. Their interactions with powerful rulers, such as Pharaoh in [Genesis 12](/genesis/12 "Genesis 12 - Abraham in Egypt") or Abimelech in [Genesis 20](/genesis/20 "Genesis 20 - Abraham and Abimelech"), underscore their vulnerability and the extraordinary nature of God's direct intervention for their protection.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes within Psalm 105 and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Providence and Guidance**, demonstrating that the patriarchs' movements were not random wanderings but divinely orchestrated steps within God's overarching plan for His covenant people. Even in unfamiliar and hostile territories, God was actively guiding and protecting them. Secondly, it emphasizes the theme of **Sojourning and Pilgrimage**. The patriarchs were never truly settled, reflecting a life of faith where their ultimate hope and home lay beyond earthly dwelling places, a concept echoed in the New Testament description of believers as [“strangers and pilgrims on the earth”](/hebrews/11-13 "Hebrews 11:13 - Believers as Strangers and Pilgrims"). Thirdly, the verse powerfully illustrates **God's Unwavering Covenant Faithfulness**. Despite their vulnerability, small numbers, and the challenges of moving between different cultures and rulers, God remained faithful to His promises made to Abraham, particularly the covenant established in [Genesis 15:18](/genesis/15-18 "Genesis 15:18 - God's Covenant with Abraham"). Their miraculous preservation and growth, despite having no fixed abode or political power, stood as a testament to God's steadfast commitment to His chosen lineage.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Nation (Hebrew, _goy'_):** This term, often translated "nation" or "people," refers to a distinct ethnic or political group. In the Old Testament, it can refer to both Israel and the Gentile nations. Here, it emphasizes the distinct, often hostile, foreign peoples and their territories through which the patriarchs traveled. The use of `goy` highlights the cultural and ethnic diversity of the regions they traversed, each with its own customs, laws, and deities, posing potential threats to a small, unaligned family.
* **Kingdom (Hebrew, _mamlakah'_):** This word denotes a sovereign state, a realm ruled by a king or governing authority. Its inclusion alongside "nation" (goy) underscores the political dimension of the patriarchs' journeys. They were not merely passing through uninhabited lands but moving between established polities, each with its own ruler and legal system. This emphasizes the precariousness of their position as outsiders, dependent entirely on divine favor for their safety and continued existence amidst potentially powerful and unpredictable rulers.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"When they went from one nation to another":** This clause describes the continuous, migratory movement of the patriarchs and their families. The repetition of "from one... to another" conveys a sense of constant transition and lack of permanent settlement. "Nation" (goy) here refers to the various ethnic groups and their territories, such as the Canaanites, Philistines, and Egyptians, highlighting the diverse cultural and social landscapes they encountered. Their journey was not a single, direct path but a series of movements between distinct peoples, emphasizing their status as sojourners.
* **"from [one] kingdom to another people":** This second clause functions as a synonymous parallelism, reinforcing and expanding upon the first. "Kingdom" (mamlakah) emphasizes the political entities and their rulers, underscoring that their travels involved navigating different sovereign authorities. "Another people" reiterates the idea of distinct populations. The parallelism intensifies the image of constant movement through varied political and social environments, underscoring the vulnerability of the patriarchs and the miraculous nature of their preservation without a secure, established homeland of their own.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 105:13 effectively employs several literary devices to convey its message. **Parallelism** is prominent, specifically synonymous parallelism, where the second clause ("from [one] kingdom to another people") reiterates and amplifies the meaning of the first ("from one nation to another"). This repetition emphasizes the continuous and extensive nature of the patriarchs' journeys. The **Repetition** of "from one... to another" creates a rhythmic effect that highlights the ceaseless movement and lack of a fixed abode, reinforcing their status as sojourners. Furthermore, the use of "nation" and "kingdom" can be seen as a form of **Metonymy**, where the terms for the political or ethnic entities stand in for the rulers and inhabitants themselves, underscoring the patriarchs' interactions with various authorities and populations. This concise verse, through these devices, powerfully paints a picture of vulnerability and constant transition, setting the stage for the miraculous divine protection that follows in the psalm.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 105:13 profoundly illustrates the theme of God's sovereign guidance and protection over His chosen people, even in their most vulnerable state. It highlights that the patriarchs' nomadic life, far from being a random wandering, was a divinely orchestrated pilgrimage, essential for the unfolding of God's covenant plan. Despite their small numbers and status as "strangers" in foreign lands, God's faithfulness ensured their survival and growth, demonstrating that His promises are not contingent on human strength or stable circumstances but on His unwavering character. This verse sets the stage for understanding Israel's entire history as a testament to God's active involvement in the lives of His people, preserving them through all challenges until the full realization of His redemptive purposes.

* [Genesis 12:1-3](/genesis/12-1 "Genesis 12:1-3 - The Call of Abraham")
* [Deuteronomy 26:5](/deuteronomy/26-5 "Deuteronomy 26:5 - Jacob as a Wandering Aramean")
* [Hebrews 11:8-10](/hebrews/11-8 "Hebrews 11:8-10 - Abraham's Faith and Sojourning")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 105:13 offers profound encouragement for believers navigating periods of transition, uncertainty, or feeling like outsiders in a world that often feels foreign to their spiritual convictions. Just as God meticulously guided and protected the patriarchs through their nomadic existence, His presence and faithfulness remain constant for His people today. This verse reminds us that our ultimate security is not found in stable earthly circumstances, fixed locations, or human power, but in our covenant relationship with God. It calls us to embrace the journey of faith, understanding that life as a believer is often a pilgrimage, where we are called to trust God's leading through every "nation" and "kingdom" we pass through, knowing He is faithful to His promises. Our identity is rooted not in where we are, but in whose we are, finding our true belonging and rest in Him alone, even when our physical circumstances are in flux.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you currently experiencing a "transition" or feeling like a "stranger"?**
* **How does the patriarchs' reliance on God amidst their nomadic life challenge your own understanding of security and stability?**
* **What specific promises of God can you cling to when you feel vulnerable or out of place, as the patriarchs did?**

### FAQ
**Who are "they" in Psalms 105:13, and why is their journey significant?**

Answer: "They" in Psalms 105:13 refers to the patriarchs of Israel—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and their immediate families. Their journey is significant because it represents the foundational period of God's covenant with Israel. Despite being a small, vulnerable group without a homeland, their constant movement "from one nation to another, from [one] kingdom to another people" (as described in [Psalms 105:13](/psalms/105-13 "Psalm 105:13 - The Patriarchs' Journeys")) highlights God's miraculous preservation and guidance. This nomadic existence, recounted in books like [Genesis](/genesis/1 "Book of Genesis"), was a testament to God's active involvement in their lives, protecting them from harm and ensuring the survival of the lineage through whom His promises would be fulfilled, ultimately leading to the formation of the nation of Israel.

**What does this verse teach us about God's protection in difficult circumstances?**

Answer: Psalms 105:13, especially when read in conjunction with the surrounding verses like [Psalms 105:14-15](/psalms/105-14 "Psalm 105:14-15 - God's Protection of the Patriarchs"), teaches us about God's sovereign and unwavering protection over His people, even when they are vulnerable and in foreign territories. It demonstrates that God's presence and power are not limited by geographical boundaries or political dangers. He actively intervenes, "reproving kings for their sakes," ensuring that no one can harm His chosen ones. This provides immense comfort, assuring believers that even when they feel like "strangers and pilgrims" (as in [1 Peter 2:11](/1_peter/2-11 "1 Peter 2:11 - Believers as Sojourners")), God's watchful eye and protective hand are upon them, guiding them through every challenging transition and safeguarding them according to His divine purpose.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 105:13, depicting the patriarchs' journey through various nations and kingdoms under divine protection, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in several profound ways. Jesus Christ himself is the ultimate sojourner, the Son of God who left His heavenly abode to enter the "kingdoms" of this world, not with a fixed earthly dwelling place (as He noted in [Matthew 8:20](/matthew/8-20 "Matthew 8:20 - The Son of Man Has No Place to Lay His Head")), but as a pilgrim on a divine mission. He perfectly embodies the faithful "seed" of Abraham, through whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed, fulfilling the covenant promises that began with the patriarchs' call to journey (as seen in [Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Galatians 3:16 - Christ as Abraham's Seed")). Moreover, the protection afforded to the patriarchs foreshadows Christ's unfailing care for His church, His new covenant people, who are now called to be "strangers and pilgrims" in this world, journeying towards a heavenly city (as described in [Hebrews 11:16](/hebrews/11-16 "Hebrews 11:16 - The Heavenly City")). Through Christ, believers are assured of God's constant presence and protection, no matter what "nation" or "kingdom" they pass through, knowing that He has overcome the world and is preparing an eternal dwelling place for them (as promised in [John 14:2-3](/john/14-2 "John 14:2-3 - Jesus Prepares a Place")). Thus, the precarious journeys of the patriarchs ultimately point to the secure and eternal pilgrimage of God's people in Christ, guided and guarded by the true King of Kings.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.