Psalms 136:21

And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:

And gave {H5414} their land {H776} for an heritage {H5159}: for his mercy {H2617} endureth for ever {H5769}:

then he gave their land as a heritage, for his grace continues forever;

and He gave their land as an inheritance, His loving devotion endures forever.

And gave their land for a heritage; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever;

Psalm 136:21 continues the recounting of God's mighty acts in Israel's history, specifically focusing on the divine gift of the Promised Land.

Context of Psalms 136:21

Psalm 136 is a unique liturgical hymn, likely used in temple worship, characterized by its repetitive refrain: "for his mercy endureth for ever." The psalm systematically lists God's powerful deeds, beginning with creation (verses 4-9), moving through the Exodus from Egypt (verses 10-15), the journey through the wilderness (verses 16-17), and culminating in the conquest of the land (verses 18-22). Verse 21 specifically highlights the culmination of God's promise to Abraham regarding the land, establishing Israel in their inheritance after dispossessing the previous inhabitants.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Faithfulness: This verse powerfully underscores God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises. The giving of the land was the fulfillment of promises made centuries earlier to the patriarchs, demonstrating that God remembers and acts on His word across generations.
  • Sovereignty and Providence: God is depicted as the active agent who "gave their land." This was not a human conquest alone but a divine act of dispossessing the former inhabitants and providing an inheritance for His chosen people. It reveals God's ultimate control over nations and territories, emphasizing His divine providence.
  • Inheritance as a Gift: The land was not earned by Israel but was a gracious gift, an "heritage" (Hebrew: nachalah), signifying a permanent possession bestowed by divine decree. This emphasizes God's benevolence and generosity towards His people.
  • Enduring Mercy: The recurring refrain, "for his mercy endureth for ever," emphasizes that even in acts of judgment against other nations (dispossessing them), God's actions are ultimately rooted in His steadfast love and covenant loyalty towards Israel. This highlights the foundational attribute of God's character.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "mercy" is chesed (חֶסֶד), which is a rich theological term often translated as "lovingkindness," "steadfast love," or "covenant loyalty." It denotes a deep, loyal affection and commitment, especially within a covenant relationship. Its enduring nature ("endureth for ever") highlights God's unchanging character. The term "heritage" (נַחֲלָה - nachalah) refers to an inherited possession, particularly land, emphasizing its nature as a secure and lasting gift from God, often passed down through generations.

Practical Application

For believers today, Psalm 136:21 offers profound encouragement and insight. It reminds us that:

  • God is Faithful to His Promises: Just as God fulfilled His promise to Israel regarding the land, we can trust that He will fulfill His promises to us, including the promise of eternal life and a heavenly inheritance through Christ.
  • Our Blessings are Gifts: All good things we receive are ultimately expressions of God's enduring mercy and grace, not earned by our merit. This fosters gratitude and humility in our lives.
  • Trust in His Providence: God is actively involved in the affairs of the world and in our personal lives, guiding events according to His wise and merciful plan. We can rest in His sovereign control, knowing His lovingkindness never fails.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 135:12

    And gave their land [for] an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.

  • Joshua 13:1

    ¶ Now Joshua was old [and] stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old [and] stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.

  • Joshua 13:21

    And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, [which were] dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country.

  • Deuteronomy 3:12

    ¶ And this land, [which] we possessed at that time, from Aroer, which [is] by the river Arnon, and half mount Gilead, and the cities thereof, gave I unto the Reubenites and to the Gadites.

  • Deuteronomy 3:17

    The plain also, and Jordan, and the coast [thereof], from Chinnereth even unto the sea of the plain, [even] the salt sea, under Ashdothpisgah eastward.

  • Psalms 44:2

    [How] thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; [how] thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.

  • Psalms 44:3

    For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.

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