Psalm 78:55 tells us that God himself drove out the nations ahead of Israel and gave their land to the tribes as a permanent inheritance, settling them in homes of their own. The verse is part of a long poem recounting Israel’s history, and it is spoken by the psalmist, Asaph’s line of worship leaders, who is recalling the exodus and conquest for the people of Israel so they would remember what God had done.
He also drove out the nations before them, allotted them for an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
Psalm 78:55 (WEB)
What Psalm 78:55 Means
The verse begins with “He also drove out the nations before them.” The psalmist credits God with clearing the way. Israel did not simply take the land by its own strength. The Canaanite peoples were displaced, and the psalmist attributes that displacement to the Lord working on Israel’s behalf.
Next comes “allotted them for an inheritance by line.” An inheritance is what a family receives and keeps across generations. Here the land is divided among the tribes by measured portions, so each family has a defined share that belongs to them. The image is of order and stability, a home that can be passed down rather than a temporary camp.
The verse closes with “made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.” Tents were the everyday homes of people who moved about, so the phrase shows the settled life God provided, where a people who had wandered in the wilderness could finally live in one place. The verse does not promise personal comfort or freedom from trouble for every believer. It describes God’s faithfulness to a particular people in a particular historical moment, and it reads most richly as a witness to his reliability in keeping his word.
The Context of Psalm 78:55
Psalm 78 is a historical psalm, a teaching poem that retells Israel’s story from the exodus through the reign of David. Its purpose is instruction: parents are to pass these events to their children so that the next generation will trust God and not forget his deeds. The psalm moves back and forth between God’s mercy and Israel’s repeated rebellion, which gives its account of the past an honest and pastoral tone.
The verses just before and after Psalm 78:55 make its meaning clearer. Verses 52 to 54 describe God leading his people like a shepherd through the wilderness and bringing them to the border of his holy land. Verse 55 then describes the settling of that land, and verses 56 to 58 turn to Israel’s unfaithfulness after receiving it. Read in this setting, the verse is not a triumphant boast with no shadow over it. It is part of a sober review in which God’s generous gift stands in sharp contrast to the people’s failure to respond with faithfulness.
Key Phrases in Psalm 78:55
Joshua 21:43
So the LORD gave to Israel all the land which he swore to give to their fathers. They possessed it, and lived in it.
(WEB)
This verse summarizes the fulfillment of God’s promise to give Israel the land he swore to their ancestors. It parallels Psalm 78:55 by affirming that God settled his people in the land and that the gift came from his faithfulness rather than human achievement.
Psalm 105:44
He gave them the lands of the nations. They took the labor of the peoples in possession…
(WEB)
This psalm also recounts God giving Israel the lands of the nations, with the reason that the people might keep his statutes. It reinforces the same historical memory found in Psalm 78 and shows how Israel’s worship repeatedly looked back at this act of divine generosity.
A Short Prayer From Psalm 78:55
Lord, you have been faithful to your people from the wilderness to the settled land, and you have not forgotten your promises to them. Help me to remember your past kindness when the future feels uncertain. Give me a settled trust in you, so that I can rest in the home you provide and not be restless in my fear. Teach me to be faithful in return, to honor the gifts you have given and to walk closely with you each day. Amen.
