1 Chronicles 16:18 kjv
Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance;
1 Chronicles 16:18 nkjv
Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan As the allotment of your inheritance,"
1 Chronicles 16:18 niv
"To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit."
1 Chronicles 16:18 esv
saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan, as your portion for an inheritance."
1 Chronicles 16:18 nlt
"I will give you the land of Canaan
as your special possession."
1 Chronicles 16 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:7 | Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." | God's first promise of land to Abraham. |
| Gen 13:15 | "...for all the land which you see I will give to you and your descendants forever." | Land promise confirmed to Abraham, everlasting. |
| Gen 15:18 | On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants I have given this land..." | Covenant sealing the land promise. |
| Gen 17:8 | "Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger... for an everlasting possession..." | Canaan promised as an everlasting possession. |
| Gen 26:3 | "Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands..." | Land promise re-affirmed to Isaac. |
| Gen 28:13 | "...the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your descendants." | Land promise re-affirmed to Jacob. |
| Gen 35:12 | "The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give the land." | Land promise to Jacob, mentioning predecessors. |
| Ex 6:4 | "I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan..." | God recalling His covenant to Moses. |
| Deut 1:8 | "See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land..." | Exhortation to enter the promised land. |
| Deut 9:5 | "It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart... but that He may fulfill the word which the LORD swore to your fathers..." | God's faithfulness, not Israel's merit. |
| Josh 1:6 | "Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land..." | Command to Joshua to distribute the land. |
| Josh 21:43-45 | So the LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers... Not a word failed of any good thing... all came to pass. | Fulfillment of the land promise. |
| Neh 9:8 | "...You found his heart faithful before You, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites... to give it to his descendants. You have performed Your words, for You are righteous." | God's righteous performance of the promise. |
| Ps 78:54-55 | "And He brought them to His holy border... He cast out the nations before them, and divided them an inheritance by measure..." | God's expulsion of nations and land distribution. |
| Ps 105:11 | "Saying, ‘To you I will give the land of Canaan As the allotment of your inheritance.’" | Parallel passage; confirms David's recital of the covenant. |
| Ps 136:21-22 | "And gave their land as a heritage... Even a heritage to Israel His servant, For His mercy endures forever;" | God's gracious gift of the land. |
| Mic 7:20 | "You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, Which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old." | Confirmation of ancient sworn promises. |
| Acts 7:5 | "And Stephen said... He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground; and yet, even when Abraham had no child, He promised that He would give it to him for a possession..." | Recounts Abraham's promise, even without immediate possession. |
| Heb 4:1 | Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. | Spiritual parallel of inherited rest in Christ. |
| Heb 11:9 | By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. | Faith of patriarchs in the promised land. |
| Heb 11:13 | These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them... seeking a homeland. | Earthly land as a pointer to a heavenly homeland. |
| Gal 3:18 | For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. | Inheritance is by promise, not law. |
| Eph 1:11 | In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will. | Spiritual inheritance in Christ for believers. |
| 1 Pet 1:4 | to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. | The new covenant believer's imperishable inheritance. |
1 Chronicles 16 verses
1 Chronicles 16 18 Meaning
This verse declares a specific divine promise made by God, affirming His sovereign intent to give the physical land of Canaan to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Israel, as their designated, perpetual inheritance. It highlights God's faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant vows.
1 Chronicles 16 18 Context
1 Chronicles 16 forms the core of David's Psalm of Thanksgiving, recited when the Ark of the Covenant was finally brought to Jerusalem and placed in the tent David had prepared for it. This occasion was a pivotal moment of worship and national significance. The psalm (parallel to Ps 105 and 96, and portions of Ps 106) recounts God's historical dealings with Israel, reminding the people of God's past faithfulness, particularly His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Verse 18 is part of this historical recital, highlighting God's foundational promise regarding the land of Canaan. It serves as a reminder of Israel's divinely granted identity and the source of their prosperity and security—not their might, but God's unbreakable word. David is not just reciting history; he is praising God for His enduring truth and faithfulness, establishing a pattern of worship for the new era under his kingship.
1 Chronicles 16 18 Word analysis
Saying (Hebrew: lēʾmōr לֵאמֹר): An infinitive construct often translated "to say" or "saying." Here, it introduces a direct quote from God's own words. It emphasizes the direct and authoritative nature of the divine utterance, signifying a clear and explicit declaration from God.
Unto thee (Hebrew: lāḵem לָכֶם): Refers to the plural "you," meaning the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) collectively and, by extension, their descendants, the nation of Israel. It denotes the direct beneficiaries of the divine promise.
will I give (Hebrew: ʾEttēn אֶתֵּן): "I will give." The first person singular imperfect verb highlights God as the active giver and the absolute subject of this promise. It signifies a definitive, future action that God Himself will accomplish. It underlines divine initiative and power.
the land of Canaan (Hebrew: ʾereṣ Kənāʿan אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן): Specifies the exact geographical territory. This particular land was divinely appointed and demarcated. It wasn't just any land but a specific region rich in resources and strategically important, to be God's habitation among His people. The inclusion of the name asserts God's exclusive claim over it.
the lot of your inheritance (Hebrew: ḥēvel naḥălāṯkem חֶבֶל נַחֲלַתְכֶם):
- the lot (ḥēvel): Literally means "cord" or "rope," used metaphorically for a measuring line, then the portion measured out, or "allotment." It signifies a precise, determined, and divinely distributed share. It speaks to the orderly and sovereign division of the land among the tribes, each receiving their designated portion by God's decree.
- your inheritance (naḥălāṯkem): "Your inheritance, possession, patrimony." It denotes a perpetual possession passed down from generation to generation, implying security and permanence. In this context, it is a gracious gift from God, something Israel did not earn but received as heirs. This highlights that the land was not a temporary conquest but a permanent divine grant to His chosen people.
Words-group analysis:
- "Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan": This phrase encapsulates the core, unconditional nature of God's covenant promise to the patriarchs. It's a unilateral declaration, not contingent on Israel's merit, but on God's will and power. It also establishes the specific object of the promise—the land—and the recipients.
- "the lot of your inheritance": This phrase emphasizes the secure, perpetual, and divinely ordained nature of the land's possession. "Lot" points to the idea of a fixed, pre-determined boundary by divine hand, eliminating human caprice. "Inheritance" signifies a permanent, rightful claim, much like a family heirloom passed down, given freely and perpetually.
1 Chronicles 16 18 Bonus section
The land of Canaan, though a literal, geographical inheritance for Israel, also carries deep theological significance as a type or foreshadowing. It represents a tangible demonstration of God's provision and faithfulness. The ultimate "rest" and "inheritance" for God's people extend beyond physical territory to a spiritual and eternal dwelling with Him, as explored in the New Testament. The earthly promised land serves as a profound metaphor for the true and everlasting spiritual inheritance believers receive through Christ, an inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled (1 Pet 1:4). The giving of the land illustrates that God keeps His promises to His people, establishing confidence that His greater promises—salvation, the Holy Spirit, eternal life—will also be fully realized.
1 Chronicles 16 18 Commentary
1 Chronicles 16:18 powerfully articulates a fundamental pillar of God's covenant with Israel: the unconditional promise of the land of Canaan. This verse, recited by David as part of a great hymn of thanksgiving, roots Israel's identity and existence in the faithful, specific, and unbreakable word of God to their forefathers. It underscores that their dwelling in the land was not by their own strength or conquest but solely by divine gift and an everlasting inheritance. This declaration was meant to remind a nation in David's time—and still reminds us today—that God remembers His covenant word "for a thousand generations." The term "allotment" signifies God's precise and deliberate act in defining the boundaries and portions, demonstrating His meticulous care and absolute sovereignty over all creation, including the land itself. Ultimately, this promise, like all of God's promises, showcases His immutable character as one who fulfills His word. It points to a God who establishes an earthly inheritance as a sign of His greater eternal kingdom and rest for His people.