1 Chronicles 16:20 kjv
And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people;
1 Chronicles 16:20 nkjv
When they went from one nation to another, And from one kingdom to another people,
1 Chronicles 16:20 niv
they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.
1 Chronicles 16:20 esv
wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people,
1 Chronicles 16:20 nlt
They wandered from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another.
1 Chronicles 16 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 105:13 | When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people, | Direct parallel to 1 Chr 16:20. |
| Gen 12:1-3 | Go from your country... and I will make of you a great nation... | Call of Abraham, beginning of his wanderings. |
| Gen 23:4 | I am a sojourner and sojourner among you; give me property for a burying place | Abraham's self-identification as a transient. |
| Gen 26:3 | Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you... | God's promise to Isaac as he sojourns. |
| Gen 28:15 | Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go... | God's promise of presence and protection to Jacob. |
| Ex 6:4 | I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. | Covenant for the land of their sojourning. |
| Deut 32:10 | He found him in a desert land... He encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. | God's watchful care during Israel's wanderings. |
| Ps 90:1 | Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. | God as an eternal refuge for His people. |
| Ps 91:1-2 | He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. | God's provision of safety and refuge. |
| Ps 105:14 | He allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account: | God's active protection of the patriarchs. |
| Isa 40:23 | who brings princes to nothing and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. | God's sovereignty over earthly rulers. |
| Dan 2:20-21 | He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings... | God's absolute control over kingdoms. |
| Acts 7:5-6 | Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but promised to give it to him... for sojourners there. | Stephen's summary of the patriarchs' sojourning. |
| Heb 11:8-10 | By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called... He went out, not knowing where he was going. | Abraham's faith in his wandering. |
| Heb 11:13-16 | These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them... they desire a better country. | Patriarchs as strangers and exiles on earth. |
| 1 Pet 2:11 | Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh... | Believers are temporary residents on earth. |
| Gal 3:8 | And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham... | Gentiles entering God's promises. |
| Isa 48:21 | They thirsted not when he led them through the deserts... | God providing for His people in the wilderness. |
| Neh 9:19 | You did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud did not depart from them... | God's enduring guidance in the wilderness. |
| Gen 20:3-7 | God came to Abimelech in a dream... Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet... | God warning Abimelech not to harm Abraham. |
| Gen 26:11 | And Abimelech warned all his people, saying, “Whoever touches this man or his wife shall surely die.” | Abimelech's command to protect Isaac. |
| Ps 77:20 | You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. | God's continuous leadership of His people. |
| Ex 13:21 | And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud... and by night in a pillar of fire... | God's guidance during the Exodus. |
1 Chronicles 16 verses
1 Chronicles 16 20 Meaning
This verse, "When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people," describes the early period of God's chosen people, specifically the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, along with their families. It emphasizes their vulnerable, nomadic status as they traveled through various foreign lands inhabited by different peoples and ruled by distinct kingdoms. The verse highlights their continuous movement and the multitude of encounters they had, implicitly setting the scene for God's extraordinary protection and intervention, as detailed in the verses immediately following. It speaks to God's sovereign care over His nascent covenant people amidst an often-hostile world.
1 Chronicles 16 20 Context
This verse is part of a grand psalm of thanksgiving and praise delivered by King David when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem, signifying a central moment in Israel's history of worship and nationhood (1 Chr 16:1-36). The psalm recounts God's covenant faithfulness and mighty acts from Abraham's call to the wilderness journey. Specifically, verses 15-22 emphasize God's covenant with the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) and His divine protection over them during their sojourns. Verse 20 sets the stage by describing the initial precarious situation of these patriarchs and their small families, traversing lands governed by others. Historically, at this time, Abraham's descendants were a numerically small group without political or military power, yet God Himself safeguarded them. This context underscores the miracle of their survival and growth, attributed entirely to God's sovereign hand, countering any belief that human alliances or local deities provided their security.
1 Chronicles 16 20 Word analysis
- When they went (בְּלֶכְתָּם - b'lekhtam): This phrase indicates a continuous, purposeful movement or journey. The "they" refers collectively to God's chosen family line—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their households. It emphasizes their transient status as non-land-owners.
- from one nation (מִגּוֹי - mi'gôy): The Hebrew word "goy" (plural: goyim) refers to a people or nation. While often used for gentile nations distinct from Israel, here it simply denotes a distinct, organized people group or tribe inhabiting a specific territory. The prefix "mi-" means "from."
- to another (אֶל־עָם - el-'am): The word "el" means "to" or "towards," indicating destination or transition. The word "am" refers to a people, community, or kindred, similar to "goy" but can also be used for one's own people. The repetition of "one nation to another" emphasizes constant transition and encounter with various foreign cultures and societies.
- from one kingdom (מִמַּמְלָכָה - mi'mamlakah): The Hebrew "mamlakah" refers to a kingdom, dominion, or sovereign rule. This highlights not just a change of peoples but a crossing of political and territorial boundaries, often implying distinct governmental authority.
- to another people (אֶל־מַמְלָכָה אַחֶרֶת - el-mamlakah akheret): The addition of "akheret" (another) further emphasizes distinctness. This parallel phrasing, "from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people," serves as a rhetorical device (synonymous parallelism) to magnify the extent of their wanderings and the diverse, independent powers they encountered. It stresses their lack of a fixed homeland and dependence on external, potentially hostile, powers for passage. This vulnerable position underscores the remarkable divine protection detailed in the following verses.
1 Chronicles 16 20 Bonus section
This verse lays crucial groundwork for understanding God's nature as a Protector and Sustainer of His covenant. It demonstrates that His commitment precedes the establishment of a formal nation or land. The "few in number" (v. 19) highlights their inherent weakness, making God's intervention all the more remarkable. This divine safeguarding serves as a prototype for God's continuous preservation of His people throughout history, whether in exile, diaspora, or under persecution. Believers today, seen as "sojourners and exiles" (1 Pet 2:11) in this world, find resonance in the patriarchs' journey, relying on God's unwavering faithfulness for their ultimate security and purpose. It speaks to God's sovereignty over all earthly powers and nations, who must ultimately bow to His will concerning His chosen ones.
1 Chronicles 16 20 Commentary
1 Chronicles 16:20 succinctly describes the migratory journey of the patriarchs. It portrays Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as sojourners, continuously moving across the landscape of Canaan and beyond, interacting with various organized communities ("nations") and political entities ("kingdoms"). This nomadic existence rendered them highly vulnerable in a world where security often depended on military strength, settled residency, or powerful alliances. Yet, their unique protection stemmed not from human means, but from the unseen, active hand of their covenant God. This verse, therefore, sets the foundational context for understanding divine providence: despite being few in number, without territory, and facing the uncertainties of foreign lands, God remained utterly faithful to His promises. He safeguarded them against those who might harm them, thereby ensuring the survival of the line through whom His ultimate redemptive plan would unfold. The theological point is God's enduring commitment to His chosen, even in their weakness and temporary status in the world.