The Meaning of Psalms 78:55 Explained

Psalms 78:55

KJV: He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

YLT: And casteth out nations from before them, And causeth them to fall in the line of inheritance, And causeth the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents,

Darby: And he drove out the nations before them, and allotted them for an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

ASV: He drove out the nations also before them, And allotted them for an inheritance by line, And made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He cast out  the heathen  also before  them, and divided  them an inheritance  by line,  and made the tribes  of Israel  to dwell  in their tents. 

What does Psalms 78:55 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 78:49-58 - Safely Led, Yet Bent On Wandering
This section of the psalm deals largely with the books of Joshua and Judges. The failures that had characterized the Wilderness crossed the Jordan with the Chosen People, and were the reason of their sufferings and captivities in what might otherwise have been a period of uninterrupted blessedness. In fact, the sins of the Land of Promise were even more disastrous. The Israelites were intended to be to Jehovah what the bow is to the huntsman or warrior; but they absolutely failed Him. They were turned aside like a deceitful bow, Psalms 78:57.
The lesson for older believers is very searching. Some readers of these words may recall that, at a notable period in the past, they crossed the river of death to sin and life unto God. Jordan stands for consecration. It should be remembered, however, that no matter how rich and lofty have been the experiences of past blessing, we cannot be immune from failures, unless we watch and pray and live in abiding fellowship with Jesus Christ. The soul which has passed the Jordan is attacked by the principalities and powers in the heavenlies, Ephesians 6:12, and has an even harder time of it. The nearer the Captain, the more perilous the position. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 78

1  An exhortation both to learn and to preach, the law of God
9  The story of God's wrath against the incredulous and disobedient
67  The Israelites being rejected, God chose Judah, Zion, and David

What do the individual words in Psalms 78:55 mean?

And He drove out before them the nations and Allotted them by survey an inheritance and made dwell in their tents the tribes of Israel
וַיְגָ֤רֶשׁ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֨ם ׀ גּוֹיִ֗ם וַֽ֭יַּפִּילֵם בְּחֶ֣בֶל נַחֲלָ֑ה וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֥ן בְּ֝אָהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

וַיְגָ֤רֶשׁ  And  He  drove  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: גָּרַשׁ 
Sense: to drive out, expel, cast out, drive away, divorce, put away, thrust away, trouble, cast up.
מִפְּנֵיהֶ֨ם ׀  before  them 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
גּוֹיִ֗ם  the  nations 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
וַֽ֭יַּפִּילֵם  and  Allotted  them 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
בְּחֶ֣בֶל  by  survey 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חֶבֶל 
Sense: a cord, rope, territory, band, company.
נַחֲלָ֑ה  an  inheritance 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נַחֲלָה  
Sense: possession, property, inheritance, heritage.
וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֥ן  and  made  dwell 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁכַן  
Sense: to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside.
בְּ֝אָהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם  in  their  tents 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אֹהֶל  
Sense: tent.
שִׁבְטֵ֥י  the  tribes 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: שֵׁבֶט  
Sense: rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.