For the LORD’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
Parallel translations
- WEB For Yahweh’s portion is his people. Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
- BSB But the LORD’s portion is His people, Jacob His allotted inheritance.
- NKJV For the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance.
- NASB “For the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the allotment of His inheritance.
- NLT “For the people of Israel belong to the Lord; Jacob is his special possession.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The LORD's portion is His people; Jacob is His allotted inheritance. It matters because it reveals the astonishing truth that God treasures His people as His own possession.
Overview
While the nations receive their inheritance, God reserves Israel as His own special treasure. The language of portion and inheritance expresses intimate covenant ownership and delight. This electing love prefigures the New Testament reality that the church is God's own possession, purchased by Christ to be His inheritance.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Jer 10:16The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The LORD of hosts is his name.
- 1 Pet 2:9–10But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
- 1 Kgs 8:51For they be thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron:
- 1 Kgs 8:53For thou didst separate them from among all the people of the earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O LORD God.
- Exod 19:5–6Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
- Jer 51:19The portion of Jacob is not like them; for he is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: the LORD of hosts is his name.
- Isa 43:21This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
- Deut 26:18–19And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;
- Ps 135:4For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.
- Mic 2:5Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD.
- 1 Sam 10:1Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
- Exod 15:16Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.
- Eph 1:18The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
- Ps 78:71From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 32:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.