1 Chronicles 16:20
New International Version
they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.

New Living Translation
They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.

English Standard Version
wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people,

Berean Standard Bible
they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.

King James Bible
And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people;

New King James Version
When they went from one nation to another, And from one kingdom to another people,

New American Standard Bible
And they wandered from nation to nation, And from one kingdom to another people,

NASB 1995
And they wandered about from nation to nation, And from one kingdom to another people,

NASB 1977
And they wandered about from nation to nation, And from one kingdom to another people,

Legacy Standard Bible
And they wandered about from nation to nation, And from one kingdom to another people,

Amplified Bible
When they wandered from nation to nation, And from one kingdom to another people,

Christian Standard Bible
wandering from nation to nation and from one kingdom to another,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
wandering from nation to nation and from one kingdom to another,

American Standard Version
And they went about from nation to nation, And from one kingdom to another people.

Contemporary English Version
We wandered from nation to nation, from one country to another.

English Revised Version
And they went about from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
they wandered from nation to nation and from one kingdom to another.

Good News Translation
They wandered from country to country, from one kingdom to another.

International Standard Version
wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another,

NET Bible
they wandered from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another.

New Heart English Bible
They went about from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people.

Webster's Bible Translation
And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people;
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.

World English Bible
They went about from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they go up and down, "" From nation to nation, "" And from a kingdom to another people.

Young's Literal Translation
And they go up and down, From nation unto nation, And from a kingdom unto another people.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will go about from nation to nation, and from kingdom to another people;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they passed from nation to nation: and from a kingdom to another people.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they passed through, from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people.

New American Bible
Wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another,

New Revised Standard Version
wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when you were carried away captive from nation to nation and from kingdom to another kingdom,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you were taken captive from nation to nation, and from kingdom to another kingdom.’
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And when they went about from nation to nation, And from one kingdom to another people,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David's Psalm of Thanksgiving
19When they were few in number, few indeed, and strangers in the land, 20they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. 21He let no man oppress them; He rebuked kings on their behalf:…

Cross References
Psalm 105:12-15
When they were few in number, few indeed, and strangers in the land, / they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. / He let no man oppress them; He rebuked kings on their behalf: ...

Genesis 12:1-3
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you. / I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. / I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 17:8
And to you and your descendants I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as an eternal possession; and I will be their God.”

Exodus 6:7-8
I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. / And I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD!’”

Deuteronomy 7:6-8
For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth. / The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. / But because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your fathers, He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Hebrews 11:8-9
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. / By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

Acts 7:2-5
And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, / and told him, ‘Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you.’ / So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God brought him out of that place and into this land where you are now living. ...

Romans 4:13
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

Galatians 3:16
The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.

Genesis 28:13-15
And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie. / Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. / Look, I am with you, and I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Genesis 35:12
The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.”

Exodus 23:31
And I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the Euphrates. For I will deliver the inhabitants into your hand, and you will drive them out before you.

Deuteronomy 32:8-9
When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He divided the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. / But the LORD’s portion is His people, Jacob His allotted inheritance.

Psalm 135:12
He gave their land as an inheritance, as a heritage to His people Israel.

Psalm 136:21-22
and He gave their land as an inheritance, His loving devotion endures forever. / a heritage to His servant Israel. His loving devotion endures forever.


Treasury of Scripture

And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people;

they went

Genesis 12:10
And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

Genesis 20:1
And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.

Genesis 46:3,6
And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: …

Jump to Previous
Kingdom Nation Wandered Wandering
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Kingdom Nation Wandered Wandering
1 Chronicles 16
1. David's festival sacrifice
4. He orders a choir to sing thanksgiving
7. The psalm of thanksgiving
37. He appoints ministers, porters, priests, and musicians, to attend the ark














they wandered from nation to nation
This phrase reflects the nomadic lifestyle of the patriarchs, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who traveled extensively throughout the ancient Near East. Their journeys were often directed by God, who promised them the land of Canaan. This wandering symbolizes the faith journey of believers, who are often described as "strangers and pilgrims" on the earth (Hebrews 11:13). The movement from nation to nation also highlights God's protection and provision for His people, as He guided them through foreign lands. This wandering can be seen as a precursor to the Israelites' later exodus from Egypt and their journey to the Promised Land, emphasizing God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises.

from one kingdom to another
The transition from one kingdom to another underscores the political landscape of the ancient world, where city-states and small kingdoms were prevalent. The patriarchs' movements through these territories required reliance on God's guidance and protection, as they often encountered different cultures and rulers. This phrase also points to the broader biblical theme of God's sovereignty over all nations and kingdoms, as seen in Daniel 2:21, where God is described as the one who "removes kings and establishes them." The wandering from kingdom to kingdom can be seen as a type of Christ, who, during His earthly ministry, moved through various regions, proclaiming the Kingdom of God and demonstrating His authority over all earthly powers.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Israelites
The chosen people of God, who are the primary subjects of this verse. They experienced a period of wandering as they moved from one nation to another.

2. Nations and Kingdoms
Refers to the various lands and political entities through which the Israelites traveled during their journey. This highlights the transient nature of their existence during this period.

3. David
The king of Israel who organized the worship and thanksgiving to God, which includes this verse as part of a larger psalm of thanks.

4. Ark of the Covenant
The sacred chest that represented God's presence with His people, which David brought to Jerusalem, prompting the celebration and psalm of thanks.

5. Psalm of Thanksgiving
The larger context of this verse is a song of thanks delivered by David, celebrating God's faithfulness and protection over Israel.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness in Transition
Just as God was faithful to the Israelites during their wanderings, He remains faithful to us in times of transition and uncertainty.

Living as Pilgrims
Christians are called to live as pilgrims and strangers in this world, focusing on our heavenly citizenship.

Trust in God's Guidance
The Israelites' journey reminds us to trust in God's guidance, even when the path is unclear or challenging.

Thanksgiving in All Circumstances
David's psalm encourages us to maintain a heart of gratitude, recognizing God's hand in every season of life.

Community and Worship
The gathering of the Israelites to worship and give thanks highlights the importance of community and corporate worship in our spiritual journey.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 16:20?

2. How does 1 Chronicles 16:20 demonstrate God's protection over His people?

3. What can we learn about God's faithfulness from 1 Chronicles 16:20?

4. How does 1 Chronicles 16:20 connect to God's promises in Genesis 12:1-3?

5. How can we trust God when facing uncertainty, as in 1 Chronicles 16:20?

6. How does 1 Chronicles 16:20 encourage us to rely on God's guidance today?

7. What does 1 Chronicles 16:20 reveal about God's protection over His people?

8. How does 1 Chronicles 16:20 fit into the broader narrative of Israel's history?

9. What is the significance of the phrase "wandering from nation to nation" in 1 Chronicles 16:20?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Chronicles 16?

11. Why does this account depict God favoring one nation over others with a miraculous intervention while ignoring widespread conflicts elsewhere (2 Chronicles 20)?

12. What is the relationship between Israel and the church?

13. In Isaiah 28:21-22, does the notion of God performing a 'strange work' and bringing swift judgment raise questions about the consistency of divine justice elsewhere in the Bible?

14. How can Joel 3:2's forecast of gathering all nations in the Valley of Jehoshaphat be reconciled with a lack of concrete historical or archaeological evidence for such an event?
What Does 1 Chronicles 16:20 Mean
They wandered from nation to nation

“they wandered from nation to nation” (1 Chronicles 16:20)

• This line recalls the literal journeys of the patriarchs—Abraham left Ur and Haran for Canaan (Genesis 12:1-5), Isaac moved among the Philistine territories during famine (Genesis 26:1-3), and Jacob traveled to Paddan-aram and back (Genesis 28:10-15; 35:1-7).

Psalm 105:13 repeats the same phrase, underscoring that the fathers of Israel were sojourners without permanent earthly citizenship.

Hebrews 11:8-10 highlights how Abraham “lived in tents,” looking forward to the city God would build, reinforcing the literal and spiritual reality of wandering.

• God’s covenant presence accompanied every move. He guided Abraham by promise (Genesis 15:1-6), appeared to Isaac at Beersheba (Genesis 26:24), and wrestled with Jacob at Peniel (Genesis 32:24-30).

• Protection was supernatural: the Lord “rebuked kings on their behalf” (1 Chronicles 16:21), seen when Pharaoh was plagued over Sarah (Genesis 12:17-20) and when Abimelech was warned in a dream (Genesis 20:3-7).

• The verse reminds readers that God’s people may lack worldly stability, yet the covenant guarantees divine oversight wherever He leads.


From one kingdom to another

“from one kingdom to another” (1 Chronicles 16:20)

• The patriarchs crossed political borders—Canaanite city-states, Philistine territories, and finally Egypt (Genesis 46:1-7). Their movements illustrate that God’s plan was bigger than any single realm.

• Egypt became a temporary refuge (Genesis 47:1-6) but later a place of oppression; yet even there God preserved His people for the Exodus (Exodus 12:40-42).

Numbers 20:14-21 and Deuteronomy 2:4-8 record later generations passing through Edom, Moab, and Ammon—multiple kingdoms—on the way to the promised land, echoing the same pattern.

• Each kingdom boundary tested faith. The Lord’s covenant promise—“To your descendants I will give this land” (Genesis 15:18)—remained unbroken despite changing rulers and laws.

• By highlighting kingdoms, the verse assures believers that no earthly authority can thwart God’s redemptive itinerary (Psalm 2:1-6; Daniel 2:21).


summary

1 Chronicles 16:20 celebrates God’s faithful leadership of His covenant family through literal, unpredictable travels—nation to nation, kingdom to kingdom. The fathers of Israel owned no permanent territory, yet they possessed God’s unbreakable promise and experienced His constant protection. The verse invites today’s readers to trust that the same sovereign Lord directs, guards, and fulfills His purposes for all who follow Him, no matter how many borders they cross.

(20) And when they went from nation to nation.--And they went. This shows that the third plural ("when they were") is original in the last verse. The reference is to the wanderings of the patriarchs.

And from one kingdom.--The conjunction is prosaic, and is not read in Psalm 105:13.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
they wandered
וַיִּֽתְהַלְּכוּ֙ (way·yiṯ·hal·lə·ḵū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

from nation
מִגּ֣וֹי (mig·gō·w)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

nation
גּ֔וֹי (gō·w)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

from [one] kingdom
וּמִמַּמְלָכָ֖ה (ū·mim·mam·lā·ḵāh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4467: Kingdom, sovereignty, dominion, reign

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

another.
אַחֵֽר׃ (’a·ḥêr)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 312: Hinder, next, other


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 16:20 They went about from nation to nation (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 16:19
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