This verse reveals God’s purposeful selection and tender ownership of His chosen people.
God’s people take great comfort in recognizing that, as the psalmist proclaims, “For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His own possession.” (Psalms 135:4) This statement highlights that the LORD, out of all nations, deliberately picked Jacob’s lineage to carry out His divine purposes. Jacob, also known as Israel, is a foundational figure who lived around the early 20th century BC, and he fathered the twelve tribes that became the nation of Israel. Though the text does not reference a specific geographical locale here, Jacob’s descendants would inherit the land of Canaan, which today corresponds roughly to modern Israel and surrounding areas, indicating God’s physical and spiritual claim on them.
When the verse says that God “has chosen Jacob for Himself,” it emphasizes the abiding nature of the LORD’s covenant relationship with His people. The name “Jacob” evokes the patriarch’s personal history—one filled with divine encounters, struggles, and eventual transformation into “Israel.” This verse points to God’s intentional choice, which is not based on human merit but on His own loving faithfulness. Throughout Scripture, we see this theme repeated in passages such as Exodus 19:5, highlighting that Israel’s belonging to the LORD serves a broader redemptive plan.
The reference to “Israel for His own possession” (v.4) indicates a deep and personal claim. Centuries later, the apostle Peter echoes a similar language when describing believers as a “chosen race” (1 Peter 2:9), revealing that God’s redemptive plan extended beyond Old Testament Israel to all who share in Christ. This link invites all who read this psalm to see themselves as part of a beloved community meant to honor and reflect the One who has chosen them.
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Psalms 135:4 meaning
God’s people take great comfort in recognizing that, as the psalmist proclaims, “For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His own possession.” (Psalms 135:4) This statement highlights that the LORD, out of all nations, deliberately picked Jacob’s lineage to carry out His divine purposes. Jacob, also known as Israel, is a foundational figure who lived around the early 20th century BC, and he fathered the twelve tribes that became the nation of Israel. Though the text does not reference a specific geographical locale here, Jacob’s descendants would inherit the land of Canaan, which today corresponds roughly to modern Israel and surrounding areas, indicating God’s physical and spiritual claim on them.
When the verse says that God “has chosen Jacob for Himself,” it emphasizes the abiding nature of the LORD’s covenant relationship with His people. The name “Jacob” evokes the patriarch’s personal history—one filled with divine encounters, struggles, and eventual transformation into “Israel.” This verse points to God’s intentional choice, which is not based on human merit but on His own loving faithfulness. Throughout Scripture, we see this theme repeated in passages such as Exodus 19:5, highlighting that Israel’s belonging to the LORD serves a broader redemptive plan.
The reference to “Israel for His own possession” (v.4) indicates a deep and personal claim. Centuries later, the apostle Peter echoes a similar language when describing believers as a “chosen race” (1 Peter 2:9), revealing that God’s redemptive plan extended beyond Old Testament Israel to all who share in Christ. This link invites all who read this psalm to see themselves as part of a beloved community meant to honor and reflect the One who has chosen them.