God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.

PSALMS 108:7KJV
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Psalms 108:7 (KJV)

What does Psalms 108:7 mean?

Psalms 108:7 describes God declaring something in His holiness, and the speaker responding with joy, saying he will divide Shechem and measure out the valley of Succoth. The verse shows confidence that God’s promise or word will lead to victory and control over these specific regions.

In this psalm, David is speaking, reflecting on God’s promise and expressing trust that God’s word guarantees success. Shechem and the valley of Succoth were important locations in ancient Israel, and mentioning them highlights the idea of God giving the land to His people. The verse is set in the context of praising God for His faithfulness and looking forward to the fulfillment of His promises.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 108:7

  • "God" (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): This word emphasizes God’s power and authority, which is important as the speaker trusts in God’s ability to fulfill His word.
  • "spoken" (דָּבַר, dabar): This term means to speak or declare, often carrying the sense of a formal or authoritative statement. Here, it highlights that what is being said comes directly from God and is trustworthy.
  • "holiness" (קֹדֶשׁ, qodesh): This word refers to God’s set-apartness or purity. God’s promises are rooted in His unique, holy character, making them unbreakable.
  • "divide" (חָלַק, chalaq): This verb means to portion out or distribute. In this context, it refers to assigning or apportioning territory, underlining the idea of God giving land as an inheritance.
  • "mete out" (מָדַד, madad): This means to measure or assign by measurement. It reinforces the idea of God’s precise and intentional distribution of land.

Why Psalms 108:7 matters

  • The verse clarifies that the speaker’s confidence is not based on personal strength but on God’s holy and reliable word.
  • Mentioning Shechem and Succoth connects the verse to Israel’s history and God’s promises about the land, grounding the psalm in real places and events.
  • The verse sets the tone for the rest of the psalm, which continues to focus on trusting God’s faithfulness and expecting His help in times of need.

Where else these words appear

“rejoice” Hebrew H5937 · used in 16 verses

  • 2 Samuel 1:20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
  • Psalms 96:12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
  • Jeremiah 15:17 I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.

“Succoth” Hebrew H5523 · used in 16 verses

  • Genesis 33:17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
  • Joshua 13:27 And in the valley, Betharam, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and his border, even unto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side Jordan eastward.
  • Judges 8:15 And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary?

“out” Hebrew H4058 · used in 49 verses

  • Exodus 16:18 And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.
  • Ezekiel 40:13 He measured then the gate from the roof of one little chamber to the roof of another: the breadth was five and twenty cubits, door against door.
  • Ezekiel 41:13 So he measured the house, an hundred cubits long; and the separate place, and the building, with the walls thereof, an hundred cubits long;

“Shechem” Hebrew H7927 · used in 54 verses

  • Genesis 12:6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
  • Joshua 17:7 And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, that lieth before Shechem; and the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of Entappuah.
  • Judges 9:28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?