Psalms 81:5

Psalms 81:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.
• New International Version (NIV)When God went out against Egypt, he established it as a statute for Joseph. I heard an unknown voice say:
• English Standard Version (ESV)He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a language I had not known:
• New King James Version (NKJV)This He established in Joseph as a testimony, When He went throughout the land of Egypt, Where I heard a language I did not understand.

Context of Psalms 81:5

3Start the New Moon Festival with the sound of the trumpet. Also do it on the day of the Full Moon. 4This is a rule for Israel's people. The God of Jacob commanded us to do it. When God punished the land of Egypt, he gave this rule to Joseph's family. I heard a voice that I did not know. 6It said: ‘I took the heavy load off your back. You no longer had to carry those heavy baskets. 7When you had trouble, you called to me for help and I made you safe. I answered your prayers from the middle of the dark storm. I tested you at Meribah, when you had no water in the wilderness. Selah.

Psalms 81:5 word by word

עֵ֤דוּת׀ בִּֽיה֘וֹסֵ֤ף שָׂמ֗וֹ בְּ֭צֵאתוֹ עַל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם שְׂפַ֖ת לֹא־יָדַ֣עְתִּי אֶשְׁמָֽע׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• This he ordainedשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
• in Josephיְהוֹסֵףyehôsêph · JosephH3084
• a testimonyעֵדוּת‛êdûth · testimonyH5715
• when he went outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
• through the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• of Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
• I heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• a languageשָׂפָהώâphâh ώepheth · lip: languageH8193
• I understoodיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045

Cross-references for Psalms 81:5

• Psalms 77:15You used your power to rescue your people. Yes, you saved the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
• Psalms 80:1Shepherd of Israel, listen to us! You lead us, Joseph's family, as your sheep. God, you sit on your throne as king, above the cherubs. Show everyone your bright glory!
• Amos 6:6You drink lots of wine. You put beautiful oils on your bodies. But you are not sad that Joseph's descendants are destroying themselves as a nation.
• Psalms 78:6Then the children would know about them, even the children still to be born. When the time came, they too would tell their children.
• Exodus 13:8On that day, you must tell your children the reason for this festival. Tell them, “We do this because of what the Lord did for us. He brought us out of Egypt.”
• Deuteronomy 4:45These are the rules, the teaching and the commands that Moses taught the Israelites after they had left Egypt.
• Ezekiel 20:20Make Sabbath days special to show that you belong to me. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’
• Exodus 12:12On the night that you eat the Passover meal, I will travel through the country of Egypt. I will kill every firstborn son and every firstborn male animal. I will punish all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord.
• Psalms 114:1God led Israel's people out of Egypt. Jacob's descendants left that foreign land.
• Deuteronomy 28:49The Lord will bring a nation from far away in the world to attack you. You will not understand their language. They will come quickly to attack you, like an eagle that comes down from the sky.
• Isaiah 28:11So now the Lord will use foreign enemies to speak to these people. He will speak to them in a strange language.
• Jeremiah 5:15The Lord says this: ‘Listen to me, you people of Israel. I will bring an army to attack you. They will come from a nation that is far away. It is a strong nation that started long ago. You do not know their language. You cannot understand what they say.
• 1 Corinthians 14:21This is written in the Bible: ‘I will send strangers to speak to my people. They will speak my message to them in strange languages. But even when I do this, my people will not listen to me.’ That is what the Lord God has said.

Commentaries on Psalms 81:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5I heard a language I understood not - This passage is difficult. Who heard? And what was heard? All the Versions, except the Chaldee, read the pronoun in the third person, instead of the first. "He heard a language that he understood not." And to the Versions Kennicott reforms the text, ישמע ידעה לא שפת sephath lo yadah yisma ; "a language which he did not understand he heard." But what was that language? Some say the Egyptian; others, who take Joseph to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony - literally, he placed this; that is, he appointed it. The word Joseph here stands for the whole Hebrew people, as in Psalm 80:1. See the notes at that verse. The meaning is, that the ordinance for observing this festival - the Passover - was to be traced back to the time when they were in Egypt. The obligation to observe it was thus enhanced by the very antiquity of the observance, and by the fact that it was…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5for Joseph: The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh (the sons of Joseph) are used here to refer to the entire nation of Israel.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. a testimony--The feasts, especially the passover, attested God's relation to His people. Joseph--for Israel (Psa 80:1). went out through--or, "over," that is, Israel in the exodus. I heard--change of person. The writer speaks for the nation. language--literally, "lip" (Psa 14:1). An aggravation or element of their distress that their oppressors were foreigners (De 28:49).Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 81:5

• Passover

In the dictionaries

• Egypt
• Egypt, Egyptian
• Asaph
• Gittith
• Lust
• Psalms
• God
• Joy
• Korahites; Sons of Korah
• Music

Commentaries on Psalms 81

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings