English Standard Version
Psalms 81:5
5He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a language I had not known:
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:
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)He made it a law for Israel when he attacked Egypt to set us free. I heard an unknown voice say,
Context of Psalms 81:5
3Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day. 4For it is a statute for Israel, a rule of the God of Jacob. He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a language I had not known: 6"I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket. 7In distress you called, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
Read all of Psalms 81Psalms 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 with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
- Psalms 80:1Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
- Amos 6:6who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!
- Psalms 78:6that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children,
- Exodus 13:8You shall tell your son on that day, 'It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.'
- Deuteronomy 4:45These are the testimonies, the statutes, and the rules, which Moses spoke to the people of Israel when they came out of Egypt,
- Ezekiel 20:20and keep my Sabbaths holy that they may be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.'
- Exodus 12:12For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord.
- Psalms 114:1When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,
- Deuteronomy 28:49The Lord will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, swooping down like the eagle, a nation whose language you do not understand,
- Isaiah 28:11For by people of strange lips and with a foreign tongue the Lord will speak to this people,
- Jeremiah 5:15Behold, I am bringing against you a nation from afar, O house of Israel, declares the Lord. It is an enduring nation; it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know, nor can you understand what they say.
- 1 Corinthians 14:21In the Law it is written, "By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord."
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
In the dictionaries
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
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