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

3Blow the ram’s horn on the day of the new moon, on the day of the full moon, on our festival days. 4This is a law for Israel, a legal decision from the God of Jacob. These are the instructions God set in place for Joseph when Joseph rose to power over Egypt. I heard a message I did not understand: 6“I removed the burden from his shoulder. His hands were freed from the basket. 7When you were in trouble, you called out ⌞to me⌟, and I rescued you. I was hidden in thunder, but I answered you. I tested your ⌞loyalty⌟ at the oasis of Meribah. 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 77:15With your might you have defended your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
• Psalms 80:1Open your ears, O Shepherd of Israel, the one who leads ⌞the descendants of⌟ Joseph like sheep, the one who is enthroned over the angels.
• Amos 6:6How horrible it will be for those who drink wine by the jugful. They rub the finest oils all over themselves and are not sorry for the ruin ⌞of the descendants⌟ of Joseph.
• Psalms 78:6so that the next generation would know them. Children yet to be born ⌞would learn them⌟. They will grow up and tell their children
• Exodus 13:8On that day tell your children, ‘We do this because of what the Lord did for us when we left Egypt.’
• Deuteronomy 4:45These are the commandments, laws, and rules Moses gave the Israelites after they had left Egypt.
• Ezekiel 20:20Set apart certain holy days to worship me. This will be a sign between me and you so that you will know that I am the Lord your God.”
• Exodus 12:12“On that same night I will go throughout Egypt and kill every firstborn male, both human and animal. I will severely punish all the gods of Egypt, ⌞because⌟ I am the Lord.
• Psalms 114:1When Israel left Egypt, when Jacob’s family left people who spoke a foreign language,
• Deuteronomy 28:49The Lord will bring against you a nation from far away, from the ends of the earth. The nation will swoop down on you like an eagle. It will be a nation whose language you won’t understand.
• Isaiah 28:11The Lord will speak to these people. He will mock them by speaking in a foreign language.
• Jeremiah 5:15Nation of Israel, I’m going to bring a nation from far away to attack you, declares the Lord. It is a nation that has lasted a long time. It is an ancient nation. You don’t know the language of this nation. You can’t understand what its people say.
• 1 Corinthians 14:21God’s word says, “Through people who speak foreign languages and through the mouths of foreigners I will speak to these people, but 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

• 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