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

3Sound the ram’s horn on the day of the new moon, and on the day of the full moon when our festival begins. 4For observing the festival is a requirement for Israel; it is an ordinance given by the God of Jacob. He decreed it as a regulation in Joseph, when he attacked the land of Egypt. I heard a voice I did not recognize. 6It said: “I removed the burden from his shoulder; his hands were released from holding the basket. 7In your distress you called out and I rescued you. I answered you from a dark thundercloud. I tested you at the waters 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 77:15You delivered your people by your strength – the children of Jacob and Joseph. (Selah)
• Psalms 80:1O shepherd of Israel, pay attention, you who lead Joseph like a flock of sheep! You who sit enthroned above the winged angels, reveal your splendor!
• Amos 6:6They drink wine from sacrificial bowls, and pour the very best oils on themselves. Yet they are not concerned over the ruin of Joseph.
• Psalms 78:6so that the next generation, children yet to be born, might know about them. They will grow up and tell their descendants about them.
• Exodus 13:8You are to 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 stipulations, statutes, and ordinances that Moses spoke to the Israelites after he had brought them out of Egypt,
• Ezekiel 20:20Treat my Sabbaths as holy and they will be a reminder of our relationship, and then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”
• Exodus 12:12I will pass through the land of Egypt in the same night, and I will attack all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both of humans and of animals, and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment. I am the Lord.
• Psalms 114:1When Israel left Egypt, when the family of Jacob left a foreign nation behind,
• Deuteronomy 28:49The Lord will raise up a distant nation against you, one from the other side of the earth as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand,
• Isaiah 28:11For with mocking lips and a foreign tongue he will speak to these people.
• Jeremiah 5:15The Lord says, “Listen, nation of Israel! I am about to bring a nation from far away to attack you. It will be a nation that was founded long ago and has lasted for a long time. It will be a nation whose language you will not know. Its people will speak words that you will not be able to understand.
• 1 Corinthians 14:21It is written in the law: “By people with strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, yet not even in this way will they 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