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.
• 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.
• 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

3Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival; 4this is a decree for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. When God went out against Egypt, he established it as a statute for Joseph. I heard an unknown voice say: 6“I removed the burden from their shoulders; their hands were set free from the basket. 7In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

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 mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
• Psalms 80:1Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth
• Amos 6:6You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
• Psalms 78:6so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.
• Exodus 13:8On that day tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’
• Deuteronomy 4:45These are the stipulations, decrees and laws Moses gave them when they came out of Egypt
• Ezekiel 20:20Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”
• Exodus 12:12“On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord.
• Psalms 114:1When Israel came out of Egypt, Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,
• Deuteronomy 28:49The Lord will bring a nation against you from far away, from the ends of the earth, like an eagle swooping down, a nation whose language you will not understand,
• Isaiah 28:11Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people,
• Jeremiah 5:15People of Israel,” declares the Lord, “I am bringing a distant nation against you— an ancient and enduring nation, a people whose language you do not know, whose speech you do not understand.
• 1 Corinthians 14:21In the Law it is written: “With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this 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