New Living Translation
Psalms 78:71
71He took David from tending the ewes and lambs and made him the shepherd of Jacob’s descendants— God’s own people, Israel.
Psalms 78:71 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
- New International Version (NIV)from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance.
- English Standard Version (ESV)from following the nursing ewes he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, Israel his inheritance.
- New King James Version (NKJV)From following the ewes that had young He brought him, To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance.
Context of Psalms 78:71
69There he built his sanctuary as high as the heavens, as solid and enduring as the earth. 70He chose his servant David, calling him from the sheep pens. He took David from tending the ewes and lambs and made him the shepherd of Jacob’s descendants— God’s own people, Israel. 72He cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands.
Read all of Psalms 78Psalms 78:71 word by word
מֵאַחַ֥ר עָל֗וֹת הֱ֫בִיא֥וֹ לִ֭רְעוֹת בְּיַעֲקֹ֣ב עַמּ֑וֹ וּ֝בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל נַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- From followingאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- the ewes great with youngעוּל‛ûl · to nurseH5763
- he broughtבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
- him to feedרָעָהrâ‛âh · to pastureH7462
- Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
- his peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- and Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- his inheritanceנַחֲלָהnachălâh · inheritanceH5159
Cross-references for Psalms 78:71
- Genesis 33:13But Jacob replied, “You can see, my lord, that some of the children are very young, and the flocks and herds have their young, too. If they are driven too hard, even for one day, all the animals could die.
- Isaiah 40:11He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.
- Psalms 75:6For no one on earth—from east or west, or even from the wilderness— should raise a defiant fist.
- Psalms 113:7He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump.
- 1 Samuel 2:7The Lord makes some poor and others rich; he brings some down and lifts others up.
- Jeremiah 27:5With my great strength and powerful arm I made the earth and all its people and every animal. I can give these things of mine to anyone I choose.
- 2 Samuel 5:2In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And the Lord told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be Israel’s leader.’”
- 1 Chronicles 11:2In the past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And the Lord your God told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be the leader of my people Israel.’”
- Ezekiel 34:23And I will set over them one shepherd, my servant David. He will feed them and be a shepherd to them.
- Micah 5:2But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.
- Zechariah 11:4This is what the Lord my God says: “Go and care for the flock that is intended for slaughter.
- Matthew 2:6‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”
- John 21:15After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
- 1 Peter 5:2Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.
Commentaries on Psalms 78:71
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 71From following the ewes - Instances of this kind are not unfrequent in the ancient Greek and Roman history. Croesus said that Gypes, who was the first of his race, was a slave, and rose to sovereignty, succeeding his predecessor, of whose sheep he had been the pastor.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 71From following the ewes great with younq - Margin, as in Hebrew, From after. The meaning is, that he followed after them; that is, he attended them, or watched over them as a shepherd. The single word rendered “the ewes great with young” - עול ‛ûl - is a participle from עלוה ‛âlâhô to ascend, to go up; and then, to bring up, to nourish. The exact idea here is doubtless that of bringing up, or of sucking them, and the word should have been so…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 56-72Verses 56-72 After the Israelites were settled in Canaan, the children were like their fathers. God gave them his testimonies, but they turned back. Presumptuous sins render even Israelites hateful to God's holiness, and exposed to his justice. Those whom the Lord forsakes become an easy prey to the destroyer. And sooner or later, God will disgrace his enemies. He set a good government over his people; a monarch after his own heart. With good reason does…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 70-72The God who had turned against his own people (Psalm 78:62) chose David, a shepherd (Genesis 46:34; 1 Samuel 16:10–11), to lead them as their shepherd (Psalm 78:52; compare 23:1).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 70-7270-72. God's sovereignty was illustrated in this choice. The contrast is striking--humility and exaltation--and the correspondence is beautiful.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 78:71
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 78
- 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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