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 at new moon, and again at full moon to call a festival! 4For this is required by the decrees of Israel; it is a regulation of the God of Jacob. He made it a law for Israel when he attacked Egypt to set us free. I heard an unknown voice say, 6“Now I will take the load from your shoulders; I will free your hands from their heavy tasks. 7You cried to me in trouble, and I saved you; I answered out of the thundercloud and tested your faith when there was no water at Meribah. Interlude

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 77:15By your strong arm, you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Interlude
• Psalms 80:1Please listen, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph’s descendants like a flock. O God, enthroned above the cherubim, display your radiant glory
• Amos 6:6You drink wine by the bowlful and perfume yourselves with fragrant lotions. You care nothing about the ruin of your nation.
• Psalms 78:6so the next generation might know them— even the children not yet born— and they in turn will teach their own children.
• Exodus 13:8“On the seventh day you must explain to your children, ‘I am celebrating what the Lord did for me when I left Egypt.’
• Deuteronomy 4:45These are the laws, decrees, and regulations that Moses gave to the people of Israel when they left Egypt,
• Ezekiel 20:20and keep my Sabbath days holy, for they are a sign to remind you that I am the Lord your God.’
• Exodus 12:12On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord!
• Psalms 114:1When the Israelites escaped from Egypt— when the family of Jacob left that foreign land—
• Deuteronomy 28:49“The Lord will bring a distant nation against you from the end of the earth, and it will swoop down on you like a vulture. It is a nation whose language you do not understand,
• Isaiah 28:11So now God will have to speak to his people through foreign oppressors who speak a strange language!
• Jeremiah 5:15O Israel, I will bring a distant nation against you,” says the Lord. “It is a mighty nation, an ancient nation, a people whose language you do not know, whose speech you cannot understand.
• 1 Corinthians 14:21It is written in the Scriptures: “I will speak to my own people through strange languages and through the lips of foreigners. 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