Focused Passage

Psalms 78:1-4

Teaching the Next Generation Through Israel's Rebellion, God's Mercy, and the Chosen Shepherd King

Psalm 78 moves from a summons to teach the coming generation, through a sweeping remembrance of wilderness rebellion, exodus mercy, judgment, and land failure, into God's rejection of Shiloh and Ephraim and His gracious choice of Judah, Zion, and David as shepherd-king.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

A Maskil of Asaph.

1Give ear, O my people, to my instruction; listen to the words of my mouth.

2I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the beginning,

3that we have heard and known and our fathers have relayed to us.

4We will not hide them from their children but will declare to the next generation the praises of the LORD and His might and the wonders He has performed.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Cross-references

Matthew 13:34BSB references Proverbs 4:20Classic cross-references Isaiah 51:4Classic cross-references Isaiah 55:3Classic cross-references Psalms 19:7Classic cross-references Psalms 49:1Classic cross-references

Original words

Give earהַאֲזִ֣ינָהH238Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singularO my peopleעַ֭מִּיH5971Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularto my instructionתּוֹרָתִ֑יH8451Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularlistenהַטּ֥וּH5186Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural. . .אָ֝זְנְכֶ֗םH241Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine pluralto the wordsלְאִמְרֵי־H561Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural constructof my mouthפִֽי׃H6310Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular

BSB notes

Maskil is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 32, 42, 44–45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88–89, and 142.

Verse 2

Cross-references

Matthew 13:35Classic cross-references Matthew 13:34Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 2:7Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 29:29Classic cross-references Proverbs 1:6Classic cross-references

Original words

I will openאֶפְתְּחָ֣הH6605Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singularmy mouthפִּ֑יH6310Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularin parablesבְמָשָׁ֣לH4912Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularI will utterאַבִּ֥יעָהH5042Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singularthings hiddenחִ֝יד֗וֹתH2420Noun - feminine pluralfromמִנִּי־H4480Prepositionthe beginningקֶֽדֶם׃H6924Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

Or from ancient times; see also LXX; cited in Matthew 13:35

Verse 3

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 4:9Classic cross-references Proverbs 22:6Classic cross-references Psalms 145:4Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 32:7Classic cross-references Psalms 44:1Classic cross-references

Original words

thatאֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativewe have heardשָׁ֭מַעְנוּH8085Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common pluraland knownוַנֵּדָעֵ֑םH3045Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common plural | third person masculine pluraland our fathersוַ֝אֲבוֹתֵ֗ינוּH1Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common pluralhave relayedסִפְּרוּ־H5608Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common pluralto usלָֽנוּ׃Preposition | first person common plural

Verse 4

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 11:19Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 6:7Classic cross-references John 15:16Classic cross-references Psalms 71:18Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 4:9Classic cross-references

Original words

We will notלֹ֤אH3808Adverb - Negative particlehideנְכַחֵ֨ד׀H3582Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common plural[them] from their childrenמִבְּנֵיהֶ֗םH1121Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralbut will declareמְֽ֭סַפְּרִיםH5608Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine pluralto the nextאַחֲר֗וֹןH314Adjective - masculine singulargenerationלְד֥וֹרH1755Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singularthe praisesתְּהִלּ֣וֹתH8416Noun - feminine plural constructof the LORDיְהוָ֑הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularand His mightוֶעֱזוּז֥וֹH5807Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularand the wondersוְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יוH6381Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativeHe has performedעָשָֽׂה׃H6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular

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