Psalms 81
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Before the great Judge, the judges of the earth are rebuked, exhorted, and threatened. (Psa 82:1-8) congregation--(Compare Exo 12:3; Exo 16:1). of the mighty--that is, of God, of His appointment. the gods--or, "judges" (Exo 21:6; Exo 22:9), God's representatives.
Open source ↗Sing aloud unto God our strength,.... The strength of Israel, who, by strength of hand, and a mighty arm, brought Israel out of Egypt, protected and upheld them in the wilderness, and brought them to, and settled and established them in the land of Canaan; and who is the strength of every true Israelite, from whom they have both their natural and spiritual strength; so that they can exercise grace, perform duty, bear afflictions, withstand temptations, fight with and conquer enemies, and hold on and out unto the end; and therefore have reason to sing the praises of God with great fervour, zeal, and affection: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob; or Israel, being the God that had made a covenant with them, had chosen them for his peculiar people, and had redeemed them out of the house of bondage, and bestowed peculiar favours upon them; and therefore were under obligation to show forth his praise vocally and audibly, and with strong expressions of joy; and the spiritual Israel of God much more so, who have an interest in the covenant of grace, and share in electing, redeeming, and calling grace, by all which he appears to be their God and Father, in a special sense.
Open source ↗The summons in Psa 81:2 is addressed to the whole congregation, inasmuch as הריעוּ is not intended of the clanging of the trumpets, but as in Ezr 3:11, and frequently. The summons in Psa 81:3 is addressed to the Levites, the appointed singers and musicians in connection with the divine services, Ch2 5:12, and frequently. The summons in Psa 81:4 is addressed to the priests, to whom was committed not only the blowing of the two (later on a hundred and twenty, vid., Ch2 5:12) silver trumpets, but who appear also in Jos 6:4 and elsewhere (cf. Psa 47:6 with Ch2 20:28) as the blowers of the shophar. The Talmud observes that since the destruction of the Temple the names of instruments שׁופרא and חצוצרתּא are wont to be confounded one for the other (B. Sabbath 36a, Succa 34a), and, itself confounding them, infers from Num 10:10 the duty and significance of the blowing of the shophar (B. Erachin 3b). The lxx also renders both by σάλπιγξ; but the Biblical language mentions שׁופר and חצצרה, a horn (more especially a ram's horn) and a (metal) trumpet, side by side in Psa 98:6; Ch1 15:28, and is therefore conscious of a difference between them. The Tפra says nothing of the employment of the shophar in connection with divine service, except that the commencement of every fiftieth year, which on this very account is called שׁנת היּבל, annus buccinae, is to be made known by the horn signal throughout all the land (Lev 25:9). But just as tradition by means of an inference from analogy derives the blowing of the shophar on the first of Tishri, the beginning of the common year, from this precept, so on the ground of the passage of the Psalm before us, assuming that בּחרשׁ, lxx ἐν νεομηνίᾳ, refers not to the first of Tishri but to the first of Nisan, we may suppose that the beginning o…
Open source ↗When the people of God were gathered together in the solemn day, the day of the feast of the Lord, they must be told that they had business to do, for we do not go to church to sleep nor to be idle; no, there is that which the duty of every day requires, work of the day, which is to be done in its day. And here, I. The worshippers of God are excited to their work, and are taught, by singing this psalm, to stir up both themselves and one another to it, Psa 81:1-3. Our errand is, to give unto God the glory due unto his name, and in all our religious assemblies we must mind this as our business. 1. In doing this we must eye God as our strength, and as the God of Jacob, Psa 81:1. He is the strength of Israel, as a people; for he is a God in covenant with them, who will powerfully protect, support, and deliver them, who fights their battles and makes them do valiantly and victoriously. He is the strength of every Israelite; by his grace we are enabled to go through all our services, sufferings, and conflicts; and to him, as our strength, we must pray, and we must sing praise to him as the God of all the wrestling seed of Jacob, with whom we have a spiritual communion. 2. We must do this by all the expressions of holy joy and triumph. It was then to be done by musical instruments, the timbrel, harp, and psaltery; and by blowing the trumpet, some think in remembrance of the sound of the trumpet on Mount Sinai, which waxed louder and louder. It was then and is now to be done by singing psalms, singing aloud, and making a joyful noise. The pleasantness of the harp and the awfulness of the trumpet intimate to us that God is to be worshipped with cheerfulness and joy with reverence and godly fear. Singing aloud and making a noise intimate that we must be warm and affectionate in p…
Open source ↗Ps 81 This warning message invites Israel to worship only the Lord and to enjoy the fullness of his blessing. 81:1-3 As a prelude to the message of warning, the psalmist invites Israel to contemplate their God in song and dance.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
נָצַח (nâtsach, H5329) — properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of… גִּתִּית (Gittîyth, H1665) — a Gittite harp אָסָף (ʼÂçâph, H623) — Asaph, the name of three Israelites, and of the family of the first רָנַן (rânan, H7442) — properly, to creak (or emit a stridulous sound), i.e. to shout (usually for joy) אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… עֹז (ʻôz, H5797) — strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise) רוּעַ (rûwaʻ, H7321) — to mar (especially by breaking); figuratively, to split the ears (with sound), i.e. shout… יַעֲקֹב (Yaʻăqôb, H3290) — Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch
Open source ↗נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative זִמְרָה (zimrâh, H2172) — a musical piece or song to be accompanied by an instrument נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) תֹּף (tôph, H8596) — a tambourine נָעִים (nâʻîym, H5273) — delightful (objective or subjective, literal or figurative) כִּנּוֹר (kinnôwr, H3658) — a harp נֶבֶל (nebel, H5035) — a skin-bag for liquids (from collapsing when empty); hence, a vase (as similar in shape…
Open source ↗תָּקַע (tâqaʻ, H8628) — to clatter, i.e. slap (the hands together), clang (an instrument); by analogy, to drive… שׁוֹפָר (shôwphâr, H7782) — a cornet (as giving a clear sound) or curved horn חֹדֶשׁ (chôdesh, H2320) — the new moon; by implication, a month כֶּסֶא (keçeʼ, H3677) — properly, fulness or the full moon, i.e. its festival חַג (chag, H2282) — a festival, or a victim therefor יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to…
Open source ↗חֹק (chôq, H2706) — an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage) יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity מִשְׁפָּט (mishpâṭ, H4941) — properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a… אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… יַעֲקֹב (Yaʻăqôb, H3290) — Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch
Open source ↗שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… יְהוֹסֵף (Yᵉhôwçêph, H3084) — Jehoseph (i.e. Joseph), a son of Jacob עֵדוּת (ʻêdûwth, H5715) — testimony יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, H4714) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… שָׂפָה (sâphâh, H8193) — the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a… יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,…
Open source ↗סוּר (çûwr, H5493) — to turn off (literal or figurative) שְׁכֶם (shᵉkem, H7926) — the neck (between the shoulders) as the place of burdens; figuratively, the spur of ahill סֵבֶל (çêbel, H5447) — a load (literally or figuratively) כַּף (kaph, H3709) — the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of… עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… דּוּד (dûwd, H1731) — a pot (for boiling); also (by resemblance of shape) a basket
Open source ↗קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… צָרָה (tsârâh, H6869) — tightness (i.e. figuratively, trouble); transitively, a female rival: חָלַץ (châlats, H2502) — to pull off; hence (intensively) to strip, (reflex.) to depart; by implication, to… עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6030) — properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond;… סֵתֶר (çêther, H5643) — a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative sense) רַעַם (raʻam, H7482) — a peal of thunder בָּחַן (bâchan, H974) — to test (especially metals); generally and figuratively, to investigate מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen מְרִיבָה (Mᵉrîybâh, H4809) — Meribah, the name of two places in the Desert סֶלָה (çelâh, H5542) — suspension (of music), i.e. pause
Open source ↗שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… עוּד (ʻûwd, H5749) — to duplicate or repeat; by implication, to protest, testify (as by reiteration);… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Open source ↗זוּר (zûwr, H2114) — to turn aside (especially for lodging); hence to be aforeigner, strange, profane;… אֵל (ʼêl, H410) — strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity) שָׁחָה (shâchâh, H7812) — to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God) נֵכָר (nêkâr, H5236) — foreign, or (concretely) a foreigner, or (abstractly) heathendom
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, H4714) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);… רָחַב (râchab, H7337) — to broaden (intransitive or transitive, literal or figurative) מָלֵא (mâlêʼ, H4390) — to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively)
Open source ↗עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity אָבָה (ʼâbâh, H14) — to breathe after, i.e. (figuratively) to be acquiescent
Open source ↗שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… שְׁרִירוּת (shᵉrîyrûwth, H8307) — obstinacy יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) מוֹעֵצָה (môwʻêtsâh, H4156) — a purpose
Open source ↗לוּא (lûwʼ, H3863) — a conditional particle; if; by implication (interj. as a wish) would that! עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity הָלַךְ (hâlak, H1980) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
Open source ↗מְעַט (mᵉʻaṭ, H4592) — a little or few (often adverbial or compar.) כָּנַע (kânaʻ, H3665) — properly, to bend the knee; hence, to humiliate, vanquish אֹיֵב (ʼôyêb, H341) — hating; an adversary שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), צַר (tsar, H6862) — narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble ;…
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
For this is what the LORD says: “Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost of the nations! Make your praises heard, and say, ‘O LORD, save Your people, the remnant of Israel!’
Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth!
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens.
The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart rejoices, and I give thanks to Him with my song.
‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I beg you, please forgive the transgression and sin of your brothers, for they did you wrong.’ So now, Joseph, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
“Look at the man who did not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his wealth and strengthened himself by destruction.”
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You judge the peoples justly and lead the nations of the earth. Selah