Psalm 81:5 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 81:1-7

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, Ps. 81:1-3. Our errand is, to give unto... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 81:5

This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony ,.... That is, this law concerning the blowing of trumpets on the new moon, and the keeping the solemn feast at the full of the moon, was made to be observed by all Israel, who are meant by Joseph, for a testimony of God's good will to them, and of their duty and obedience to him: when he went out through the land of Egypt , or "over it" F2 בצאתו על ארץ "in ipsum exeundo", Montanus; "cum exiret ipse super terram", Pagninus. ; which... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 81:5

I 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 signify the children of Israel in... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 81:5

Verse 5 5He set it for a testimony in Joseph. The Hebrew word עדוה , eduth, is by some derived from עדה , adah, which signifies to adorn; and they translate it the honor or ornament of Joseph. But it rather comes from the verb עוד , ud, to testify; and the scope of the passage requires that it should be translated a testimony or covenant. Farther, when Joseph is named in particular, there is a reference to the first original of the chosen people, when, after the death of Jacob, the twelve... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 81:1-16

Psalms 81:1-5 appear to be the preface of a song of thanksgiving, intended for public recitation at one of the great public festivals—either the Passover or the Feast of Tabernacles. Psalms 81:6-16 are part of a psalm of complaint, wherein God expostulates with his people. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 81:5

This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony. The special mention of "Joseph" here is strange. Professor Cheyne explains, "God appointed the Law to be valid in northern as well as southern Israel." Hengstenberg and Professor Alexander account for the expression by the pre-eminence of Joseph during the sojourn in Egypt. When he went out through the land of Egypt . When he (Joseph) went out over (or, across) the land," i.e. at the time of the Exodus. Where I heard a language that I... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 81:5

The unknown tongue. "I heard a language that I understood not." It is exceedingly difficult to trace the meaning of this sentence. The first suggestion is, that it may refer to the sojourning Israelites not understanding the language of the Egyptians. Another suggestion is, that Israel did not understand the voice of God when heard from Sinai. Jennings and Lowe give a fresh and striking suggestion. They think the sentence is the utterance of God when passing over Egypt to judge it; and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 81:5

This 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 Psalms 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 one of the direct appointments of God in... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 81:4-5

Psalms 81:4-5 . For this was a statute for Israel This is no human device, but a divine institution; God hath appointed and commanded this solemn feast to be announced and observed in this manner. This Namely, the blowing of trumpets; he ordained in Joseph Among the posterity of Joseph, namely, the people of Israel, as is evident both from the foregoing verse, where they are called Israel, and from the following words of this verse, where they are described by their coming out of Egypt,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 81:1-16

Psalms 81:0 A festival songIn the traditions that grew up around the Jewish festivals, this song was sung annually at the Feast of Tabernacles. (For this feast see Leviticus 23:33-36,Leviticus 23:39-43.) The song opens with a reminder of God’s command to keep this joyous festival in remembrance of his goodness in saving his people from Egypt (1-5).God then recounts how he lifted the burden of slavery from the backs of his people and looked after them as they travelled through the barren... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 81:1-7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 81:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 81:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 81:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 81:1-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 81:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 81:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 81:5

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 81:4-5

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 81:1-16

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