The Meaning of Psalms 78:2 Explained

Psalms 78:2

KJV: I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

YLT: I open with a simile my mouth, I bring forth hidden things of old,

Darby: I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter riddles from of old,

ASV: I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old,

Discover Psalms 78:2

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Psalms 78:2?

MEANING: What does Psalms 78:2 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Psalms 78:2 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Psalms 78:2?

What is the context of Psalms 78:2?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

What does Psalms 78:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 78:1-12 - Learning From The Fathers

This psalm is said to have arisen, from a strong controversy between Judah and Ephraim as to the location of God's sanctuary, and its final transfer within the limits of the tribe of Judah. The psalmist enumerates the moral and spiritual considerations that led to the choice. See Psalms 78:67-68. The great message of the psalm is the inconstancy of the people, which so often manifested itself. Whose spirit was not stedfast with God, Psalms 78:8. They turned back in battle, Psalms 78:9. See also Psalms 78:17; Psalms 78:37; Psalms 78:41; Psalms 78:57. It may be that the psalmist implies that these failures were for the most part Ephraim's, and that therefore Judah was chosen. Surely, however, there was not much to choose between them, and whatever favor was shown to either of them was wholly attributable to God's unchanging mercy.

This hymn was probably intended to be learned by the children in the Hebrew home, that they might set their hearts on God and not forget His works. It is a good practice to store the fresh memories of the young with the words of Scripture, which will often return in afterlife in hours of temptation and distress. The memorizing of the Word of God is a most valuable habit. The wheels of the mind and heart must grind-let them grind wheat. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 78

¹ An exhortation both to learn and to preach, the law of God
⁹ The story of God's wrath against the incredulous and disobedient
⁶⁷ The Israelites being rejected, God chose Judah, Zion, and David

What do the individual words in Psalms 78:2 mean?

I will open in a parable my mouth I will utter dark sayings of old

אֶפְתְּחָ֣ה בְמָשָׁ֣ל פִּ֑י אַבִּ֥יעָה חִ֝יד֗וֹת מִנִּי־ קֶֽדֶם

אֶפְתְּחָ֣ה	I will open
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular Root: פָּתַח Sense: to open.
בְמָשָׁ֣ל	in a parable
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular Root: מָשָׁל Sense: proverb, parable.
פִּ֑י	my mouth
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular Root: פֶּה Sense: mouth.
אַבִּ֥יעָה	I will utter
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular Root: נָבַע Sense: to flow, pour out, pour, gush forth, spring, bubble up, ferment.
חִ֝יד֗וֹת	dark sayings
Parse: Noun, feminine plural Root: חִידָה Sense: riddle, difficult question, parable, enigmatic saying or question, perplexing saying or question.
קֶֽדֶם	old
Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: קֶדֶם Sense: east, antiquity, front, that which is before, aforetime.

What are the major concepts related to Psalms 78:2?

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Similar Scriptures for Psalms 78:2

		Matthew 13:34-35 [8]
		Psalms 49:4 [6]
		Proverbs 1:6 [5]
		Matthew 13:11-13 [4]
		Mark 4:34 [3]