The Meaning of Psalms 78:1 Explained

Psalms 78:1

KJV: {Maschil of Asaph.} Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

YLT: An Instruction of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law, Incline your ear to sayings of my mouth.

Darby: {An instruction. Of Asaph.} Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

ASV: Give ear, O my people, to my law: Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

Discover Psalms 78:1

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Psalms 78:1?

MEANING: What does Psalms 78:1 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Psalms 78:1 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Psalms 78:1?

What is the context of Psalms 78:1?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{Maschil of Asaph. }} Give ear, O my people, [to] my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

What does Psalms 78:1 Mean?

Study Notes

Maschil
Maschil, instruction.

Context Summary

Psalms 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: Psalms 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 78:1 mean?

A Contemplation of Asaph Give ear my people [to] my law Incline your ears to the words of my mouth

מַשְׂכִּ֗יל לְאָ֫סָ֥ף הַאֲזִ֣ינָה עַ֭מִּי תּוֹרָתִ֑י הַטּ֥וּ אָ֝זְנְכֶ֗ם לְאִמְרֵי־ פִֽי

מַשְׂכִּ֗יל	A Contemplation
Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: מַשְׂכִּיל Sense: (Hiphil) poem, song or poem of contemplation.
לְאָ֫סָ֥ף	of Asaph
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: אָסָף Sense: the father of Hezekiah’s secretary.
הַאֲזִ֣ינָה	Give ear
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular Root: אָזַן Sense: to hear, listen.
עַ֭מִּי	my people
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular Root: עַם Sense: nation, people.
תּוֹרָתִ֑י	[to] my law
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular Root: תֹּורָה Sense: law, direction, instruction.
הַטּ֥וּ	Incline
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural Root: נָטָה Sense: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow.
אָ֝זְנְכֶ֗ם	your ears
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine plural Root: אֹזֶן Sense: ear, as part of the body.
לְאִמְרֵי־	to the words
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct Root: אֵמֶר Sense: utterance, speech, word, saying, promise, command.
פִֽי	of my mouth
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular Root: פֶּה Sense: mouth.

What are the major concepts related to Psalms 78:1?

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Similar Scriptures for Psalms 78:1

		Isaiah 51:4 [6]
		Isaiah 55:3 [4]
		Proverbs 8:4-6 [3]
		Psalms 50:7 [2]
		Matthew 13:9 [2]
		2 Chronicles 15:1-16 [2]
		Psalms 51:4 [2]
		Judges 5:3 [2]
		Psalms 74:1 [2]
		Psalms 49:1-3 [2]
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