The Meaning of Psalms 78:5 Explained

Psalms 78:5

KJV: For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:

YLT: And He raiseth up a testimony in Jacob, And a law hath placed in Israel, That He commanded our fathers, To make them known to their sons.

Darby: For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children;

ASV: For he established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which he commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children;

Discover Psalms 78:5

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Psalms 78:5?

MEANING: What does Psalms 78:5 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Psalms 78:5 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Psalms 78:5?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For he established  a testimony  in Jacob,  and appointed  a law  in Israel,  which he commanded  our fathers,  that they should make them known  to their children: 

What does Psalms 78:5 Mean?

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 78:5 mean?

For He established a testimony in Jacob and a law appointed in Israel which He commanded - our fathers that they should make them known to their children
וַיָּ֤קֶם עֵד֨וּת ׀ בְּֽיַעֲקֹ֗ב וְתוֹרָה֮ שָׂ֤ם בְּיִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִ֭וָּה אֶת־ אֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ לְ֝הוֹדִיעָ֗ם לִבְנֵיהֶֽם

וַיָּ֤קֶם  For  He  established 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
עֵד֨וּת ׀  a  testimony 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵדוּת  
Sense: testimony.
בְּֽיַעֲקֹ֗ב  in  Jacob 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
וְתוֹרָה֮  and  a  law 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּורָה  
Sense: law, direction, instruction.
שָׂ֤ם  appointed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
בְּיִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל  in  Israel 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
צִ֭וָּה  He  commanded 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ  our  fathers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
לְ֝הוֹדִיעָ֗ם  that  they  should  make  them  known 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct, third person masculine plural
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
לִבְנֵיהֶֽם  to  their  children 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.

What are the major concepts related to Psalms 78:5?

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