The Meaning of Psalms 81:1 Explained

Psalms 81:1

KJV: {To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph.} Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

YLT: To the Overseer. -- 'On the Gittith.' By Asaph. Cry aloud to God our strength, Shout to the God of Jacob.

Darby: {To the chief Musician. Upon the Gittith. A Psalm of Asaph.} Sing ye joyously unto God our strength, shout aloud unto the God of Jacob;

ASV: Sing aloud unto God our strength: Make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{To the chief Musician  upon Gittith,  [A Psalm] of Asaph.  }} Sing aloud  unto God  our strength:  make a joyful noise  unto the God  of Jacob. 

What does Psalms 81:1 Mean?

Study Notes

Gittith
See title note; .

Context Summary

Psalms 81:1-7 - Sing Unto God, The Deliverer
It is supposed that this psalm was composed for use at the great Hebrew festivals and especially at the Passover, which is referred to in Psalms 81:5-7; Psalms 81:10. See also 2 Chronicles 30:21. Let us remember to celebrate the redemption of the Cross, where our Paschal Lamb was sacrificed. We must celebrate, here and hereafter, the love that rescued us from the burden and the basket, at Sinai and Meribah. Baskets have been found in the sepulchral vaults at Thebes, and were doubtless used for carrying the clay or the manufactured bricks. They are symbols of the drudgery and slavery of sin, when we served a hard taskmaster, whose wages is death.
If we are in trouble, let us quote Psalms 81:7, call on God, and reckon on His delivering helpfulness. He will answer from "his thunder-covert." He comes out of His secret place. Especially when the thunder of a broken law is in our ears, let us hasten to the Redeemer, who has fulfilled the law in our stead. Let us maintain by faith our standing in Him; then we shall be as they who look down from the high mountains on the thunder-storm at our feet. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 81

1  An exhortation to a solemn praising of God
4  God challenges that duty by reason of his benefits
8  God, exhorting to obedience, complains of their disobedience, which proves their own hurt

What do the individual words in Psalms 81:1 mean?

To the Chief Musician On an instrument of Gath a Psalm of Asaph Sing aloud to God our strength Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob
לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ ׀ עַֽל־ הַגִּתִּ֬ית לְאָסָֽף הַ֭רְנִינוּ לֵאלֹהִ֣ים עוּזֵּ֑נוּ הָ֝רִ֗יעוּ לֵאלֹהֵ֥י יַעֲקֹֽב

לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ ׀  To  the  Chief  Musician 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָצַח  
Sense: to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring.
הַגִּתִּ֬ית  an  instrument  of  Gath 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: גִּתִּית  
Sense: a musical instrument? from Gath? and used in three Psalm titles—8, 8, 84; a song title used for the Feast of Booths.
לְאָסָֽף  a  Psalm  of  Asaph 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָסָף  
Sense: the father of Hezekiah’s secretary.
הַ֭רְנִינוּ  Sing  aloud 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: רוּן 
Sense: to overcome.
לֵאלֹהִ֣ים  to  God 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
עוּזֵּ֑נוּ  our  strength 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: עֹז  
Sense: might, strength.
הָ֝רִ֗יעוּ  Make  a  joyful  shout 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: רוּעַ  
Sense: to shout, raise a sound, cry out, give a blast.
לֵאלֹהֵ֥י  to  the  God 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יַעֲקֹֽב  of  Jacob 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.