Psalms 78 · Verse 1

Psalms 78:1

Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
Psalms 78:1, King James Version

Psalms 78:1 in other translations

BSBA Maskil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my instruction; listen to the words of my mouth.
WEBA contemplation by Asaph. Hear my teaching, my people. Turn your ears to the words of my mouth.
ASVMaschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
YLTAn Instruction of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law, Incline your ear to sayings of my mouth.
DARBYAn instruction. Of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
BBEGive ear, O my people, to my law; let your ears be bent down to the words of my mouth.
WebsterMaschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ear to the words of my mouth.

What does Psalms 78:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Psa 78:1-72. This Psalm appears to have been occasioned by the removal of the sanctuary from Shiloh in the tribe of Ephraim to Zion in the tribe of Judah, and the coincident transfer of pre-eminence in Israel from the former to the latter tribe, as clearly evinced by David's settlement as the head of the Church and nation. Though this was the execution of God's purpose, the writer here shows that it also proceeded from the divine judgment on Ephraim, under whose leadership the people had manifested the same sinful and rebellious character which had distinguished their ancestors in Egypt.

1. my people ... my law--the language of a religious teacher (Psa 78:2; La 3:14; Ro 2:16, 27; compare Psa 49:4). The history which follows was a "dark saying," or riddle, if left unexplained, and its right apprehension required wisdom and attention.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

An enumeration of the principal effects of the goodness of God to his people, vv. 1-16; of their rebellions and punishment, vv. 17-33; their feigned repentance, Psa 78:34-37; God's compassion towards them, Psa 78:38, Psa 78:39; their backsliding, and forgetfulness of his mercy, Psa 78:40-42; the plagues which he brought upon the Egyptians, Psa 78:43-51; the deliverance of his own people, and their repeated ingratitude and disobedience, Psa 78:52-58; their punishment, Psa 78:59-64; God's wrath against their adversaries, Psa 78:65, Psa 78:66; his rejection of the tribes of Israel abut his choice of the tribe of Judah, and of David to be king over his people, Psa 78:67-72. The title, Maschil of Asaph; or, according to the margin, A Psalm for Asaph to give instruction; contains nothing particular. The Arabic has, "A sermon from Asaph to the people." The Psalm was probably not written by David, but after the separation of the ten tribes of Israel, and after the days of Rehoboam, and before the Babylonish captivity, for the temple was still standing, Psa 78:69. Calmet supposes that it was written in the days of Asa, who had gained, by the aid of the Syrians, a great victory over the Israelites; and brought back to the pure worship of God many out of the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon. See 2 Chronicles 15 and 2Chr 16:1-14. Verse 1 Give ear, O my people - This is the exordium of this very pathetic and instructive discourse.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 78:1-8
These are called dark and deep sayings, because they are carefully to be looked into. The law of God was given with a particular charge to teach it diligently to their children, that the church may abide for ever. Also, that the providences of God, both in mercy and in judgment, might encourage them to conform to the will of God. The works of God much strengthen our resolution to keep his commandments. Hypocrisy is the high road to apostacy; those that do not set their hearts right, will not be stedfast with God. Many parents, by negligence and wickedness, become murderers of their children. But young persons, though they are bound to submit in all things lawful, must not obey sinful orders, or copy sinful examples.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 78:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הַאֲזִ֣ינָהha.'a.Zi.nahgive ear to !H238
עַ֭מִּי'A.miO people myH5971
תּוֹרָתִ֑יto.ra.Tiinstruction myH8451
הַטּ֥וּha.TuinclineH5186
אָ֝זְנְכֶ֗ם'a.ze.ne.Khemear yourH241
לְאִמְרֵי\־le.'im.rei-to [the] words ofH561
פִֽי\׃Fimouth myH6310

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 78:1

  • Isaiah 51:4

    Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.

  • Isaiah 55:3

    Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

  • 2 Chronicles 15:1-16

    And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded: And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them. …

  • Psalms 50:7

    Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.

  • Proverbs 8:4-6

    Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

  • Psalms 74:1

    Maschil of Asaph. O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?

  • Psalms 49:1-3

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world: Both low and high, rich and poor, together. My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

  • Judges 5:3

    Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.

  • Matthew 13:9

    Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

  • Psalms 51:4

    Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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.

A.M. 3074. B.C. 930. (Title.) Maschil. or, A Psalm forAsaph, to give instruction.
74:1; *titleThis Psalm was probably written, as Calmet and others suppose, by Asaph in the days of Asa, who had gained, by the aid of the Syrians, a great victory over the Israelites, and brought back to the pure worship of God many out of the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon.
2Ch 15:1-16:14
See on Ps.
49:1-3; 51:4; Jud 5:3; Pr 8:4-6; Isa 51:4; 55:3; Mt 13:9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 78:1

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

  • Psalms 78:2

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

Read all of Psalms 78

Psalms 78:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Masquil de Asaph. ESCUCHA, pueblo mío, mi ley: inclinad vuestro oído á las palabras de mi boca.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Pour instruire. D’Asaph. Prête l’oreille à ma loi, mon peuple! inclinez vos oreilles aux paroles de ma bouche.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Horche, mein Volk, auf mein Gesetz! neiget euer Ohr zu den Worten meines Mundes!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Psalmus Asaph. Deus, venerunt gentes in hæreditatem tuam; polluerunt templum sanctum tuum; posuerunt Jerusalem in pomorum custodiam.