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Psalms 78:5

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 78:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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;
Psalms 78:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 78

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old,
3Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us.
4We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of Jehovah, And his strength, and his wondrous works that he hath done.
5For 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;
6That the generation to come might know [them], even the children that should be born; Who should arise and tell [them] to their children,
7That they might set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep his commandments,
8And might not be as their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that set not their heart aright, And whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
← Psalms 78:4Psalms 78:6 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For he established a testimony in Jacob, etc.] So the law is called, being a testification of the divine will, (<022516>Exodus 25:16,22) and the Scriptures, the writings of the Old Testament, which testify of Christ, his person, office, sufferings, and death, (<230820>Isaiah 8:20 <430539>John 5:39) and particularly the Gospel, which is the testimony of God, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of his apostles, (<550108>2 Timothy 1:8) which bears witness to the love and grace of God in the salvation of men by Christ; to the dignity of Christ’s person, to the fulness of his grace, to each of the offices and relations he bears and stands in to his people; to the virtue of his obedience, sufferings,…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For he established a testimony in Jacob - He ordained or appointed that which would be for a “witness” for him; that which would bear testimony to his character and perfections; that which would serve to remind them of what he was, and of his authority over them. Any law or ordinance of God is thus a standing and permanent witness in regard to his character as showing what he is. And appointed a law in Israel - That is, He gave law to Israel, or to the Hebrew people. Their laws were not human enactments, but were the appointments of God. Which he commanded our fathers ... - He made it a law of the land that these testimonies should be preserved and faithfully transmitted to future times. See…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Established - This is justly put in first place, as the chief of all his mercies. A testimony - His law, called a testimony, because it is a witness between God and men, declaring the duties which God expects from man, and the blessings which man may expect from God. Psalms 78:9”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“78:5-6 The telling of the story should motivate God’s people to obey what he commanded (Deut 6:4-9).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“For he: Psa 81:5, Psa 119:152, Psa 147:19; Deu 4:45, Deu 6:7, Deu 11:19; Isa 8:20; Rom 3:2; Jo1 5:9-12 testimony: The word testimony is used for the ark, and for the law, written on tables of stone, put within the ark, and covered with the mercy seat. This testified the Lord's gracious presence with his people, and seemed to point out to them both the way of access and acceptance, and the standard or rule of their duty. Exo 25:16, Exo 25:21, Exo 40:3, Exo 40:20 that they: Psa 78:3, Psa 78:4; Gen 18:19; Isa 38:19; Eph 6:4 Psalms 78:6”
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Related study paths

Read Psalms 78 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification