This He established in Joseph as a testimony, When He went throughout the land of Egypt, Where I heard a language I did not understand.
Parallel translations
- WEB He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out over the land of Egypt, I heard a language that I didn’t know.
- KJV This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.
- BSB He ordained it as a testimony for Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt, where I heard an unfamiliar language:
- NASB He established it as a testimony in Joseph When he went throughout the land of Egypt. I heard a language I did not know:
- NLT He made it a law for Israel when he attacked Egypt to set us free. I heard an unknown voice say,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God established this testimony when He went out against Egypt, and a voice speaks of hearing an unfamiliar language. The feast memorializes the exodus deliverance.
Overview
The statute is tied to the exodus, when God acted to free His people from Egypt. The 'language I didn't know' likely refers either to Israel's experience of Egypt or to God's own voice now beginning to speak in the verses that follow. It transitions the psalm from celebration into God's direct address, recalling His mighty acts of salvation.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Ps 114:1When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of foreign language;
- Jer 5:15Behold, I will bring a nation on you from far, house of Israel,” says Yahweh. “It is a mighty nation. It is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you don’t know, neither understand what they say.
- 1 Cor 14:21–22In the law it is written, “By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. Not even thus will they hear me, says the Lord.”
- Deut 28:49Yahweh will bring a nation against you from far, from the end of the earth, as the eagle flies; a nation whose language you will not understand;
- Isa 28:11But he will speak to this nation with stammering lips and in another language;
- Exod 11:4Moses said, “This is what Yahweh says: ‘About midnight I will go out into the middle of Egypt,
- Exod 13:8–9You shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘It is because of that which Yahweh did for me when I came out of Egypt.’
- Ps 77:15You have redeemed your people with your arm, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
- Exod 12:27that you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of Yahweh’s Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians, and spared our houses.’” The people bowed their heads and worshiped.
- Exod 12:12For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and animal. Against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am Yahweh.
- Amos 6:6who drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the best oils; but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
- Exod 13:14–16It shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you shall tell him, ‘By strength of hand Yahweh brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage.
- Deut 4:45These are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which Moses spoke to the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt,
- Exod 12:29At midnight, Yahweh struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of livestock.
- Ps 80:1–2For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm by Asaph. Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock, you who sit above the cherubim, shine out.
- Ps 78:6that the generation to come might know, even the children who should be born; who should arise and tell their children,
- Ezek 20:20and make my Sabbaths holy; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am Yahweh your God. ’
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 81:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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