Psalms 78:7
in Psalms 78that they should put their confidence in God, not forgetting His works, but keeping His commandments.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
That they might set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep his commandments,
KJV
That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
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This verse in Psalms 78
Commentary
11 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
This history had been handed down (Ex 12:14; De 6:20) for God's honor, and that the principles of His law might be known and observed by posterity. This important sentiment is reiterated in (Ps 78:7, 8) negative form.
This site's exposition
He established a testimony in Jacob
on Psalms 78:5-8
God set a testimony in Jacob and a law in Israel, and Gill reads the two names as one revelation given at Sinai. The command was that fathers teach their children, so that children not yet born would tell their own children. The fathers in view are the stubborn and rebellious generation.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"That they may put their hope in God, and may not forget the works of God, and may seek out His commandments" [Psalm 78:7]. "And may not forget the works of God:" that is to say, in magnifying and vaunting their own works, as though they did them themselves; while "God it is that works," in them that work good things, "both to will and to work according to good will." [Philippians 2:13] "And may search out His commandments."...The commandments which He has commanded. How then should they still search out, whereas they have already learned them, save that by putting their hope in God, they do then search out His commandments, in order that by them, with His aid, they may be fulfilled?
"The sons who shall be born and shall rise up, and shall tell them to their sons." "In place of your fathers, sons have been born to you." We are their sons. They told us, and we have told our sons: we are their sons. "That they might place their hope in God." That they might now no longer believe in idols, but believe in God. "And not forget the works of God." That they might see the order of creation, and from the creation understand the Creator. "And seek out his commandments."
His righteousness cried, "If ye come straight to me, I also will come straight to you but if ye walk crooked, I also will walk crooked saith the Lord of hosts;" meaning by the crooked ways the chastisements of sinners. For the straight and natural way which is indicated by the iota of the name of Jesus is His goodness, which is firm and sure towards those who have believed at hearing: "When I called, ye obeyed not, saith the Lord; but set at nought my counsels, and heeded not my reproofs." Thus the Lord's reproof is most beneficial.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
): that, not forgetting the works of God wrought in former days, they might set their hope in God and keep his commandments, might make his command their rule and his covenant their stay. Those only may with confidence hope for God's salvation that make conscience of doing his commandments.
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That they might set their hope in God,....
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The history itself from Moses to David; it is put into a psalm or song that it might be the better remembered and transmitted to posterity, and that the singing of it might affect them with the things here related, more than they would be with a bare narrative of them.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
That they might set their hope in God. Faith cometh by hearing. Those who know the name of the Lord will set their hope in him, and that they may be led to do so is the main end of all spiritual teaching. And not forget the works of God. Grace cures bad memories; those who soon forget the merciful works of the Lord have need of teaching; they require to learn the divine art of holy memory. But keep his commandments. Those who forget God's works are sure to fail in their own. He who does not keep God's love in memory is not likely to remember his law. The design of teaching is practical; holiness towards God is the end we aim at, and not the filling of the head with speculative notions.
That they might set their hope in God. Faith cometh by hearing. Those who know the name of the Lord will set their hope in him, and that they may be led to do so is the main end of all spiritual teaching. And not forget the works of God. Grace cures bad memories; those who soon forget the merciful works of the Lord have need of teaching; they require to learn the divine art of holy memory. But keep his commandments. Those who forget God's works are sure to fail in their own.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
That they might set their hope in God - That they might place confidence in God; that they might maintain their allegiance to him. The object was to give such exhibitions of his character and government as to inspire just confidence in him, or to lead people to trust in him; and not to trust in idols and false gods. All the laws which God has ordained are such as are suited to inspire confidence in him as a just and righteous ruler; and all his dealings with mankind, when they are properly - that is, “really” - understood, will be found to be adapted to the same end. And not forget the works of God - His doings. The word here does not refer to his “works” considered as the works of creation, or the material universe, but to his acts - to what he has done in administering his government over mankind. But keep his commandments - That by contemplating his doings, by understanding the design of his administration, they might be led to keep his commandments. The purpose was that they might see such wisdom, justice, equity, and goodness in his administration, that they would be led to keep laws so suited to promote the welfare of mankind. If people saw all the reasons of the divine dealings, or fully understood them, nothing more would be necessary to secure universal confidence in God and in his government.
The words behind it
9 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְיָשִׂ֥ימוּ | veyasimu | so they may put | H7760 → | 584 times |
| בֵֽאלֹהִ֗ים | velohim | in God | H430 → | 2601 times |
| כִּ֫סְלָ֥ם | kislam | confidence their | H3689 → | 13 times |
| וְלֹ֣א | velo' | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יִ֭שְׁכְּחוּ | yishkechu | they will forget | H7911 → | 102 times |
| מַֽעַלְלֵי־ | maalei- | [the] deeds of | H4611 → | 41 times |
| אֵ֑ל | ʾel | God | H410 → | 241 times |
| וּמִצְוֹתָ֥יו | umitzvotav | and commandments his | H4687 → | 181 times |
| יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃ | yintzoru | they will observe | H5341 → | 63 times |
וְיָשִׂ֥ימוּso they may put
veyasimuH7760 →584 times
בֵֽאלֹהִ֗יםin God
velohimH430 →2601 times
כִּ֫סְלָ֥םconfidence their
kislamH3689 →13 times
וְלֹ֣אand not
velo'H3808 →5168 times
יִ֭שְׁכְּחוּthey will forget
yishkechuH7911 →102 times
מַֽעַלְלֵי־[the] deeds of
maalei-H4611 →41 times
אֵ֑לGod
ʾelH410 →241 times
וּמִצְוֹתָ֥יוand commandments his
umitzvotavH4687 →181 times
יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃they will observe
yintzoruH5341 →63 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Deuteronomy 4:9Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen, and so that they do not slip from your heart as long as…
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 6:7
And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
- Deuteronomy 11:19
Teach them to your children, speaking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
- Psalms 78:3–8
that we have heard and known and our fathers have relayed to us.
- Genesis 18:19
For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that…
- Deuteronomy 32:46
he said to them, “Take to heart all these words I testify among you today, so that you may command your children to carefully follow all the words of this law.
- Deuteronomy 6:7
Through
1 John 5:3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,
it leads to
- John 14:15
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
- John 15:10
If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
- Deuteronomy 7:9
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.
- John 14:15
Where this verse is studied
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About Psalms
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 78; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 3; Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor Book 1; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Homily 11, on Psalm 77; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.