Psalms 78:6
in Psalms 78that the coming generation would know them— even children yet to be born— to arise and tell their own children
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
That the generation to come might know them, even the children that should be born; Who should arise and tell them to their children,
KJV
That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
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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 rebellious generation.
This site's exposition
even children yet to be born
The chain now runs four generations, from the fathers to their children, to children yet unborn, and to theirs. Charles Spurgeon said the one object of the testimony was transmission. Albert Barnes pictured each age receiving the trust and sending it onward to the next.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"That another generation may know, sons who shall be born and shall rise up, and they may tell to their sons." These words do point out two peoples as it were, the one belonging to the Old Testament, the other to the New: for in that he saith, he hath implied that they received the commandments, "to make them known to their sons," but that they did not know or do them: but they received them themselves, to the end "that another generation might know," what the former knew not. "Sons who shall be born and shall arise." For they that have been born have not arisen: because they had not their heart above, but rather on the earth. For the arising is with Christ: whence hath been said, "If ye have arisen with Christ, savour ye the things which are above." "And they may tell them," he saith, "to their sons, in order that they may put their hope in God."
"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."
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
That the generation to come might know them,....
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.
(2.) The providences of God concerning them, both in mercy and in judgment. The former seem to be mentioned for the sake of this; since God gave order that his laws should be made known to posterity, it is requisite that with them his works also should be made known, the fulfilling of the promises made to the obedient and the threatenings denounced against the disobedient.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born. As far on as our brief life allows us to arrange, we must industriously provide for the godly nurture of youth. The narratives, commands, and doctrines of the word of God are not worn out; they are calculated to exert an influence as long as our race shall exist. Who should arise and declare them to their children. The one object aimed at is transmission; the testimony is only given that it may be passed on to succeeding generations.
A testimony in Jocob - This may signify the various ordinances, rites, and ceremonies prescribed by the law; and the word law may mean the moral law, or system of religious instruction, teaching them their duty to God, to their neighbor, and to themselves. These were commanded to the fathers - the patriarchs and primitive Hebrews, that they should make them known to their children, who should make them known to the generation that was to come, whose children should also be instructed that they might declare them to their children; to the end that their hope might be in God, that they might not forget his works, and might keep his commandments: that they might not be as their fathers, but have their heart right and their spirit steadfast with God, Psa 78:6-8. Five generations appear to be mentioned above: 1. Fathers; 2. Their children; 3. The generation to come; 4. And their children; 5. And their children. They were never to lose sight of their history throughout all their generations. Some think the testimony here may mean the tabernacle.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
That the generation to come might know them ... - That people in future times might enjoy the benefit of them as their fathers had done, and that they should then send them forward to those who were to succeed them. Who should arise and declare them to their children - Who, as they appeared on the stage of life, should receive the trust, and send it onward to future ages. Thus the world makes progress; thus one age starts where the previous one left off; thus it enters on its own career with the advantage of all the toils, the sacrifices, the happy thoughts, the inventions of all past times. It is designed that the world shall thus grow wiser and better as it advances; and that future generations shall be enriched with all that was worth preserving in the experience of the past. See the notes at Psa 71:18.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לְמַ֤עַן | lemaan | so that | H4616 → | 272 times |
| יֵדְע֨וּ׀ | yedeu | they may know | H3045 → | 945 times |
| דּ֣וֹר | dor | a generation | H1755 → | 167 times |
| אַ֭חֲרוֹן | ʾacharon | later | H314 → | 51 times |
| בָּנִ֣ים | banim | children | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| יִוָּלֵ֑דוּ | yivaledu | [who] they will be born | H3205 → | 496 times |
| יָ֝קֻ֗מוּ | yakumu | they will arise | H6965 → | 628 times |
| וִֽיסַפְּר֥וּ | visaperu | and may they recount [them] | H5608 → | 159 times |
| לִבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ | livneihem | to children their | H1121 → | 4930 times |
לְמַ֤עַןso that
lemaanH4616 →272 times
יֵדְע֨וּ׀they may know
yedeuH3045 →945 times
דּ֣וֹרa generation
dorH1755 →167 times
אַ֭חֲרוֹןlater
ʾacharonH314 →51 times
בָּנִ֣יםchildren
banimH1121 →4930 times
יִוָּלֵ֑דוּ[who] they will be born
yivaleduH3205 →496 times
יָ֝קֻ֗מוּthey will arise
yakumuH6965 →628 times
וִֽיסַפְּר֥וּand may they recount [them]
visaperuH5608 →159 times
לִבְנֵיהֶֽם׃to children their
livneihemH1121 →4930 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
Joel 1:3Tell it to your children; let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.
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.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Deuteronomy 6:7
Through
Psalms 145:4One generation will commend Your works to the next, and will proclaim Your mighty acts—
it leads to
- Psalms 71:18
Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I proclaim Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 78:3–7
that we have heard and known and our fathers have relayed to us.
- Isaiah 38:19
The living, only the living, can thank You, as I do today; fathers will tell their children about Your faithfulness.
- Psalms 71:18
Through
Psalms 102:18Let this be written for the generation to come, so that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.
it leads to
- Psalms 22:30–31
Posterity will serve Him; they will declare the Lord to a new generation.
- Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.
- Isaiah 43:21
The people I formed for Myself will declare My praise.
- Psalms 78:4–6
We will not hide them from their children, but will declare to the next generation the praises of the LORD and His might, and the wonders He has performed.
- Psalms 22:30–31
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies13
On this verse
On this chapter
About Psalms
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, On the Psalms: Psalm 78; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 3; 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.