Psalms 78:5
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:
Original Language Analysis
וַיָּ֤קֶם
For he established
H6965
וַיָּ֤קֶם
For he established
Strong's:
H6965
Word #:
1 of 12
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
וְתוֹרָה֮
a law
H8451
וְתוֹרָה֮
a law
Strong's:
H8451
Word #:
4 of 12
a precept or statute, especially the decalogue or pentateuch
שָׂ֤ם
and appointed
H7760
שָׂ֤ם
and appointed
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
5 of 12
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
בְּיִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל
in Israel
H3478
בְּיִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל
in Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
6 of 12
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
7 of 12
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
9 of 12
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ
our fathers
H1
אֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ
our fathers
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
10 of 12
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
Cross References
Deuteronomy 6:7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.Ephesians 6:4And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.Psalms 81:5This 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.Deuteronomy 4:45These are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which Moses spake unto the children of Israel, after they came forth out of Egypt,Isaiah 38:19The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.Isaiah 8:20To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.Psalms 19:7The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.Psalms 147:19He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.Exodus 40:3And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail.Exodus 25:21And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
Historical Context
God gave the law at Sinai (Exodus 20-24) with explicit commands for parental instruction (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 11:18-21). The pattern: God reveals, parents teach, children receive and transmit. When this breaks (Judges 2:10), apostasy follows. The synagogue system developed to formalize this teaching. Jesus and Paul continued this pattern (Matthew 28:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:2).
Questions for Reflection
- How are you fulfilling the command to "make known" God's truth to the next generation?
- What happens when a generation fails to transmit faith to children?
- How does Scripture itself function as the "testimony" and "law" passed from generation to generation?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The psalm establishes God's law: "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" (Hebrew va-yaqem edut b-Ya-aqov v-torah sam b-Yisra-el asher tzivvah et-avoteynu l-hodi-am liv-neyhem). "Testimony" (Hebrew eduth) and "law" (Hebrew torah) indicate God's revealed will. The intergenerational command is explicit: fathers must teach children. This establishes Scripture's authority and transmission pattern. Faith depends on faithful teaching.