Psalms 81:8

Authorized King James Version

Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;

Word-by-Word Analysis

תִּֽשְׁמַֽע

H8085

Hear

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

עַ֭מִּי

H5971

O my people

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

וְאָעִ֣ידָה

H5749

and I will testify

to duplicate or repeat; by implication, to protest, testify (as by reiteration); intensively, to encompass, restore (as a sort of reduplication)

בָּ֑ךְ

יִ֝שְׂרָאֵ֗ל

H3478

unto thee O Israel

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

אִם

H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

תִּֽשְׁמַֽע

H8085

Hear

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

לִֽי׃

Analysis

The worship and praise theme here intersects with the broader canonical witness to God's character and purposes. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of progressive revelation that finds its culmination in Christ. The phrase emphasizing covenant community contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's consistent character and purposes.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the Israelite monarchy with its court politics and military conflicts. The author writes to address worshipers in the temple and those seeking God in times of distress, making the emphasis on worship and praise particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

In what ways does understanding covenant community in its original context challenge or deepen contemporary Christian thinking about worship and praise?
In what ways does this verse's emphasis on covenant community address questions about God's character and purposes in the modern world, and how should the church respond?
What practical applications emerge from understanding worship and praise as presented in this verse, particularly in light of contemporary challenges facing the church and individual believers?