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Psalms 78:1

KJV

Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

Read it in context I Will Open My Mouth in Parables
Start reading at Psalms 78:1 (Psalms 78:1 to Psalms 78:1). An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.

This opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. This collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.

  1. 78:1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

Who

What

When

Where

How

Cited: Psalms 78:1, Luke 24:44, Acts 2:25, Acts 2:30, Acts 2:31

Who wrote it, and how we know

David and others, including Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and Moses Named in Scripture
What Scripture saysThe superscriptions name their writers: David most often, and also Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and Moses. The New Testament quotes psalms as David's words. Psalm 3:1Psalm 90:1Acts 2:25Acts 4:25
Early traditionJewish and Christian tradition preserves the superscriptions as ancient.
What is debatedSome scholars regard certain superscriptions as later additions. The collection was assembled over centuries.

Old Testament prophecy and New Testament fulfillment

The notes distinguish explicit fulfillment statements from other explicit New Testament applications. They do not assume every detail of the surrounding prophecy has already been fulfilled.

Speaking in parables

NT explicitly identifies fulfillment

Matthew explicitly uses fulfillment language for speaking in parables. Psalm 78 introduces a retelling of Israel's history; Matthew's application does not remove that original setting.

Related passages

Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).

Macro-Structure

See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.

Macro-Structure of Psalms 78

Psalms is a collection of prayers and songs with multiple attributed writers and many unspecified occasions. Read each psalm as a poetic unit and distinguish a speaker's lament, petition, vow, and praise. The five-book arrangement does not make all psalms one continuous speech. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement. A quoted heading uses the opening KJV words of that stanza; the speaker and the psalm as a whole still govern its meaning.

Psalms 1:1 Psalms 41:13 Psalms 150:6

I Will Open My Mouth in Parables
Psalms 78:1–1 You are here · 78:1

FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions

Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. This collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
interpretation
“I will open my mouth in a parable: I…”
Psalms 78:2–4

FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions

Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
interpretation
“For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed…”
Psalms 78:5–8

FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions

Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
interpretation
“The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows,…”
Psalms 78:9–16

FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions

Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
interpretation
“And they sinned yet more against him by provoking…”
Psalms 78:17–20

FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions

Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
interpretation
“Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so…”
Psalms 78:21–22

FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions

Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
interpretation
“Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and…”
Psalms 78:23–29

FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions

Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
interpretation
“They were not estranged from their lust. But while…”
Psalms 78:30–31

FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions

Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
interpretation
“For all this they sinned still, and believed not…”
Psalms 78:32–35

FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions

Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
interpretation
“Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and…”
Psalms 78:36–37

FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions

Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
interpretation
“But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity,…”
Psalms 78:38–39

FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions

Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
interpretation
“How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness,…”
Psalms 78:40–43

FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions

Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
interpretation
“And had turned their rivers into blood; and their…”
Psalms 78:44–48

FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions

Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
interpretation
“He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger,…”
Psalms 78:49–51

FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions

Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
interpretation
“But made his own people to go forth like…”
Psalms 78:52–55

FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions

Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
interpretation
“Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God,…”
Psalms 78:56–58

FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions

Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
interpretation
“When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly…”
Psalms 78:59–64

FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions

Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
interpretation
“Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep,…”
Psalms 78:65–69

FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions

Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
interpretation
“He chose David also his servant, and took him…”
Psalms 78:70–72

FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions

Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. This collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
interpretation

Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.

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