Bible Strands
Psalms 78:1
A Maskil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my instruction; listen to the words of my mouth.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalm is attributed to Asaph and designated for a Maskil. The speaker addresses "my people" to receive instruction before revealing hidden things.
The words — הַאֲזִ֣ינָה (ha'ăzînâ) commands "give ear to," and הַטּ֥וּ (hattû) means "incline," both directing attention to תּוֹרָתִ֑י (tôrâṯî), "my instruction."
The thread — This auditory command appears in Isaiah 51:4, Isaiah 55:3, and Judges 5:3, where similar phrases urge listeners to pay attention to divine speech or praise.
Why it lands — The text demands immediate attention to the speaker's instruction before any parables or concealed truths are disclosed.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 51:4 Pay attention to Me, My people, and listen to Me, My nation; for a law will go out from Me, and My justice will become a light to the nations; I will bring it about quickly.
- Isaiah 55:3 Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant—My loving devotion promised to David.
- Judges 5:3 Listen, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.
- 2 Chronicles 15:1 Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded.
- Psalms 49:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all inhabitants of the world,
- Psalms 50:7 “Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God.
- Psalms 74:1 A Maskil of Asaph. Why have You rejected us forever, O God? Why does Your anger smolder against the sheep of Your pasture?
- Proverbs 8:4 “To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.
- Matthew 13:9 He who has ears, let him hear.”
- Psalms 51:4 Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge.