Bible Strands
Psalms 78:5
For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses the assembly of Israel, recounting the foundational instructions given at the nation's formation to ensure continuity across generations.
The words — וַיָּקֶם (va.ya.kem) means "he established" and עֵדוּת ('e.dut) means "testimony," denoting the formal setting up of a binding witness within Jacob. תּוֹרָה (to.rah) translates literally as "law" or "instruction," marking the specific content appointed in Israel.
The thread — The mandate to transmit divine instruction to descendants echoes in Genesis 18:19, Deuteronomy 4:45, and Ephesians 6:4.
Why it lands — The text demands that readers recognize their role as the next link in a commanded chain of teaching, requiring them to pass on the established witness to their own children without omission.
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
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:
Cross-references
- Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
- Genesis 18:19 For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”
- Deuteronomy 4:45 These are the testimonies, statutes, and ordinances that Moses proclaimed to them after they had come out of Egypt,
- 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.
- Psalms 81:5 He ordained it as a testimony for Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt, where I heard an unfamiliar language:
- Deuteronomy 11:19 Teach them to your children, speaking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
- Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
- Isaiah 38:19 The living, only the living, can thank You, as I do today; fathers will tell their children about Your faithfulness.
- Romans 3:2 Much in every way. First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.
- Exodus 25:21 Set the mercy seat atop the ark and put the Testimony that I will give you into the ark.