Bible Strands
Psalms 78:72
So David shepherded them with integrity of heart and guided them with skillful hands.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist concludes a historical recounting of Israel’s monarchy by describing David’s transition from tending sheep to ruling Jacob and Israel. This declaration immediately follows the narrative of God’s selection of David in the preceding verse.
The words — The verb יִרְעֶ֥ה (yir'e/m) literally means "he shepherded," while the noun תֹם (Tom) denotes "integrity" or "blamelessness." These terms pair David’s leadership style with his inner moral state and outward practical ability.
The thread — The psalmist links David’s moral integrity to the covenant condition in 1 Kings 9:4, which demands walking before God with a heart of integrity. The emphasis on practical skill (תְבוּנוֹת, t.vu.Not) aligns with the wisdom and understanding described in Isaiah 11:2.
Why it lands — The text states that David’s leadership combined moral uprightness with practical competence. A reader is asked to recognize that effective stewardship requires both inner integrity and outward skill.
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
So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 9:4 And as for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, with a heart of integrity and uprightness, doing all I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and ordinances,
- 2 Timothy 2:15 Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
- Isaiah 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.
- 1 Kings 15:5 For David had done what was right in the eyes of the LORD and had not turned aside from anything the LORD commanded all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
- Psalms 101:1 A Psalm of David. I will sing of Your loving devotion and justice; to You, O LORD, I will sing praises.
- Acts 13:22 After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety.’
- 2 Samuel 8:15 Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people:
- 1 Kings 3:6 Solomon replied, “You have shown much loving devotion to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. And You have maintained this loving devotion by giving him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
- 1 Kings 3:28 When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.
- Psalms 75:2 “When I choose a time, I will judge fairly.