Psalms 78:5

5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children,

Psalms 78:5 in Other Translations

5 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:

5 He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children,

5 For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children,

5 He planted a witness in Jacob, set his Word firmly in Israel, Then commanded our parents to teach it to their children

5 He established a testimony in Jacob and set up a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children

Psalms 78:5 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 78:5

For he established a testimony in Jacob
So the law is called, being a testification of the divine will, ( Exodus 25:16 Exodus 25:22 ) and the Scriptures, the writings of the Old Testament, which testify of Christ, his person, office, sufferings, and death, ( Isaiah 8:20 ) ( John 5:39 ) and particularly the Gospel, which is the testimony of God, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of his apostles, ( 2 Timothy 1:8 ) which bears witness to the love and grace of God in the salvation of men by Christ; to the dignity of Christ's person, to the fulness of his grace, to each of the offices and relations he bears and stands in to his people; to the virtue of his obedience, sufferings, and death; to redemption, righteousness, peace and pardon by him: this is established in the house of Jacob, as the Targum; in the church, which is the pillar and ground of truth, among the saints and people of God, to whom it is delivered, and by whom it will be kept, and with whom it will remain throughout all ages; for it is the everlasting Gospel:

and appointed a law in Israel;
the law given on Mount Sinai was peculiar to them, and so were the word and oracles, they were committed to them; and not only the writings of Moses, but the prophets, are called the law, ( John 10:34 ) ( Deuteronomy 4:8 ) ( Psalms 147:19 Psalms 147:20 ) ( Romans 3:1 Romans 3:2 ) ( 9:4 ) , but the Gospel seems to be here meant, (See Gill on Psalms 78:1): this was ordained before the world for our glory, and is put and placed in the hands and hearts of the faithful ministers of it, and is published among, and received by, the true Israel of God:

which he commanded our fathers that they should make them known to
their children;
that is, the testimony and the law, and the things contained in them; the Jewish fathers were frequently commanded to teach their children the law of Moses, ( Deuteronomy 4:9 Deuteronomy 4:10 ) ( Deuteronomy 6:6 Deuteronomy 6:7 ) ( 11:19 ) and it was their practice to instruct them in the knowledge of the Scriptures, ( 2 Timothy 3:15 ) , and it becomes Christian parents to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, by making known to them the principles of the Christian religion, and the truths of the Gospel, ( Ephesians 6:4 ) .

Psalms 78:5 In-Context

3 things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us.

4 We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.

5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children,

6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.

7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 19:7; Psalms 81:5
• 2. Psalms 147:19