Psalms 81:1-6

1 Shout for joy to God our defender; sing praise to the God of Jacob!

2 Start the music and beat the tambourines; play pleasant music on the harps and the lyres.

3 Blow the trumpet for the festival, ¹ when the moon is new and when the moon is full.

4 This is the law in Israel, an order from the God of Jacob.

5 He gave it to the people of Israel when he attacked the land of Egypt. I hear an unknown voice saying,

6 "I took the burdens off your backs; I let you put down your loads of bricks.

Psalms 81:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A [Psalm] of Asaph. Of "gittith," See Gill on "Ps 8:1." The Targum renders it, "upon the harp which came from Gath;" and so Jarchi says it was a musical instrument that came from Gath. The Septuagint, and the versions which follow that, render it, "for the winepresses." This psalm, according to Kimchi, is said concerning the going out of the children of Israel from Egypt; and was composed in order to be sung at their new moons and solemn feasts, which were typical of Gospel things in Gospel times; see Colossians 2:16 and so the Syriac version, "a psalm of Asaph, when David by him prepared himself for the solemnities."

Cross References

• 1. 81.3Numbers 10.10.