The big picture
Psalms 81 opens in verse 1 with “Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 8 with “Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;”, and closes in verse 16 with “He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the…” Repeated or prominent terms include Israel, people, delivered, Egypt, hearken. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 16Psalms 81:1-8
1–8: Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of…
Psalms 81:1–8 opens with “Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.” and reaches “Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by delivered, Israel, Jacob.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.” Naming Jacob keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.” Naming Blow keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 81:1-8
King James Version1Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
2Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
3Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.
4For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.
5This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.
6I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.
7Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.
8Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;
Psalms 81:9-16
9–16: There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any…
Psalms 81:9–16 opens with “There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.” and reaches “He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by Israel, LORD, people.
Context that brings the passage to life
“There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 81:9-16
King James Version9There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.
10I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
12So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
13Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
14I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.
15The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.
16He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 81:1 begins with “Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 81:11 forms a natural hinge: “But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.”
The final note
Psalms 81:16 leaves the reader with “He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Israel, people, delivered, Egypt, hearken, Jacob help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.