Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
Read it in contextSing for Joy to God Our Strength
Start reading at Psalms 81:1 (Psalms 81:1 to Psalms 81:5).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
This opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. This collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
81:1Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
81:2Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
81:3Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.
81:4For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.
81:5This 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.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Multiple writers contributed to Psalms, including David, Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and Moses; some psalms have no named attribution. The traditional Hebrew headings distinguish many of these contributions. Biblical references: Acts 2:25; Acts 4:25. book background
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Psalms 81:1–81:16): The worshippers are summoned to celebrate; God addresses Israel concerning its obligation to hear Him rather than follow strange gods. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Israel's worshipping community, including individuals and assemblies using the psalms for prayer, praise, lament, and instruction. A particular psalm may speak directly to God, to the congregation, or to another group. Biblical references: Psalms 22:22; Psalms 78:1; Psalms 100:1. book background
What
What is the topic of this reading unit? Sing for Joy to God Our Strength. Read Psalms 81:1 through Psalms 81:5 as a connected unit. interpretation
How does it contribute to the book? This opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. This collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation. interpretation
When
When are the events or message set? The collection includes different periods and occasions. A specific date is not given for every psalm, and a date inferred for one poem must not be assigned to the whole collection. book background
Where
What is the book’s geographic setting? The poems refer to homes, wilderness, sanctuary, Zion, exile, and the wider creation. A poetic scene is not automatically the place where the poet composed the psalm. book background
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in Sing for Joy to God Our Strength (Psalms 81:1 to Psalms 81:5).
Start reading at Psalms 81:1. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? Jesus and the apostles apply particular psalms to Christ. Those cited applications provide firm connections; they do not justify treating every first-person statement in every psalm as directly spoken by Jesus. See Luke 24:44, Acts 2:25, Acts 2:30, Acts 2:31. interpretation
How should this book guide our response? Bring lament, confession, thanksgiving, and praise honestly before God. Read petitions and descriptions in their poetic setting, and distinguish the psalm's speaker from the reader applying it. interpretation
David and others, including Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and MosesNamed in Scripture
What Scripture saysThe superscriptions name their writers: David most often, and also Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and Moses. The New Testament quotes psalms as David's words. Psalm 3:1Psalm 90:1Acts 2:25Acts 4:25
Early traditionJewish and Christian tradition preserves the superscriptions as ancient.
What is debatedSome scholars regard certain superscriptions as later additions. The collection was assembled over centuries.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Psalms 81
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Psalms is a collection of prayers and songs with multiple attributed writers and many unspecified occasions. Read each psalm as a poetic unit and distinguish a speaker's lament, petition, vow, and praise. The five-book arrangement does not make all psalms one continuous speech. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement. A quoted heading uses the opening KJV words of that stanza; the speaker and the psalm as a whole still govern its meaning.
FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. This collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
interpretation
“I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands…”
FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions
Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. This collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Psalms
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Psalms is a collection of prayers and songs with multiple attributed writers and many unspecified occasions. Read each psalm as a poetic unit and distinguish a speaker's lament, petition, vow, and praise. The five-book arrangement does not make all psalms one continuous speech.
Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
Connection to the wholeThe second collection continues varied prayers and songs and closes with royal prayer and a doxology; its individual psalms retain distinct voices and occasions.
FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions
Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
Connection to the wholeThese psalms include reflection on human frailty, the LORD's kingship, worship, and Israel's history, and close with a doxology.
FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise
Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.