Psalms Chapter 81 verse 5 Holy Bible
He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, When he went out over the land of Egypt, `Where' I heard a language that I knew not.
read chapter 81 in ASV
He gave it to Joseph as a witness, when he went out over the land of Egypt; then the words of a strange tongue were sounding in my ears.
read chapter 81 in BBE
He ordained it in Joseph [for] a testimony, when he went forth over the land of Egypt, [where] I heard a language that I knew not.
read chapter 81 in DARBY
This 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.
read chapter 81 in KJV
For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.
read chapter 81 in WBT
He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, When he went out over the land of Egypt, I heard a language that I didn't know.
read chapter 81 in WEB
A testimony on Joseph He hath placed it, In his going forth over the land of Egypt. A lip, I have not known -- I hear.
read chapter 81 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 5. - This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony. The special mention of "Joseph" here is strange. Professor Cheyne explains, "God appointed the Law to be valid in northern as well as southern Israel." Hengstenberg and Professor Alexander account for the expression by the pre-eminence of Joseph during the sojourn in Egypt. When he went out through the land of Egypt. When he (Joseph) went out over (or, across) the land," i.e. at the time of the Exodus. Where I heard a language that I understood not. It can scarcely be supposed that this clause belongs properly to ver. 5. It is rather an introduction to the monody wherewith the psalm (as it has come down to us) concludes - the mournful complaint of God against his people. So Professor Cheyne, who translates, "The discourse of no whom I had not known (i.e. of God) did I hear."
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(5) Joseph.--The prominence given to this name indicates, according to some critics, that the author belonged to the northern kingdom:. but when a poet was wishing to vary his style of speaking of the whole people--the names Israel and Jacob have just been used--the name Joseph would naturally occur, especially with the mention of Egypt, where that patriarch had played such a conspicuous part.Through the land of Egypt.--The Hebrew means either upon, over, or against, but none of these meanings will suit with Israel as the subject of the verb. Hence, the LXX., in disregard of use, give "out of Egypt." But God is doubtless the subject of the verb, and we may render, over the land of Egypt, in allusion to Exodus 12:23, or against the land of Egypt, in reference to the Divine hostility to Pharaoh.Where I heard . . .--The insertion of the relatival adverb, where, makes this refer to the Egyptian tongue (comp. Psalm 114:1), giving an equivalent for, "when I was in a foreign country." So apparently the LXX. and Vulg. But the expression, words unknown to me I heard, when followed by an apparent quotation, most naturally introduces that quotation. The poet hears a message, which comes borne to him on the festival music, and this he goes on to deliver.
