Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Psalmist isn't just asking for attention; he's framing his teaching as "my teaching" and "the words of my mouth," not to claim ownership, but to emphasize the personal authority and care with which he's about to share profound truths. He’s inviting his audience to lean in, showing that God's message is delivered through relatable human experience and spoken word.
Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm opens with a call for attentive listening, as the psalmist, Asaph, prepares to recount Israel's history. He intends to teach his people, drawing lessons from the past to guide their present and future conduct. This historical reflection is presented not just as a story, but as a divinely ordained teaching to be passed down through generations.
Why does the psalmist immediately call the listeners 'my people'? What does this intimate connection mean for the message he's about to share?
The psalmist, Asaph, opens Psalm 78 with a direct address: 'Give ear, O my people.' This isn't just a generic call to attention; it’s deeply personal.
A Shared Identity
Calling them 'my people' establishes a relationship. Asaph sees himself as speaking to those who share a common identity, a covenant relationship with God. It's like a father or a trusted leader speaking to his own family or community.
The Weight of Instruction
This personal connection elevates the importance of what follows. When a leader or mentor calls their people to listen, the message carries weight. It's not just any teaching, but instruction intended for them, for their benefit, and rooted in their shared history and faith. The word translated 'teaching' (often 'law' in older translations) can mean instruction or doctrine, emphasizing that this is not mere opinion, but divinely guided wisdom meant to shape their lives.
The psalm promises to recount history, but the goal is far greater than just remembering facts. What's the ultimate purpose behind this historical retelling?
Psalm 78 is packed with historical accounts, but it's not just a history book. The opening verses reveal a deeper, more vital purpose for recounting the past.
From Past to Present Faith
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The psalmist's intention is to draw lessons from Israel's history that are relevant for the current generation. He wants them to understand God's faithfulness and human unfaithfulness, not just as ancient events, but as patterns that speak to their own lives.
Building Trust and Obedience
This historical review is meant to foster trust in God and encourage obedience to His ways. By looking at how God acted in the past and how His people responded, the listeners can learn to hope in God and steadfastly keep His covenant. It's about seeing the 'mighty deeds of God' not just as stories, but as reasons for present-day faith and right living.
Understand the original words
azan · Hebrew Verb
Used to summon focused attention, particularly from God's covenant people. It implies not just hearing audibly, but active, obedient listening to divine instruction.
torah · Hebrew Noun
Derived from the root meaning to wrap or cover, it refers to divine instruction, law, or revelation. It signifies the authoritative body of truth imparted by God to His people.
This psalm, likely composed by Asaph in the post-exilic period, looks back at Israel's long history of God's faithfulness met by human unfaithfulness. The opening call to 'give ear' is a plea for the people to learn from these historical lessons, especially in light of national disasters like the division of the kingdom and the Babylonian exile.
c. 970 BC
Solomon's Reign Ends
The united kingdom of Israel fractures, with ten tribes rebelling and forming the Northern Kingdom of Israel (sometimes associated with Ephraim). This division sets the stage for future conflicts and spiritual decline.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many of its inhabitants. This event marks a significant judgment for the unfaithfulness of the northern tribes.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins deporting Judeans, including members of the royal family and educated elite, to Babylon. This marks the start of the Babylonian exile.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Babylonian forces destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Southern Kingdom of Judah and intensifying the exile. This event is a profound national trauma.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, paving the way for the return of exiled peoples, including the Jews.
c. 516 BC
Second Temple Completed
Under the leadership of figures like Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest, the Jewish exiles return to Jerusalem and complete the rebuilding of the Temple. This signifies a restoration of worship but a vastly changed national landscape.
c. 450-400 BC— this verse
Asaph's Ministry and Psalms
Asaph, a Levite musician and composer serving in the Temple during or after the exile, likely writes numerous psalms. Psalm 78 is attributed to him, serving as a teaching (Maschil) that uses Israel's history to instruct the people.
This passage parallels the call to teach and impress God's commands on the next generation, emphasizing the importance of passing down divine instruction through oral teaching and diligent application.
Proverbs 4:20This verse echoes the directive to 'incline your ears' and 'incline your heart,' highlighting the active and intentional posture required to receive and internalize wisdom and teaching.
Isaiah 55:2This passage invites listeners to 'listen diligently' to what is offered 'without money and without price,' mirroring the psalmist's call to attend to the 'words of my mouth' for nourishment and sustenance.
Matthew 13:10-17Jesus explains the purpose of His parables to His disciples, noting that the ability to understand His teachings is a gift, thus emphasizing the spiritual receptivity needed to grasp divine truths that others miss.
pulpitPsalms 78:1: "<> Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth."
Verses 1-8. - The introduction calls special attention to the teaching that is about to be put forth, which it declares to be traditional (ver. 3), and, further, to be the sort of instruction which God had especially commanded to be given to his people by their teachers (vers. 5, 6) for their edification (vers. 7, 8). Verse 1. - Give ear, O my people, to my law; rather, to my teaching. Hat-torah - to…
clarkePsalms 78:1: "Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth."
Give ear, O my people - This is the exordium of this very pathetic and instructive discourse.
The Psalmist isn't just asking for attention; he's framing his teaching as "my teaching" and "the words of my mouth," not to claim ownership, but to emphasize the personal authority and care with which he's about to share profound truths. He’s inviting his audience to lean in, showing that God's message is delivered through relatable human experience and spoken word.
This psalm opens with a call for attentive listening, as the psalmist, Asaph, prepares to recount Israel's history. He intends to teach his people, drawing lessons from the past to guide their present and future conduct. This historical reflection is presented not just as a story, but as a divinely ordained teaching to be passed down through generations.
This psalm opens with a call for attentive listening, as the psalmist, Asaph, prepares to recount Israel's history. He intends to teach his people, drawing lessons from the past to guide their present and future conduct. This historical reflection is presented not just as a story, but as a divinely ordained teaching to be passed down through generations.
"Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth!" — The Psalmist isn't just asking for attention; he's framing his teaching as "my teaching" and "the words of my mouth," not to claim ownership, but to emphasize the personal authority and care with whi…
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Last reviewed October 2026