We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Psalmist isn't just saying they'll teach their children about God's past actions, but that they will not hide them. This emphasizes an active commitment to sharing these stories, even when difficult, ensuring that God's faithfulness is a continuous, living tradition passed down through every generation. It’s a proactive inheritance of faith, not a passive passing of information.
We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is a teaching song, designed to recount Israel's history for the current generation. The psalmist intends to remind the people of God's mighty deeds and faithfulness, contrasting them with Israel's frequent unfaithfulness. To achieve this, the psalm emphasizes the importance of passing down these stories from parents to children so that God's works are never forgotten.
Before the printing press, before widespread literacy, how was history and faith passed down? This verse points to a vital, ancient method.
In ancient Israel, like many cultures, oral tradition was the primary way to preserve and pass on knowledge, history, and faith. Because books were scarce and literacy wasn't universal (as noted by Clarke), people relied on memorized stories, songs, and spoken accounts.
This wasn't just casual storytelling; it was a deliberate act of teaching. The 'generation to come' depended on the 'generation that was' to recount God's 'glorious deeds,' 'might,' and 'wonders.' This psalm itself is an example, designed to be recited and remembered.
Think of it as the original 'sharing.' Without the internet or books, the community's memory was kept alive through deliberate, often repeated, oral instruction.
What exactly are they supposed to remember and tell? It's not just history; it's the story of God's action.
The psalm isn't just about recounting historical events; it's about recounting God's character and actions within those events. The focus is squarely on:
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This is crucial. The goal isn't just to know that something happened, but to know who was behind it and what His character is as revealed through His actions. It's about moving from 'what happened' to 'who God is'.
Why the emphasis on not hiding these deeds? What does that reveal about God's desire for His people?
The statement 'We will not hide them from their children' carries a strong implication: hiding these truths would be a profound failure.
To 'hide' these deeds would be to rob the next generation of the assurance and knowledge of God's power and love that has sustained His people.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of God (Yahweh). It represents the self-existent, faithful, and redeeming God who enters into a personal relationship with His people.
pele · Hebrew Noun
Referring to extraordinary acts of divine intervention or supernatural power. These are evidences of God’s character and sovereignty in history that prompt awe and faith.
Psalm 78 was written to combat the forgetfulness and unfaithfulness that led to exile, by reminding the people of God's past wonders and commandments through an oral tradition of storytelling and song.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Established
The establishment of David's reign unified Israel, marking a high point of national identity and divine favor. This period is seen as the context for the compilation and use of many Psalms, including Psalm 78.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the united monarchy fractured into two kingdoms: Israel in the north and Judah in the south. This division, with the prominence of Ephraim (Israel) and Judah, is a key backdrop for Psalm 78's allusions.
c. 8th Century BC
Prophetic Warnings Issued
Prophets like Amos and Hosea (from the northern kingdom of Israel) and Isaiah (from Judah) delivered messages of judgment and calls to repentance amidst growing idolatry and social injustice.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, scattering its people and ending its existence as a distinct political and religious entity.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
The Assyrian king Sennacherib besieged Jerusalem, but a divine intervention (and likely Hezekiah's tribute) saved the city. This event reinforced God's power and faithfulness to Judah.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon began deporting Judeans, including members of the royal family and intelligentsia, to Babylon. This marked the start of the Babylonian exile.
c. 597 BC— this verse
Psalm 78 Composed/Compiled
Psalm 78, a 'maschil' or teaching psalm attributed to Asaph, was likely composed or compiled during or after the Babylonian exile. It uses Israel's history to teach subsequent generations about God's faithfulness and the people's persistent unfaithfulness.
This passage directly echoes the command to teach God's words diligently to children, emphasizing the importance of passing down spiritual heritage from one generation to the next.
Joshua 4:21-22After crossing the Jordan River, Joshua instructs the Israelites to explain the significance of the memorial stones to their children, mirroring the idea of recounting God's mighty deeds for future generations.
Psalm 145:4-7This psalm describes how each generation will praise God's works and recount His might, highlighting the continuous cycle of remembrance and proclamation found in Psalm 78.
Exodus 12:26-27When observing the Passover, parents are instructed to explain its meaning to their children, demonstrating the principle of passing down the history and significance of God's saving acts.
pulpitPsalms 78:4: "We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done."
Verse 4. - We will not hide them from their children. They shall still be handed down in the same way. We of this generation will still continue the practice of handing down, by word of mouth, to the next generation, how God has dealt with Israel. Asaph's psalms were written, it must be remembered, to be recited in the…
clarkePsalms 78:4: "We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done."
We will not hide them - In those ancient times there was very little reading, because books were exceedingly scarce; tradition was therefore the only, or nearly the only, means of preserving the memory of past events. They were handed down from father to son by parables or pithy sayings and by chronological poems. This…
The Psalmist isn't just saying they'll teach their children about God's past actions, but that they will not hide them. This emphasizes an active commitment to sharing these stories, even when difficult, ensuring that God's faithfulness is a continuous, living tradition passed down through every generation. It’s a proactive inheritance of faith, not a passive passing of information.
This psalm is a teaching song, designed to recount Israel's history for the current generation. The psalmist intends to remind the people of God's mighty deeds and faithfulness, contrasting them with Israel's frequent unfaithfulness. To achieve this, the psalm emphasizes the importance of passing down these stories from parents to children so that God's works are never forgotten.
This psalm is a teaching song, designed to recount Israel's history for the current generation. The psalmist intends to remind the people of God's mighty deeds and faithfulness, contrasting them with Israel's frequent unfaithfulness. To achieve this, the psalm emphasizes the importance of passing down these stories from parents to children so that God's works are never forgotten.
"We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done." — The Psalmist isn't just saying they'll teach their children about God's past actions, but that they will not hide them. This emphasizes an active commitment to sharing these stories, even when diff…
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Last reviewed October 2026