Psalm 81:11-12
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The verse highlights not just disobedience, but a profound rejection: "Israel would none of me" means they didn't want God, refusing to have him as their God or find their joy in him. This isn't just about refusing to listen; it's a willful turning away from God himself.
“But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm begins with God calling His people to listen to Him, reminding them of His deliverance from Egypt and promising them abundant blessing. However, verse 11 marks a sharp turn, as God laments their persistent disobedience and refusal to acknowledge Him as their God. This rejection leads directly into God giving them up to their own stubborn hearts, a consequence of their unwillingness to follow Him.
Have you ever felt unheard? God expresses profound disappointment when His people turn away. This passage reveals a deep relational disconnect.
The Psalm opens with God calling His people to listen, offering blessings and protection (Psalm 81:8-10). He reminds them of His powerful deliverance from Egypt, grounding His invitation in past faithfulness. He promises to fill their deepest needs if they'll just "open their mouth wide."
But then comes the heartbreaking contrast in verse 11: "But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me." This isn't just a minor oversight; it's a deliberate rejection.
Why would a people reject the very God who rescued them? The answer lies in a dangerous preference for their own way.
The commentaries highlight that Israel's refusal wasn't about inability, but about will. They simply didn't want God's rule or presence in their lives.
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Understand the original words
shama' · Hebrew Verb
To hear with attention and obedience; it implies active response to God's revelation rather than just auditory perception.
Yisra'el · Hebrew Proper Noun
A covenant name used for the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people, set apart for His purposes and worship.
'abah · Hebrew Verb
To yield, bow, or be compliant; in a biblical context, it signifies surrendering one’s will to divine authority.
sherirut · Hebrew Noun
A metaphorical description of moral or spiritual hardness; it indicates a will that refuses to be molded by God, choosing self-will over divine guidance.
etsah · Hebrew Noun
Plans, schemes, or purposes devised by humans; often used in Scripture to contrast human limited wisdom with divine sovereignty.
This psalm's lament about Israel's disobedience echoes throughout their history, but it is especially poignant in light of the Babylonian exile, a direct consequence of their persistent refusal to listen to God's voice and submit to His will.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God dramatically rescues the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, establishing them as His people and initiating His covenant with them.
c. 1400-1000 BC
Period of Judges
A turbulent era following Joshua's death, marked by cycles of disobedience, oppression, and deliverance, as Israel struggles to remain faithful to God.
c. 975 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's reign, the united monarchy splits into the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah, leading to increased idolatry and political instability.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, scattering its people and ending its existence as a distinct nation.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonian Empire destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling much of the southern Kingdom of Judah's population.
This passage echoes the same lament, describing Israel's lack of recognition and obedience to God, highlighting a recurring theme of their unresponsiveness to divine guidance.
Jeremiah 7:23-24This prophecy directly connects listening to God's voice with obedience, reinforcing the idea that true relationship with God requires heeding His commands, a failure lamented in Psalms 81:11.
John 1:10-11This New Testament passage reflects on Jesus' arrival into the world, noting that 'his own people did not receive him,' which parallels the rejection and lack of submission described in Psalms 81:11.
Hebrews 3:7-8Quoting Psalm 95, this passage warns against hardening hearts and disobeying God's voice, directly linking the historical rebellion of Israel to the persistent human tendency to resist God's call.
Proverbs 1:25This verse describes the consequence of ignoring God's counsel and rejecting His reproof, directly reflecting the 'would none of me' sentiment in Psalms 81:11 and the resulting negative outcomes.
pulpitPsalms 81:11: "But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me."
Verse 11. - But my people would not hearken to my voice (comp. Psalm 78:10, 41, 56; 2 Kings 17:14; 2 Chronicles 36:15, 16). And Israel would none of me; literally, would not obey me (see the Prayer book Version).
clarkePsalms 81:11: "But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me."
Israel would none of me - לא אבה לי lo abah li, They willed me not, they would not have me for their God.
The verse highlights not just disobedience, but a profound rejection: "Israel would none of me" means they didn't want God, refusing to have him as their God or find their joy in him. This isn't just about refusing to listen; it's a willful turning away from God himself.
This psalm begins with God calling His people to listen to Him, reminding them of His deliverance from Egypt and promising them abundant blessing. However, verse 11 marks a sharp turn, as God laments their persistent disobedience and refusal to acknowledge Him as their God. This rejection leads directly into God giving them up to their own stubborn hearts, a consequence of their unwillingness to follow Him.
This psalm begins with God calling His people to listen to Him, reminding them of His deliverance from Egypt and promising them abundant blessing. However, verse 11 marks a sharp turn, as God laments their persistent disobedience and refusal to acknowledge Him as their God. This rejection leads directly into God giving them up to their own stubborn hearts, a consequence of their unwillingness to follow Him.
"“But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels." — The verse highlights not just disobedience, but a profound rejection: "Israel would none of me" means they didn't want God, refusing to have him as their God or find their joy in him. This isn't ju…
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Last reviewed October 2026
