New International Version this is a decree for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. New Living Translation For this is required by the decrees of Israel; it is a regulation of the God of Jacob. English Standard Version For it is a statute for Israel, a rule of the God of Jacob. Berean Standard Bible For this is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. Berean Literal Bible For it is a statute, O Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. King James Bible For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob. New King James Version For this is a statute for Israel, A law of the God of Jacob. New American Standard Bible For it is a statute for Israel, An ordinance of the God of Jacob. NASB 1995 For it is a statute for Israel, An ordinance of the God of Jacob. NASB 1977 For it is a statute for Israel, An ordinance of the God of Jacob. Legacy Standard Bible For it is a statute for Israel, A judgment of the God of Jacob. Amplified Bible For this is a statute for Israel, An ordinance of the God of Jacob. Berean Annotated Bible For this is a statute for Israel (he wrestles with God), an ordinance of the God {Elohe} of Jacob (he grasps the heel). Christian Standard Bible For this is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. Holman Christian Standard Bible For this is a statute for Israel, a judgment of the God of Jacob. American Standard Version For it is a statute for Israel, An ordinance of the God of Jacob. Contemporary English Version This is the law in Israel, and it was given to us by the God of Jacob. English Revised Version For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. GOD'S WORD® Translation This is a law for Israel, a legal decision from the God of Jacob. Good News Translation This is the law in Israel, an order from the God of Jacob. International Standard Version because it is a statute in Israel, an ordinance by the God of Jacob, NET Bible For observing the festival is a requirement for Israel; it is an ordinance given by the God of Jacob. New Heart English Bible For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. Webster's Bible Translation For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleFor this is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. World English Bible For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionFor it [is] a statute to Israel, "" An ordinance of the God of Jacob. Berean Literal Bible For it is a statute, O Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. Young's Literal Translation For a statute to Israel it is, An ordinance of the God of Jacob. Smith's Literal Translation For it is a law to Israel, a judgment to the God of Jacob. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor it is a commandment in Israel, and a judgment to the God of Jacob. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible For this is a law for Israel, an edict of the God of Jacob, New Revised Standard Version For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor this was a statute for Israel and a law of the God of Jacob. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated For this is the law for Israel and the judgment for the God of Jacob! OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917For it is a statute for Israel, An ordinance of the God of Jacob. Brenton Septuagint Translation For this is an ordinance for Israel, and a statute of the God of Jacob. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Sing for Joy to God, Our Strength…3Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and at the full moon on the day of our Feast. 4For this is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. 5He ordained it as a testimony for Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt, where I heard an unfamiliar language:… Cross References For this is a statute for Israel, Psalm 78:5 For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children, Psalm 147:19-20 He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and judgments to Israel. / He has done this for no other nation; they do not know His judgments. Hallelujah! Exodus 12:24 And you are to keep this command as a permanent statute for you and your descendants. an ordinance of the God of Jacob. Psalm 46:7 The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah Psalm 114:7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, Exodus 3:6 Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. Leviticus 23:24 “Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly announced by trumpet blasts. Numbers 10:10 And on your joyous occasions, your appointed feasts, and the beginning of each month, you are to blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and peace offerings to serve as a reminder for you before your God. I am the LORD your God.” Numbers 29:1 “On the first day of the seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly, and you must not do any regular work. This will be a day for you to sound the trumpets. 2 Chronicles 5:12-13 all the Levitical singers—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps, and lyres, accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. / The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.” And the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud Nehemiah 8:15 and that they should proclaim this message and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.” Isaiah 27:13 And in that day a great ram’s horn will sound, and those who were perishing in Assyria will come forth with those who were exiles in Egypt. And they will worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem. Ezekiel 46:1 “This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘The gate of the inner court that faces east must be kept shut during the six days of work, but on the Sabbath day and on the day of the New Moon it shall be opened. Hosea 5:8 Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah; raise the battle cry in Beth-aven: Lead on, O Benjamin! Amos 3:6 If a ram’s horn sounds in a city, do the people not tremble? If calamity comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it? Colossians 2:16-17 Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. / These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ. Treasury of Scripture For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob. no reference Jump to Previous Decree Israel Jacob Law Ordinance Rule StatuteJump to Next Decree Israel Jacob Law Ordinance Rule StatutePsalm 81 1. An exhortation to a solemn praising of God4. God challenges that duty by reason of his benefits 8. God, exhorting to obedience, complains of their disobedience, which proves their own hurt. For this is a statute for Israel, God commanded Israel, the collective identity of the twelve tribes as God's chosen people, appointed worship through Moses, ordering the nation’s calendar around remembrance, thanksgiving, and covenant renewal. The trumpet call gathered the tribes before the Lord and marked sacred times such as the new moon and annual feasts. Israel’s worship was not a human custom but an act of obedience to the God who redeemed them from Egypt. These observances preserved the memory of God’s deliverance and taught each generation to depend upon Him. Psa 78:5 For He established a testimony in Jacob,… an ordinance of the God of Jacob. The God who called Jacob, changed his name to Israel, and formed his descendants into a covenant people had authority to direct their worship. His commands rested upon His faithfulness to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and recalled His saving work on behalf of their children. The festivals pointed Israel beyond daily provision to the Lord’s grace and redemption, themes fulfilled supremely in Christ, whose sacrifice accomplishes the deliverance foreshadowed in Israel’s worship. Psa 46:7 The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob… Persons / Places / Events 1. IsraelThe nation chosen by God to be His people, through whom He revealed His laws and statutes. 2. God of Jacob Refers to the God who made a covenant with Jacob, also known as Israel, the patriarch whose descendants became the twelve tribes of Israel. 3. Statute A law or decree established by God for His people to follow. 4. Ordinance A specific command or regulation given by God, often related to worship or religious observance. Teaching Points Understanding God's StatutesGod's statutes are not arbitrary; they are designed for the well-being and spiritual growth of His people. The Role of Remembrance Observing God's ordinances helps us remember His faithfulness and mighty works in history. Covenant Relationship The statutes and ordinances are part of the covenant relationship between God and His people, calling for obedience and trust. Worship as Obedience True worship involves adhering to God's commands and recognizing His authority in our lives. Continuity of God's Law While the ceremonial laws were fulfilled in Christ, the moral principles behind God's statutes remain relevant for guiding Christian conduct. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Psalm 81:4?2. How does Psalm 81:4 encourage us to celebrate God's appointed festivals today? 3. What significance does the "statute for Israel" hold for modern believers? 4. How can we apply the principles of Psalm 81:4 in our worship practices? 5. What connections exist between Psalm 81:4 and other biblical commands for worship? 6. How does observing God's statutes in Psalm 81:4 strengthen our faith community? 7. What is the significance of Psalm 81:4 in the context of ancient Israelite worship practices? 8. How does Psalm 81:4 relate to the observance of religious festivals in biblical times? 9. Why is the statute mentioned in Psalm 81:4 important for understanding God's covenant with Israel? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 81? What Does Psalm 81:4 Mean For this• The word “this” points back to the call in verse 3 to “Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and at the full moon on the day of our feast.” The psalmist is saying that the celebration described is not optional; it is rooted in divine command (Leviticus 23:24; Numbers 10:10). • By anchoring the feast in God’s prior instruction, the verse reminds us that worship practices are not human inventions but heaven-initiated patterns (Exodus 12:24). is a statute for Israel • A “statute” is a binding command that does not change with time or culture (Exodus 12:14; Deuteronomy 6:1–2). • For Israel, these statutes shaped national identity. Obeying them distinguished the people as God’s covenant community (Deuteronomy 26:17–19). • The verse highlights that joyful worship—here, festival trumpet blasts—is as much a divine mandate as moral law. Celebration itself becomes obedience (Psalm 95:1–2). an ordinance • “Ordinance” underscores legal authority. It stresses that God regulates not only Israel’s civil life but also its rhythms of praise (Leviticus 23:4). • Obedience to ordinances brought blessing; neglect invited discipline (Deuteronomy 28:1, 15). Psalm 81 later recalls how Israel’s refusal to listen led to hardship (verses 11–12), confirming the practical weight of God’s ordinances. of the God of Jacob • “God of Jacob” personalizes the lawgiver. The One who commands is the same covenant-keeping God who wrestled with Jacob and renamed him Israel (Genesis 32:28). • Linking statute and ordinance to this relational title assures the people that divine commands flow from steadfast love, not arbitrary power (Exodus 3:6; Psalm 46:7). • The title also bridges generations: what God required of the patriarchs, He still requires of their descendants, showing continuity and faithfulness (Malachi 3:6). summary Psalm 81:4 roots Israel’s festival worship in God’s unchanging, covenant-based authority. The feast of trumpets is “a statute” and “an ordinance,” binding because it comes from “the God of Jacob,” whose loving faithfulness undergirds every command. Obedience, therefore, is not mere ritual—it is grateful response to the covenant-making, promise-keeping Lord. (4) For this.—Better, for it is a statute. Referring either to the feast itself or to the mode of celebrating it.Law.—Literally, judgment, as LXX. and Vulg. Verse 4. - For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob; rather, this is a law (Kay, Cheyne, Revised Version). See the passages quoted in the preceding note.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Forכִּ֤י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction this ה֑וּא (hū) Pronoun - third person masculine singular Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are is a statute חֹ֣ק (ḥōq) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2706: Something prescribed or owed, a statute for Israel, לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל (lə·yiś·rā·’êl) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc an ordinance מִ֝שְׁפָּ֗ט (miš·pāṭ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style of the God לֵאלֹהֵ֥י (lê·lō·hê) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative of Jacob. יַעֲקֹֽב׃ (ya·‘ă·qōḇ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc Additonal Resources Psalm 81:4 Blue Letter BiblePsalm 81:4 Bible Gateway Psalm 81:4 Bible.com Psalm 81:4 NIV |
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