Psalm 78:6 kjv
That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
Psalm 78:6 nkjv
That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children,
Psalm 78:6 niv
so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.
Psalm 78:6 esv
that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children,
Psalm 78:6 nlt
so the next generation might know them ?
even the children not yet born ?
and they in turn will teach their own children.
Psalm 78 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Dt 4:9-10 | "Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely...make them known to your children and your children’s children..." | Command to teach successive generations |
| Dt 6:6-7 | "These commandments...you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them..." | Diligent instruction in daily life |
| Josh 4:6-7 | "...that when your children ask in time to come, 'What do these stones mean to you?'..." | Physical reminder for future questions |
| Jdg 2:10 | "And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD..." | Warning against failure in transmission |
| Ps 71:18 | "So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation..." | Elder's commitment to passing on truth |
| Ps 145:4 | "One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts." | Active declaration of God's deeds |
| Isa 38:19 | "...the living, he thanks you, as I do this day; the father makes known to the children your faithfulness." | Father's role in conveying faithfulness |
| Joel 1:3 | "Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children the next generation." | Prophetic command for intergenerational testimony |
| Mal 4:6 | "He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers..." | Turning hearts for generational connection |
| Jn 21:15-17 | "Feed my sheep...tend my sheep..." | Mandate to disciple and care for God's flock |
| Eph 6:4 | "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." | Parental instruction in the Lord |
| 2 Tim 1:5 | "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice..." | Example of faith passed down through family |
| 2 Tim 2:2 | "and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." | Spiritual reproduction and teaching |
| Dt 32:7 | "Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you..." | Recalling past through parental guidance |
| Ps 22:30-31 | "Posterity will serve him; it will be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they will proclaim his righteousness..." | Future generations knowing God's righteousness |
| Ps 73:28 | "...that I may declare all your works." | Purpose of knowing God - to declare |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "...that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." | Calling to proclaim God's attributes |
| Ex 12:26-27 | "And when your children say to you, 'What do you mean by this service?' you shall say, 'It is the sacrifice of the LORD's Passover'..." | Explaining traditions to children |
| Lk 1:1-4 | "so that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught." | Recording truth for certainty (generational) |
| Phil 4:9 | "What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things..." | Apostolic example for followers |
| Prov 22:6 | "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." | Principle of early spiritual formation |
| Mt 28:19-20 | "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you..." | Great Commission includes teaching future converts |
| Rom 15:4 | "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction..." | Scriptures' purpose for our learning |
| Ps 78:3-4 | "which we have heard and known, and our fathers have recounted to us. We will not conceal them from their children..." | Immediate context - preceding verses explain 'them' |
Psalm 78 verses
Psalm 78 6 Meaning
Psalm 78:6 declares a divine purpose for recounting God's mighty works and statutes: to ensure that future generations, specifically those yet to be born, will come to know and understand these truths. It emphasizes that these future children should then actively rise up and faithfully transmit this knowledge to their own children, thus establishing an enduring intergenerational chain of faith and remembrance.
Psalm 78 6 Context
Psalm 78 is a maschil, an instructional or didactic psalm. It is a historical psalm, recounting God's dealings with Israel from the Exodus to David's reign, focusing on Israel's repeated rebellion and God's consistent faithfulness. Verses 1-4 establish the psalmist's intent to convey wisdom and dark sayings (enigmatic truths) – the Lord's glorious deeds, might, and wonders. Verse 5 mentions God establishing a testimony and law in Israel, with a command to teach it to their children. Verse 6 directly states the ultimate purpose and generational consequence of this divine command, emphasizing the crucial chain of remembrance and transmission to ensure the continuation of faith and knowledge of God's ways in subsequent generations. Historically, this oral transmission of history and faith was central to Israelite identity and divine instruction, acting as a crucial safeguard against apostasy and assimilation. This practice also stood in contrast to cultures that relied solely on monuments or mere myth, as Israel's God demanded a living, active remembrance through teaching.
Psalm 78 6 Word analysis
that the next generation (לְמַעַן יֵדְעוּ דּוֹר אַחֲרוֹן - lema'an yêḏĕ'û dôr 'aḥarôn):
- lema'an: "in order that," indicating purpose or consequence.
- yêḏĕ'û: From yada', "to know." This knowledge is not merely intellectual acquaintance but a deep, experiential, and relational knowing, implying a life shaped by the truth. It suggests intimacy and active engagement.
- dôr 'aḥarôn: Literally, "a latter generation" or "the last generation." In this context, it means the generation that comes after the psalmist's, emphasizing futurity and succession. It reflects a concern for perpetuity beyond one's immediate lifetime.
might know them: Refers to the "glorious deeds... might... wonders" (v. 4), the "testimony... law" (v. 5), and the "statutes" and "rules" of God. The intention is for these divine truths and historical accounts to be actively embraced and understood by the upcoming lineage.
the children yet to be born (בָּנִים יִוָּלֵדוּ - bānim yivvaledu):
- bānim: "sons," often used inclusively for children.
- yivvaledu: "will be born." This phrase underscores the concept of future continuity, stressing the unborn posterity. It’s a deliberate emphasis on generations not yet in existence, making the mandate timeless and far-reaching. It speaks to a long-term vision beyond immediate heirs.
and arise (וְיָקֻמוּ - wəyāqûmû):
- From qum, "to rise up," "to stand." This verb signifies an active posture. It's not passive reception but an active readiness and initiative. It implies emerging, becoming established, and taking action—acting upon the knowledge received. This "arising" includes internalizing the truth and becoming equipped to then act upon it.
and recount them (וִיסַפֵּרוּ - wīsappěrû):
- From saphar, "to tell," "to recount," "to declare." This verb implies a detailed and deliberate transmission, more than a casual mention. It's a public and intentional act of proclaiming or numbering, ensuring accuracy and emphasis. This oral tradition was the primary means of passing down history and divine law.
to their children (לִבְנֵיהֶם - livnêhem): This completes the intergenerational chain, creating a continuous loop. The "children yet to be born" in this verse, after receiving the knowledge, are then envisioned as becoming the "fathers" who will teach "their children." This cyclical nature underscores the permanence of God's covenant and the human responsibility in its transmission.
Psalm 78 6 Bonus section
The concept presented in Psalm 78:6 is a foundational pedagogical model for biblical faith transmission. It highlights the home as the primary seminary and parents as the primary teachers of theology and history. The verb saphar (recount) is often used for giving an account or making known divine deeds, implying a liturgical and historical retelling of God's redemptive acts. This verse stands in gentle polemic against cultural pressures to forget the past or embrace other narratives, asserting the exclusive and perpetual necessity of remembering and teaching the LORD's singular deeds. This command transcends mere education; it is discipleship designed to form covenant people through communal memory and ongoing oral tradition.
Psalm 78 6 Commentary
Psalm 78:6 succinctly captures the divinely ordained mandate for intergenerational spiritual instruction within the covenant community. It illustrates that God’s acts and decrees are not solely for a contemporary audience but are a timeless heritage to be known and cherished by every successive generation. The psalm stresses an active, not passive, transmission; future generations are not merely to hear but to "know" (experientially internalize) and then to "arise" (take initiative) and "recount" (diligently declare) these truths to their own children. This ensures that the legacy of God's faithfulness and Israel's responsiveness (or lack thereof) serves as an ongoing testimony, preventing spiritual amnesia and fostering a perpetual covenant relationship with the Lord. This constant telling reinforces identity and accountability, warning against repeating past failures by remembering God’s character and commands.