Psalm 78 70

Psalm 78:70 kjv

He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:

Psalm 78:70 nkjv

He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds;

Psalm 78:70 niv

He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens;

Psalm 78:70 esv

He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds;

Psalm 78:70 nlt

He chose his servant David,
calling him from the sheep pens.

Psalm 78 verses

Psalm 78 70 Meaning

Psalm 78:70 conveys God's sovereign and deliberate choice of David to be His appointed servant. It highlights that God specifically selected David, even from his humble occupation as a shepherd tending sheep, demonstrating God's particular anointing and purpose for him to lead Israel. This act signifies God's direct involvement in establishing leadership for His people.

Psalm 78 70 Context

Psalm 78 is a "maskil," or instruction psalm, recounting the history of Israel from the Exodus to the reign of David. It serves as a reminder of God's consistent faithfulness and the Israelites' recurrent disobedience and idolatry. The psalm emphasizes how God's patience endured despite their rebellion, ultimately culminating in His decisive action of rejecting the Northern tribes (specifically Ephraim, vv. 67-68), who had proved unfaithful, and choosing Judah and David, establishing Zion as His dwelling place (vv. 68-69) and David as the shepherd-king over His people. Verse 70 specifically transitions from the general history of divine judgment and covenant faithfulness to the pivotal role of David in God's redemptive plan for Israel.

Psalm 78 70 Word analysis

• He chose (וַיִּבְחַר, wayyivḥar): From the root בחר (bachar), meaning "to choose, select, pick out, prefer." This is a divine act, highlighting God's sovereign prerogative and initiative. It's not a mutual decision but a unilateral, deliberate selection from God's part, reflecting His active involvement in human affairs and His ultimate authority over leadership. This verb often denotes election for a specific purpose.
• David (דָּוִיד, dawîḏ): Meaning "beloved." He is central to the narrative of God's covenant with Israel and the lineage leading to the Messiah. His name here highlights the specific individual chosen by God out of all Israel.
• His servant (עַבְדּוֹ, ‘aḇdōw): From עבד (‘eved), meaning "servant, slave, bondservant." In this biblical context, it carries a profound meaning of a trusted and chosen representative, one dedicated to the will and work of the master. It implies obedience, loyalty, and a role of stewardship, rather than mere menial labor. This term foreshadows the ultimate Servant of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
• and took him (וַיִּקָּחֵהוּ, wayyiqqāḥēhû): From the root לקח (laqaḥ), meaning "to take, seize, grasp, fetch." It implies a deliberate and decisive act of bringing someone from one place or state to another. Here, it denotes an active retrieval and elevation, emphasizing God's direct hand in changing David's circumstances.
• from the sheepfolds (מִמִּכְלְאֹת צֹאן, mimmikhle’ôṯ tzo’n): Literally "from the enclosed places of sheep," meaning sheepfolds, pens, or pastures. This phrase signifies a humble, rural, and unassuming origin. It emphasizes that David was chosen not from royalty or a prominent position, but from obscurity and a laborious, often solitary, life. It contrasts sharply with the high office to which he was elevated, underscoring God's practice of choosing the unlikely or lowly.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• He chose David His servant: This phrase powerfully demonstrates God's initiative in divine election. It is a specific and personal choice of an individual (David), who is also designated as "His servant," indicating a relationship of submission and delegated authority for God's purposes. This choice wasn't based on David's stature or kingly lineage, but on God's sovereign will and perhaps on David's inward disposition, as later indicated in 1 Sam 16:7.
• and took him from the sheepfolds: This second part highlights God's unexpected method of elevating leaders. It emphasizes the stark contrast between David's previous humble, mundane existence and the majestic future awaiting him. It conveys God's ability to raise the "lowly" and use individuals from all walks of life, rejecting human criteria for leadership and showcasing His power to transform lives and circumstances for His divine plan.

Psalm 78 70 Bonus section

The phrase "He chose David His servant" implies a divine paradigm shift from the rejected Northern Kingdom, characterized by instability and unfaithfulness, to the enduring promise centered in Judah and David. The previous rejection of "the tent of Joseph" (Ps 78:67) and "the tribe of Ephraim" (Ps 78:67) and the subsequent selection of "the tribe of Judah" and "Mount Zion" (Ps 78:68) culminates in the choice of David. This signifies a profound theological and historical turning point for Israel. God's choice of a "shepherd" emphasizes a leadership that protects, guides, and nourishes the flock, laying a foundational metaphor that culminates in the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodies divine care and sacrifice. This act also underlines that genuine authority and legitimate power come from God's calling and anointing, not from human schemes or inheritance alone.

Psalm 78 70 Commentary

Psalm 78:70 is a concise yet profound statement of divine election and commissioning. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty in choosing leaders for His people, disregarding human-centric notions of fitness or worldly status. By taking David from the "sheepfolds," God establishes a pattern evident throughout Scripture: His favor often rests on the humble, the unexpected, and those whom man might overlook (e.g., Joseph, Moses, the apostles). This choice not only secured the lineage of David for the coming Messiah but also set the standard for spiritual leadership, emphasizing a "shepherd's heart" of care, sacrifice, and humble service, as opposed to self-serving authority. It served as a divine corrective to Israel's prior, human-motivated choices of leaders and highlighted the eternal validity of God's covenant promises, ultimately pointing to Christ as the perfect Shepherd-King.