Psalm 81 1

Psalm 81:1 kjv

Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

Psalm 81:1 nkjv

To the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. A Psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength; Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.

Psalm 81:1 niv

For the director of music. According to gittith. Of Asaph. Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!

Psalm 81:1 esv

Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob!

Psalm 81:1 nlt

Sing praises to God, our strength.
Sing to the God of Jacob.

Psalm 81 verses

Psalm 81 1 Meaning

Psalm 81:1 is a fervent call to the people of God to engage in exuberant and loud praise. It urges them to sing with joy to the Almighty, who is identified as their source of strength and the covenant-keeping God of Israel, tracing back to Jacob. This verse sets the tone for a summons to worship and remembrance of God's deliverance.

Psalm 81 1 Context

Psalm 81 is one of the "Asaph psalms" and is deeply rooted in Israel's covenant history. It appears to be a psalm designated for a specific festival, possibly the Feast of Booths (Sukkot), due to the mention of "new moon" and "full moon" (v. 3), and references to Israel's exodus from Egypt. The initial verses, including verse 1, serve as a jubilant summons to worship that recalls God's mighty acts in the past, particularly the liberation from Egyptian bondage. This joyful call to worship then sets the stage for a divine oracle where God reminds Israel of His covenant commands and laments their disobedience. Thus, Psalm 81:1 is an opening declaration, establishing the expectation of corporate, celebratory praise before the weightier themes of God's faithfulness and Israel's failure are addressed.

Psalm 81 1 Word analysis

• Sing aloud (רָנַּן - ranan):
  • Meaning: To shout for joy, to rejoice, to cry aloud, to give a ringing cry.
  • Significance: This is not a quiet or reserved praise. It implies an exuberant, uninhibited, and vocal expression of joy. It's often associated with expressions of victory or intense delight. It speaks to a praise that is audible and demonstrative.
• unto God (לֵאלֹהִים - le'elohim):
  • Meaning: To God, belonging to God, toward God.
  • Significance: Directs the entire act of worship toward the one true God, emphasizing that He is the sole object and recipient of this high praise.
• our strength (עֻזֵּנוּ - `uzzenu):
  • Meaning: Our might, our power, our fortress, our stronghold.
  • Significance: Identifies God as the ultimate source of all power and the secure refuge for His people. It speaks to His capacity to deliver, sustain, and protect them, implying that their very ability to stand comes from Him. This is a personal and collective affirmation of divine sustenance.
• Make a joyful noise (הַרְנִינוּ - harninu):
  • Meaning: To shout, to raise a shout, to rejoice with a loud sound. This is related to the verb rua'.
  • Significance: A strong imperative, calling for a celebratory sound that goes beyond mere singing. It's a triumphant shout, often used in military contexts for a war cry, or in religious contexts for acclamations of God's sovereignty. It implies public and demonstrative jubilation.
• unto the God (לֵאלֹהֵי - le'elohei):
  • Meaning: To the God of.
  • Significance: Repeats the direct address to God, reinforcing the recipient of praise.
• of Jacob (יַעֲקֹב - Ya'aqob):
  • Meaning: Jacob, the patriarch, progenitor of Israel.
  • Significance: This specifies God's covenantal relationship with Israel. It emphasizes that this is not an abstract deity but the personal, historical God who chose Jacob (later Israel) and made an everlasting covenant with his descendants. It connects the praise to God's redemptive history with His people, reminding them of His faithfulness and promises across generations, anchoring the worship in a foundational truth about their identity as His chosen nation.

Psalm 81 1 Bonus section

The Hebrew terms ranan and rua' (from which hariu is derived) carry significant weight. Ranan often suggests a joyful shout of victory or a ringing cry of triumph, while rua' is used for a war-cry, a blast of a trumpet, or a shout of great joy, especially in cultic contexts during festivals. Together, they paint a picture of worship that is not merely liturgical recitation but a visceral, communal outpouring of praise, almost akin to a triumphant roar from the gathered assembly acknowledging their mighty God. This exuberant sound would fill the sanctuary and be a public testament to God's power and presence among His people, serving as both an expression of devotion and a declaration of their trust in His strength. This aligns with the call for Israel to "break forth and sing for joy" in other prophetic books, especially in times of God's decisive intervention or ultimate triumph.

Psalm 81 1 Commentary

Psalm 81:1 opens with a vibrant and imperative call to corporate worship, setting the stage for the rest of the psalm. It emphasizes not just the act of praise, but its character: it must be loud, joyful, and directed unequivocally towards the Almighty. The twin commands to "sing aloud" (ranan) and "make a joyful noise" (hariu) are strong, almost visceral demands for unrestrained, public expression of adoring jubilation. This is not passive contemplation but active, demonstrative celebration, possibly reflecting the fervent worship seen during ancient Israelite festivals. The psalm identifies the object of this praise as "God our strength," acknowledging His mighty power, provision, and protection as foundational to their existence and worthy of such praise. This is further refined by calling Him "the God of Jacob," which immediately invokes God's covenant faithfulness and His special relationship with Israel, beginning with their patriarch. This name underscores that their worship is directed to the specific God who brought them out of Egypt, who delivered His law at Sinai, and who has been faithful through all generations to His promises to His chosen people. The verse is a foundational declaration of Who God is and how His people should respond to Him. It encourages worship that flows from an understanding of God's character as both mighty Protector and faithful Covenant-Keeper.