Psalm 81 11

Psalm 81:11 kjv

But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

Psalm 81:11 nkjv

"But My people would not heed My voice, And Israel would have none of Me.

Psalm 81:11 niv

"But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me.

Psalm 81:11 esv

"But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.

Psalm 81:11 nlt

"But no, my people wouldn't listen.
Israel did not want me around.

Psalm 81 verses

Psalm 81 11 Meaning

Psalm 81:11 conveys God's profound lament and disappointment over His chosen people, Israel. Despite His intimate covenant relationship with them and His consistent guidance, they persistently and willfully refused to listen to His voice and obey His commands. This verse underscores the deep sorrow of a loving God whose abundant blessings are unreceived due to human stubbornness and disobedience.

Psalm 81 11 Context

Psalm 81 is a blend of a national celebration or liturgy, likely for the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) and the Feast of Booths (Sukkot), and a divine oracle. It begins with a summons to worship God for His past deliverance (vv. 1-7a), recounting the Exodus and provision in the wilderness (vv. 7b-10). It is in this context that God issues a strong lament and warning. The verse 81:11 immediately follows God's declaration of His identity as "the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt" (v. 10) and precedes His profound longing for Israel's obedience and the blessings that would have followed (vv. 13-16). The historical backdrop is the wilderness wandering and subsequent history of Israel, characterized by repeated cycles of disobedience, which stands in stark contrast to God's faithful provision. The underlying message carries a polemic against reliance on other gods or foreign powers, emphasizing the sole authority and sufficiency of Yahweh, which Israel continually failed to acknowledge through their disobedience.

Psalm 81 11 Word analysis

• But my people:

  • Original: עַמִּי (ʿammî), literally "my people."
  • Significance: The possessive suffix ("my") highlights the intimate, covenantal relationship God had with Israel. It implies a sense of deep personal connection, belonging, and expectation. This makes their rejection of His voice all the more painful and paradoxical for God, as it comes from those who are His own. It sets a tone of parental disappointment.

• did not listen:

  • Original: לֹא שָׁמַע (lōʾ shāmaʿ). "לֹא" (lōʾ) means "not" or "no." "שָׁמַע" (shāmaʿ) means "to hear," but often carries the extended meaning of "to pay attention," "to obey," or "to heed" in the context of divine commands or counsel.
  • Significance: This is not merely a failure of audition but an active, willful refusal to heed and act upon what was heard. It implies a moral deafness—they heard with their ears but closed their hearts and minds to follow through.

• to my voice:

  • Original: בְּקוֹלִי (bəqōlî), "in my voice" or "to my voice." "קוֹלִי" (qōlî) means "my voice" or "my sound."
  • Significance: This refers to God's direct revelation, His commands, counsel, and guidance, delivered through various means—Moses, prophets, the Law, and direct address. It is the divine communication of truth and will. The problem was not the clarity of God's voice but the people's receptivity to it.

• Israel:

  • Original: יִשְׂרָאֵל (yiśrāʾēl). The divinely given name to Jacob, signifying one who "strives with God" or "God strives." It became the name of the covenant nation.
  • Significance: The shift from "my people" to "Israel" underscores that this is not just about individuals but the collective national identity, chosen by God to bear His name and witness. It emphasizes their corporate responsibility and failure in their calling.

• would not obey me:

  • Original: לֹא אָבָה לִי (lōʾ ʾāvāh lî). "לֹא" (lōʾ) is "not." "אָבָה" (ʾāvāh) means "to be willing," "to consent," "to desire," or "to agree." "לִי" (lî) means "to me."
  • Significance: This phrase indicates a deeper level of refusal than "did not listen." While "shāmaʿ" refers to the act of hearing and obeying, "ʾāvāh" speaks to the underlying disposition and will. It suggests a lack of desire, a stubborn unwillingness, or even an aversion to God's authority and invitation. They consciously chose not to yield their will to Him. It portrays a deliberate, heartfelt resistance.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not obey me.": This employs a common Hebrew poetic structure, parallelism, specifically synonymous or emblematic parallelism. The second clause largely reiterates the first but intensifies it. "My people" is echoed by "Israel," and "did not listen to my voice" is reinforced and deepened by "would not obey me." The repetition emphasizes the deliberate, profound, and corporate nature of Israel's rebellion. The use of two different verbs for "not obey" ("shāmaʿ" and "ʾāvāh") further stresses the two facets of their rejection: failing to heed what they heard and a deeper, willful unwillingness of heart. This double emphasis highlights God's sorrow over their consistent and entrenched rebellion.

Psalm 81 11 Bonus section

The lament in Psalm 81:11 sets the stage for God's poignant "Oh that" desire expressed later in the Psalm (vv. 13-16), where He spells out the immense blessings and triumphs Israel would have experienced had they only obeyed. This highlights the "tragic what-if" embedded in divine-human encounters: God’s deepest desire is the well-being and flourishing of His people, which is inherently tied to their willing obedience. The anthropomorphic expression of God's sorrow here is a recurring motif in Scripture, demonstrating that God is not a detached observer but deeply invested in the choices and destiny of humanity. This verse encapsulates a core theological principle: God grants freedom of choice, but choices have profound consequences, impacting both the human experience and, in a unique sense, causing grief to the heart of God.

Psalm 81 11 Commentary

Psalm 81:11 expresses a divine lament born of unrequited love and rejected grace. It is not merely a statement of fact but a profound outpouring of the Creator's heart over the choices of His covenant people. Having reminded them of His faithful deliverance from Egypt and His unwavering provision in the wilderness (vv. 7-10), God now confronts their response. Their refusal to "listen to my voice" (lōʾ shāmaʿ bəqōlî) implies not just a failure to physically hear, but a profound spiritual deafness and an unwillingness to heed His guidance and commands. The subsequent phrase, "Israel would not obey me" (lōʾ ʾāvāh lî), deepens this accusation by highlighting their internal disposition—a stubborn, willful disinclination of their heart to consent to His sovereign and benevolent will. This wasn't a failure of understanding, but a failure of will. The tragedy, unfolded in the subsequent verses (13-16), is the abundant blessings they forfeited due to this persistent disobedience, missing out on divine victory, sustenance, and peace. It underscores that relationship with God thrives on attentive obedience, not mere external observance or past acts of deliverance.