Psalm 81 8

Psalm 81:8 kjv

Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;

Psalm 81:8 nkjv

"Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you! O Israel, if you will listen to Me!

Psalm 81:8 niv

Hear me, my people, and I will warn you? if you would only listen to me, Israel!

Psalm 81:8 esv

Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! O Israel, if you would but listen to me!

Psalm 81:8 nlt

"Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings.
O Israel, if you would only listen to me!

Psalm 81 verses

Psalm 81 8 Meaning

Psalm 81:8 encapsulates the Lord's heartfelt and direct appeal to His chosen people, Israel. It is an earnest admonition and an invitation to heed His voice, presenting a crucial condition for divine blessing. The verse establishes the Lord's intimate covenantal relationship with Israel ("My people," "Israel") while underscoring their responsibility to listen and obey His commands. It reveals God as one who warns and guides, speaking not out of anger, but out of a desire for their welfare, yet holding them accountable for their response.

Psalm 81 8 Context

Psalm 81 is a blend of liturgical instruction, historical回顾, and divine warning, likely intended for a major Israelite festival like Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles). It begins with a festive call to praise God, celebrating His presence and power. The psalm transitions into a direct speech from God, often seen as a covenant lawsuit, where God recounts His faithfulness from the Exodus to the wilderness. He reminds Israel of His past acts of salvation and His provision, contrasting it with their persistent rebellion and hardening of hearts. Verse 8 introduces God's specific and tender but firm address, following the recollection of His earlier command at Meribah/Massah. This verse sets the stage for God's lament about Israel's disobedience and the blessings they missed, as detailed in the subsequent verses (Psa 81:11-16). The historical context highlights a period where Israel struggled with idolatry and failed to fully trust and obey God, despite His manifest presence and provisions. It directly addresses their failure to "hearken" (listen and obey), a central theme throughout the Old Testament concerning the covenant.

Psalm 81 8 Word analysis

• Hear: (Hebrew: Shema, שְׁמַע) This is an imperative command, central to Hebrew understanding. It means not just to perceive sound with the ears, but to pay attention, understand, and most importantly, to obey. It implies an active and receptive listening that leads to action, as exemplified in the "Shema Yisrael" (Dt 6:4).
• O my people: (Hebrew: ʻammî, עַמִּי) A tender, intimate, and covenantal address. God calls Israel "My people," signifying His chosen nation with whom He has made a special covenant. This highlights His personal involvement and deep affection, even in the context of admonition. It distinguishes Israel from all other nations, reminding them of their unique relationship with the divine.
• and I will admonish thee: (Hebrew: wĕ'ôʿîdāk, וְאֹעִידָךְ) The root ‘ûd means "to bear witness," "to warn," or "to testify." This signifies that God's communication is not just advice but a solemn warning rooted in His divine truth and covenant requirements. He is acting as a witness for His own covenant laws, reminding His people of the terms and consequences. This is a divine judicial pronouncement for their own good.
• O Israel: (Hebrew: Yiśrā’ēl, יִשְׂרָאֵל) A direct, emphatic reiteration of the recipient, often used to refer to the entire nation, not just a segment. It reinforces the covenant identity and responsibility of all who bear this name ("God strives" or "he struggles with God"). The repetition alongside "my people" stresses the deep relationship and the collective nature of the address.
• if thou wilt hearken unto me: (Hebrew: ’im-tišmaʿ lî, אִם־תִּשְׁמַע לִּי) This clause presents a condition. Tišmaʿ is from the same root šāmaʿ as "Hear" earlier, but here it's in a conditional context. This repetition emphasizes the absolute critical importance of hearing and obeying. It means truly lending an ear to what God is saying, processing it, and aligning one's actions with it. The if highlights human responsibility and free will within the covenant.
• "Hear... if thou wilt hearken unto me": This repetition of the root shama is a powerful literary device (chiasm or inclusio depending on broader structure). It underscores the primary requirement of the covenant relationship. It signifies that merely hearing words is insufficient; active, obedient hearkening is demanded. God's message hinges on their response of volitional listening that leads to obedience.

Psalm 81 8 Bonus section

This verse carries a prophetic and archetypal weight, portraying the consistent posture of the Lord throughout redemptive history: continually calling His people to active, obedient listening. The shama (hear/obey) command is the foundational bedrock of Old Testament theology and covenant relationship, encapsulated in the Shema Israel (Dt 6:4), which demands singular devotion and active obedience to the one God. This particular admonition from God (ʻûd) echoes the role of the prophets, who also bore witness to God's commands and warned of the consequences of disobedience, acting as His voice to the people. The conditional nature "if thou wilt hearken" points directly to Israel's wilderness failures, highlighted earlier in Psalm 81:11, where their refusal to "hearken" led to a diminished experience of God's full blessings. Thus, Psa 81:8 functions as both a nostalgic longing from God and a present invitation to rectify past failings by truly heeding His voice. In Christian theology, Christ embodies the ultimate voice of God to humanity, and His followers are likewise called to "hear" His teachings and "do" them (Mt 7:24; Jn 10:27). The Spirit continues to speak (Rev 2-3), and the imperative to listen and obey remains paramount for those in covenant with God.

Psalm 81 8 Commentary

Psalm 81:8 serves as a poignant divine interjection within a broader historical reminder. It is a direct and tender appeal from God to His people, Israel, couched in covenant language. "Hear, O my people," is an intimate plea from a shepherd to his flock, an address filled with both authority and longing. The subsequent phrase, "and I will admonish thee," reveals God's nature as a righteous judge and loving Father who provides warnings and instructions necessary for their welfare and prosperity within the covenant. The second direct address, "O Israel," emphasizes the nation's specific identity and the historical lineage of their special relationship with the Almighty. The verse culminates with a conditional clause: "if thou wilt hearken unto me." This pivotal condition underlines that blessings and the continuation of the divine relationship are contingent upon the people's willing and active obedience, not just passive hearing. The repetition of the root "shama" (hear/hearken) underscores that God desires a profound, responsive listening that translates into obedience, not just a casual auditory experience. This verse thus articulates the enduring tension between God's gracious initiation of covenant and humanity's critical choice to respond with obedient faith.

• Practical examples: It’s like a parent saying to a child, "Listen to me, my dear, and I will show you what is right, if you would just pay attention to my guidance." The intent is not punitive but redemptive and guiding. Or a coach pleading with his team, "Hear my instructions, O team, and I will correct your course, if you would just obey my strategy." The emphasis is on corrective instruction for ultimate success.