Psalms 81:13
Psalms 81:13 in Multiple Translations
If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways,
Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
Oh that my people would hearken unto me, That Israel would walk in my ways!
If only my people would give ear to me, walking in my ways!
If only my people would listen to me; if only Israel would follow my ways!
Oh that my people had hearkened vnto me, and Israel had walked in my wayes.
O that My people were hearkening to Me, Israel in My ways would walk.
Oh that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!
O that my people had hearkened to me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
I wish that my people would listen to me, that the Israeli people would behave as I want them to do.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 81:13
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 81:13 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וָֽ֭/אֲשַׁלְּחֵ/הוּ
בִּ/שְׁרִיר֣וּת
לִבָּ֑/ם
יֵ֝לְכ֗וּ
בְּֽ/מוֹעֲצוֹתֵי/הֶֽם
וָֽ֭/אֲשַׁלְּחֵ/הוּ
shâlach
H7971
to send
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-1cs | Suff
בִּ/שְׁרִיר֣וּת
shᵉrîyrûwth
H8307
stubbornness
Prep | N-fs
לִבָּ֑/ם
lêb
H3820
heart
N-ms | Suff
יֵ֝לְכ֗וּ
yâlak
H3212
to walk
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
בְּֽ/מוֹעֲצוֹתֵי/הֶֽם
môwʻêtsâh
H4156
counsel
Prep | N-fp | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 81:13
וָֽ֭/אֲשַׁלְּחֵ/הוּ
shâlach
H7971
"to send"
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-1cs | Suff
To send or depart is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which has various applications in the Bible. It can describe sending someone or something away, or letting something go.
Definition: : depart/send 1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to send 1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct 1a3) to send away 1a4) to let loose 1b) (Niphal) to be sent 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out 1c2) to let go, set free 1c3) to shoot forth (of branches) 1c4) to let down 1c5) to shoot 1d) (Pual) to be sent off, be put away, be divorced, be impelled 1e) (Hiphil) to send
Usage: Occurs in 790 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out). See also: Genesis 3:22; Exodus 9:27; Joshua 14:11.
בִּ/שְׁרִיר֣וּת
shᵉrîyrûwth
H8307
"stubbornness"
Prep | N-fs
This word describes a stubborn or hard-hearted attitude, like when someone refuses to listen or change their ways, and is used in the Bible to describe sinful behavior in Deuteronomy 29:19.
Definition: stubbornness, hardness, firmness
Usage: Occurs in 10 OT verses. KJV: imagination, lust. See also: Deuteronomy 29:18; Jeremiah 11:8; Psalms 81:13.
לִבָּ֑/ם
lêb
H3820
"heart"
N-ms | Suff
Leb refers to the heart, but also represents feelings, will, and intellect in the Bible. It is used figuratively to describe the center of something, and is often translated as heart or mind. Leb is a complex concept that encompasses emotions and thoughts.
Definition: 1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding 1a) inner part, midst 1a1) midst (of things) 1a2) heart (of man) 1a3) soul, heart (of man) 1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory 1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will) 1a6) conscience 1a7) heart (of moral character) 1a8) as seat of appetites 1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage
Usage: Occurs in 552 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom] themselves, [idiom] unawares, understanding, [idiom] well, willingly, wisdom. See also: Genesis 6:5; 2 Samuel 13:33; Psalms 4:8.
יֵ֝לְכ֗וּ
yâlak
H3212
"to walk"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
To walk or go, this verb means to move from one place to another, used literally or figuratively, as in to live or die, or to lead someone.
Definition: 1) to go, walk, come 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away 1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.) 1b) (Hiphil) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk
Usage: Occurs in 936 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak. See also: Genesis 3:14; Exodus 5:8; Deuteronomy 28:14.
בְּֽ/מוֹעֲצוֹתֵי/הֶֽם
môwʻêtsâh
H4156
"counsel"
Prep | N-fp | Suff
This word means counsel or plan, referring to a purpose or device. It involves thinking or advising, like when Solomon sought wisdom. The Bible uses it to describe decision-making.
Definition: counsel, plan, principal, device
Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: counsel, device. See also: Psalms 5:11; Proverbs 22:20; Psalms 81:13.
Study Notes — Psalms 81:13
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 81:13 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 81:13
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 81:13
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 81:13
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 81:13
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 81:13
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 81:13
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 81:13
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 81:13
- Sermons on Psalms 81:13
Context — Sing for Joy to God Our Strength
11But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.
12So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.
13If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways,
14how soon I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes! 15Those who hate the LORD would feign obedience, and their doom would last forever.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 48:18 | If only you had paid attention to My commandments, your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like waves of the sea. |
| 2 | Deuteronomy 5:29 | If only they had such a heart to fear Me and keep all My commandments always, so that it might be well with them and with their children forever. |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 10:12–13 | And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD that I am giving you this day for your own good? |
| 4 | Luke 19:41–42 | As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. |
| 5 | Matthew 23:37 | O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! |
| 6 | Deuteronomy 32:29 | If only they were wise, they would understand it; they would comprehend their fate. |
Psalms 81:13 Summary
This verse is a heartfelt expression of God's desire for His people to listen to and obey Him. He longs for us to follow His ways, which are paths of righteousness and justice, as seen in Psalms 25:4 and Proverbs 3:1-6. If we would only listen to Him and obey, He promises to subdue our enemies and turn His hand against our foes, as seen in Psalms 81:14. By following God's ways, we can experience His blessing and protection in our lives, just as He promised to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 28:1-14.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for God's people to 'listen' to Him?
Listening to God means being attentive to His voice and obeying His commands, as seen in Deuteronomy 6:4 and Matthew 4:4, where He speaks through His Word and the Holy Spirit.
Why does God say 'if only' in this verse?
The phrase 'if only' expresses God's longing for His people to follow Him, highlighting the tension between His desire for obedience and their persistent disobedience, as seen in Psalms 81:11-12 and Romans 7:18-20.
What are the 'ways' of God that Israel is to follow?
God's ways refer to His paths of righteousness, justice, and mercy, as described in Psalms 25:4 and 9-10, and in Proverbs 3:1-6, where wisdom and obedience are closely tied to following God's commands.
How does this verse relate to the overall theme of Psalms 81?
This verse is part of a larger call to repentance and obedience in Psalms 81, emphasizing God's desire for His people to turn to Him and follow His ways, as seen in verses 11-15, and echoing the broader biblical theme of covenant faithfulness in Deuteronomy 30:19-20 and Jeremiah 31:31-34.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways in which I can 'listen' to God and follow His ways in my own life?
- How do I respond when God speaks to me through His Word or the Holy Spirit, and what are the consequences of ignoring or disobeying His voice?
- In what ways do I see the tension between God's desire for obedience and my own tendency towards disobedience, and how can I surrender to God's will in those areas?
- What are some 'enemies' or 'foes' in my life that God might subdue if I were to follow His ways, and how can I trust in His power and provision?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 81:13
O that my people had hearkened unto me,.... This might have been expected from them, as they were his professing people; and it would have been to their advantage if they had hearkened to him, as
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 81:13
Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! -God still yearns over them, in spite of their perversity and its penal consequence, waiting to be gracious. Verse 13.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 81:13
Psalms 81:13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, [and] Israel had walked in my ways!Ver. 13. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me] A wish after the manner of men; to set forth God’ s great desire of our welfare, which he here uttereth, as it were, with a sigh and a groan.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 81:13
(13, 14) Hearken . . . subdue.—The verbs should be taken in a future sense, “Oh that my people would hearken . . . I should soon subdue,” &c. The poet changes from reminiscences of the past to the needs of the present.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 81:13
Verse 13. O that my people had hearkened unto me, - Israel had walked in my ways] Nothing can be more plaintive than the original; sense and sound are surprisingly united. I scruple not to say to him who understands the Hebrew, however learned, he has never found in any poet, Greek or Latin, a finer example of deep-seated grief, unable to express itself in appropriate words without frequent interruptions of sighs and sobs, terminated with a mournful cry. לו עמי שמע לי ישראי בדרכי יהלכו Lo ammi shomea li Yishrael bidrachi yehallechu! He who can give the proper guttural pronunciation to the letter ע ain; and gives the ו vau, and the י yod, their full Asiatic sound, not pinching them to death by a compressed and worthless European enunciation; will at once be convinced of the propriety of this remark.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 81:13
13–16. Yet God’s mercy is inexhaustible. Even now if Israel would obey Him, He would subdue their enemies, and bless them abundantly. Cp. Isaiah 48:17-19.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 81:13
Oh that my people had hearkened unto me - This passage is designed mainly to show what would have been the consequences if the Hebrew people had been obedient to the commands of God, Psalms 81:14-16.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 81:13
13. Oh that—So Christ lamented over Jerusalem. Matthew 23:37. God sees the magnitude of the evils incurred, and the excellence of the blessings lost, and his regrets are commensurate.
Sermons on Psalms 81:13
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Labor to Enter Into That Rest by Hans R. Waldvogel | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of hearing and heeding the word of God. He highlights how the word of God is alive, powerful, and transformative, likening it |
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Are You Listening? by Mark Partin | Mark Partin delivers a sermon on the importance of learning to hear God's voice, drawing inspiration from the story of Samuel in 1 Samuel 3:4-10. He emphasizes the necessity of hav |
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Jude #6 - Cain, Balaam and Korah by Chuck Missler | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the downward degeneration of individuals who profess to be Christians but do not bear fruit. He uses poetic language to describe this degenera |
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Isaiah (Part 1) - Introduction by Ron Bailey | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes that God does not shy away from hopeless cases, despite our limited resources and narrow hearts. He highlights how God speaks to nations and |
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Worry by Welcome Detweiler | The sermon begins with a review of a previous message on the topic of peace. The speaker emphasizes that true peace can only be found through knowing Jesus Christ as Savior. He sha |
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Is the Bible an "Iffy" Book? by Shane Idleman | Shane Idleman addresses the question of whether the Bible is an 'iffy' book, emphasizing that it contains conditional promises from God, where our choices have consequences. He hig |
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Rev. 22:1. the Life River by Horatius Bonar | Horatius Bonar preaches about the 'Life River' described in Revelation 22:1, emphasizing its significance as a source of spiritual nourishment and blessings. He draws parallels bet |