Psalms 81:6
Psalms 81:6 in Multiple Translations
“I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket.
I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.
I removed his shoulder from the burden: His hands were freed from the basket.
I took the weight from his back; his hands were made free from the baskets.
“I took the load from your shoulders; I freed your hands from carrying heavy baskets.
I haue withdrawen his shoulder from the burden, and his handes haue left the pots.
From the burden his shoulder I turned aside, His hands from the basket pass over.
“I removed his shoulder from the burden. His hands were freed from the basket.
I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.
I have said: You are gods and all of you the sons of the most High.
“After the rulers of Egypt forced you Israelis to work as slaves, I took those heavy burdens off your backs, and I enabled you to lay down those heavy baskets of bricks that you were carrying.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 81:6
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 81:6 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
עֵ֤דוּת
בִּֽ/יה֘וֹסֵ֤ף
שָׂמ֗/וֹ
בְּ֭/צֵאת/וֹ
עַל
אֶ֣רֶץ
מִצְרָ֑יִם
שְׂפַ֖ת
לֹא
יָדַ֣עְתִּי
אֶשְׁמָֽע
עֵ֤דוּת
ʻêdûwth
H5715
testimony
N-fs
בִּֽ/יה֘וֹסֵ֤ף
Yᵉhôwçêph
H3084
Joseph
Prep | N-proper
שָׂמ֗/וֹ
sûwm
H7760
to set
V-Qal-Perf-3ms | Suff
בְּ֭/צֵאת/וֹ
yâtsâʼ
H3318
to come out
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a | Suff
עַל
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep
אֶ֣רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
land
N-cs
מִצְרָ֑יִם
Mitsrayim
H4714
Egypt
N-proper
שְׂפַ֖ת
sâphâh
H8193
lips
N-fs
לֹא
lôʼ
H3808
not
Part
יָדַ֣עְתִּי
yâdaʻ
H3045
to know
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
אֶשְׁמָֽע
shâmaʻ
H8085
to hear
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 81:6
עֵ֤דוּת
ʻêdûwth
H5715
"testimony"
N-fs
This word means a testimony or witness, often referring to God's laws or instructions. It is used in several books, including Exodus and Deuteronomy, to describe God's guidance. The word emphasizes the importance of following God's laws.
Definition: testimony
Usage: Occurs in 57 OT verses. KJV: testimony, witness. See also: Exodus 16:34; Numbers 17:19; Psalms 19:8.
בִּֽ/יה֘וֹסֵ֤ף
Yᵉhôwçêph
H3084
"Joseph"
Prep | N-proper
Joseph was a son of Jacob and Rachel, and his story is first told in Genesis 30:24. He had many brothers and was the father of Manasseh and Ephraim. Joseph is an important figure in the Bible, and his name means 'God will add' or 'God will increase'.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.24; son of: Israel (H3478) and Rachel (H7354); brother of: Benjamin (H1144); half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783); married to Asenath (H0621); father of: Manasseh (H4519) and Ephraim (H0669); also called Zaphenath-paneah at Gen.41.45; Another name of yo.seph (יוֹסֵף "Joseph" H3130G) § Joseph = "Jehovah has added" the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: Joseph. See also: Psalms 81:6.
שָׂמ֗/וֹ
sûwm
H7760
"to set"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms | Suff
This Hebrew word means to put or place something, and is used in many different ways in the Bible, such as to appoint or determine something. It is first used in Genesis to describe God's creation. In the KJV, it is translated as 'appoint' or 'set' in various contexts.
Definition: : make/establish 1) to put, place, set, appoint, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to put, set, lay, put or lay upon, lay (violent) hands on 1a2) to set, direct, direct toward 1a2a) to extend (compassion) (fig) 1a3) to set, ordain, establish, found, appoint, constitute, make, determine, fix 1a4) to set, station, put, set in place, plant, fix 1a5) to make, make for, transform into, constitute, fashion, work, bring to pass, appoint, give 1b) (Hiphil) to set or make for a sign 1c) (Hophal) to be set
Usage: Occurs in 550 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, [phrase] disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, [phrase] name, [idiom] on, ordain, order, [phrase] paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), [phrase] regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, [phrase] stedfastly, take, [idiom] tell, [phrase] tread down, (over-)turn, [idiom] wholly, work. See also: Genesis 2:8; Leviticus 20:5; 1 Samuel 21:13.
בְּ֭/צֵאת/וֹ
yâtsâʼ
H3318
"to come out"
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a | Suff
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to go out or come out, and it's used in many different ways, like leaving a place or starting a new journey, as seen in Genesis and Exodus.
Definition: : come/go_out/escape 1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart 1a2) to go forth (to a place) 1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something) 1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result) 1a5) to come out of 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out 1b2) to bring out of 1b3) to lead out 1b4) to deliver 1c) (Hophal) to be brought out or forth
Usage: Occurs in 991 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter. See also: Genesis 1:12; Exodus 9:33; Leviticus 26:45.
עַל
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
אֶ֣רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
"land"
N-cs
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.
מִצְרָ֑יִם
Mitsrayim
H4714
"Egypt"
N-proper
This word means Egypt, a country in northeastern Africa, and is used in the Bible to describe the land and its people. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah, often referring to the Nile River and the Egyptians. Egypt is an important setting for many biblical events.
Definition: § Egypt = "land of the Copts" a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows Egyptians = "double straits" adj 2) the inhabitants or natives of Egypt
Usage: Occurs in 569 OT verses. KJV: Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim. See also: Genesis 10:6; Exodus 6:13; Exodus 34:18.
שְׂפַ֖ת
sâphâh
H8193
"lips"
N-fs
This word refers to lips or language, and can also mean the edge or border of something. It is used in the Bible to describe the shore of a sea or the edge of a cup.
Definition: : lips/mouth 1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding 1a) lip (as body part) 1b) language 1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
Usage: Occurs in 164 OT verses. KJV: band, bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip, prating, (sea-)shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words. See also: Genesis 11:1; Psalms 120:2; Psalms 12:3.
לֹא
lôʼ
H3808
"not"
Part
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Definition: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Usage: Occurs in 3967 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without. See also: Genesis 2:5; Genesis 31:15; Exodus 4:9.
יָדַ֣עְתִּי
yâdaʻ
H3045
"to know"
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
The Hebrew word for to know means to ascertain by seeing, and is used in many senses, including to learn, perceive, and recognize, as seen in various KJV translations.
Definition: 1) to know 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to know 1a1a) to know, learn to know 1a1b) to perceive 1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern 1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish 1a1e) to know by experience 1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess 1a1g) to consider 1a2) to know, be acquainted with 1a3) to know (a person carnally) 1a4) to know how, be skilful in 1a5) to have knowledge, be wise 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed 1b2) to make oneself known 1b3) to be perceived 1b4) to be instructed 1c) (Piel) to cause to know 1d) (Poal) to cause to know 1e) (Pual) 1e1) to be known 1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle) 1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare 1g) (Hophal) to be made known 1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)
Usage: Occurs in 874 OT verses. KJV: acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot. See also: Genesis 3:5; Leviticus 5:4; Judges 21:12.
אֶשְׁמָֽע
shâmaʻ
H8085
"to hear"
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs
To hear and listen is what this Hebrew word means, often implying attention and obedience. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it is used when God speaks to the people, and they must listen and obey.
Definition: : hear v 1) to hear, listen to, obey 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to hear (perceive by ear) 1a2) to hear of or concerning 1a3) to hear (have power to hear) 1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to 1a5) to understand (language) 1a6) to hear (of judicial cases) 1a7) to listen, give heed 1a7a) to consent, agree 1a7b) to grant request 1a8) to listen to, yield to 1a9) to obey, be obedient 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound) 1b2) to be heard of 1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed 1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound 1d2) to sound aloud (musical term) 1d3) to make proclamation, summon 1d4) to cause to be heard n m 2) sound
Usage: Occurs in 1072 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness. See also: Genesis 3:8; Exodus 32:18; Deuteronomy 27:9.
Study Notes — Psalms 81:6
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 81:6 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 81:6
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 81:6
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 81:6
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 81:6
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 81:6
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 81:6
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 81:6
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 81:6
- Sermons on Psalms 81:6
Context — Sing for Joy to God Our Strength
4For this is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
5He ordained it as a testimony for Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt, where I heard an unfamiliar language:
6“I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket.
7You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the cloud of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah 8Hear, O My people, and I will warn you: O Israel, if only you would listen to Me!Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 9:4 | For as in the day of Midian You have shattered the yoke of their burden, the bar across their shoulders, and the rod of their oppressor. |
| 2 | Isaiah 10:27 | On that day the burden will be lifted from your shoulders, and the yoke from your neck. The yoke will be broken because your neck will be too large. |
| 3 | Exodus 6:6 | Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. |
| 4 | Matthew 11:29 | Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. |
| 5 | Exodus 1:14 | and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh. |
| 6 | Psalms 68:13 | Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, the wings of the dove are covered with silver, and her feathers with shimmering gold.” |
Psalms 81:6 Summary
This verse is saying that God helped His people by taking away the heavy loads they had to carry. It's like when we're feeling overwhelmed and God comes and lifts those burdens off our shoulders, as He promises in Psalms 55:22. Just like the Israelites were freed from their physical burdens, we can be freed from our emotional and spiritual burdens when we trust in God. By remembering how God delivered His people in the past, we can have confidence that He will do the same for us today, as seen in Exodus 14:13-14 and 1 Peter 5:7.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of burden is being referred to in this verse?
The burden in Psalms 81:6 is likely the physical burden of slavery and hard labor that the Israelites endured in Egypt, as described in Exodus 1:14 and Exodus 2:11, but it can also symbolize the spiritual burdens we carry, as mentioned in Matthew 11:28-30.
How did God relieve the burden from the Israelites' shoulders?
According to the Bible, God relieved the burden through a series of miraculous events, including the plagues on Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea, as described in Exodus 3-14, ultimately leading to their freedom.
What does the 'basket' represent in this verse?
The 'basket' in Psalms 81:6 likely represents the humble and menial tasks that the Israelites were forced to perform during their slavery in Egypt, similar to the tasks mentioned in Exodus 1:14, and God's deliverance freed them from such hardships.
How does this verse apply to our lives today?
This verse reminds us that God is our Deliverer, just as He was for the Israelites, and He can free us from our burdens, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, as promised in Psalms 55:22 and 1 Peter 5:7.
Reflection Questions
- What are the burdens in my life that I need to surrender to God, and how can I trust Him to relieve them?
- In what ways have I experienced God's deliverance in my life, and how can I share that with others?
- How can I practically apply the truth of God's deliverance to my daily struggles and challenges?
- What would it look like for me to trust God fully with my burdens, just as the Israelites were called to trust Him in the wilderness?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 81:6
I removed his shoulder from the burden,.... These are the words of God, declaring how he had delivered the Israelites from the oppression and cruelty of the Egyptians; who made their lives bitter in
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 81:6
This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not. -The deliverance described on which God's claim on Israel and Israel's duty are founded.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 81:6
I delivered him from burdensome slavery. Pots; as this word is taken, . Or, baskets, as it signifies, . In the general, it seems to note all those vessels wherein they carried water, straw, lime, bricks, &c.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 81:6
Psalms 81:6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.Ver. 6. I removed his shoulder from the burden] From the woeful slavery of Egyptian tyrants and task masters, Sordidissimo ministerio. His hands passed away from the pots] Or baskets, wherein was carried earth for brick clamping and pot making, &c., whereunto they were so close tied that they might not stir a foot from their daily work, till God delivered them. Some say that the pyramids were built by them.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 81:6
(6) Pots.—Deriving from a root to boil, and with allusion to potteries, which, probably, together with the brick-kilns, formed the scene of the forced labour of Israel. The LXX. and Vulg. have “slaved in the basket,” but the basket, which is represented on Egyptian monuments, is doubtless meant by the burden of the last clause.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 81:6
6. I have removed his shoulder from the burden: His hands shall go free from the basket. The term ‘basket’ does not occur in Exodus, but baskets for carrying the burdens of bricks or clay so often referred to in Exodus (Exodus 1:11; Exodus 2:11; Exodus 5:4-5; Exodus 6:6-7) are frequently represented in Egyptian paintings. From the pots (A.V.), i.e. from making the pots (P.B.V.), is an improbable explanation. The P.B.V. in Psalms 81:5, “when he came out of the land of Egypt and had heard a strange language,” is derived through the Vulg. from the LXX. Similarly Jerome; but it is probably only a conjectural rendering of a difficult passage, and does not represent a different text.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 81:6
I removed his shoulder from the burden - The burden which the people of Israel were called to hear in Egypt.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 81:6
6. Burden… pots—The latter word also means baskets, as 2 Kings 10:7; Jeremiah 24:2. The allusion is to Exodus 1:11-14, and probably to the burden-basket used by slaves, in which the Israelites carried brick and other portables.
Sermons on Psalms 81:6
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(The Word for Today) Isaiah 13:12 - Part 2 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the impending cataclysmic event that will terrorize the world. He describes the inhumanity of man to man that is often seen in war and |
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David Davis - One New Man (Alternate) by David Davis | This sermon focuses on the restoration and unity between Jews and Arabs in Israel, highlighting the revival and miraculous transformations happening in communities. It emphasizes t |
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Immediate Freedom by C.H. Spurgeon | C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the promise of immediate freedom from bondage as stated in Nahum 1:13, where God declares His intention to break the yoke of oppression. He reassures those |
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(Needed-Men of God) 4. an Anointed Man by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen preaches on the importance of the anointing of the Holy Spirit in fulfilling God's will in our service, emphasizing the need for the Spirit's power to rest upon us. He h |
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Regeneration & Self-Denial by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the issue of churches abandoning biblical terminology and relying on church growth methodologies. He emphasizes the need for truth that goes b |
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A Call for Prophetic Evangelistic Preaching by Alan Redpath | In this sermon, the preacher discusses a controversy between God and his people. He highlights how God had shown immense love and care for his people, providing for their needs and |
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A Day and a Night in the Deep by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of fully believing and trusting in the word of God. He uses the example of the Israelites who, despite knowing what God had p |