Psalms 78:3,4 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

Which we have heard ... We will not hide. See introductory remarks. Translate, 'What we have heard, etc., we will not hide (omit them) from their children,' etc. There is a change from the singular, in Psalms 78:1-2, to the plural, in Psalms 78:3-4, which shows that Psalms 78:3 is not to be immediately connected in sense with Psalms 78:2, but with Psalms 78:4. In Psalms 78:1-2 God is speaking by the Psalmist. In Psalms 78:3 the Psalmist enlists the sympathy of the pious among his hearers by taking them in with himself-as much as to say, God by my mouth has invited all to give ear to the deep truth wrapped up in the histories of old. Come, then, let US not hide, but show them to others, and specially to the generation to come (Exodus 10:2; Psalms 44:1; 2 Samuel 7:22; Deuteronomy 32:7). Traditions of the fathers are valuable as a testimony to facts, and in corroboration of and subordination to Scripture; but not to be raised to a level with, much less raised above, the written Word. The Psalmist draws his facts from Scripture; at the same time he recognizes that he is surrounded with family traditions which verify independently the statements of the sacred volume.

Verse 4. We will not hide them from their children - i:e., from our children, who are in truth our father's children. Our fathers transmitted to us these truths, not for our sakes only, but for distant posterity.

Showing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord. The plural praises implies the rich fullness of praise which is the Lord's due because of His deeds.

And his wonderful works - which called for the people's grateful obedience, and which were their great condemnation when they disobeyed Him.

Psalms 78:3-4

3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.