Psalms 78:70
Psalms 78:70 in Multiple Translations
He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds;
He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
He chose David also his servant, And took him from the sheepfolds:
He took David to be his servant, taking him from the place of the flocks;
He chose his servant David, taking him from the sheep pens,
He chose Dauid also his seruant, and tooke him from the shepefolds.
And He fixeth on David His servant, And taketh him from the folds of a flock,
He also chose David his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds;
He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheep-folds:
He chose David, who served him faithfully, and took him from the pastures
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 78:70
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
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Psalms 78:70 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ֭/יִּבְחַר
בְּ/דָוִ֣ד
עַבְדּ֑/וֹ
וַ֝/יִּקָּחֵ֗/הוּ
מִֽ/מִּכְלְאֹ֥ת
צֹֽאן
וַ֭/יִּבְחַר
bâchar
H977
to choose
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
בְּ/דָוִ֣ד
Dâvid
H1732
David
Prep | N-proper
עַבְדּ֑/וֹ
ʻebed
H5650
servant/slave
N-ms | Suff
וַ֝/יִּקָּחֵ֗/הוּ
lâqach
H3947
to take
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms | Suff
מִֽ/מִּכְלְאֹ֥ת
miklâʼâh
H4356
fold
Prep | N-cp
צֹֽאן
tsôʼn
H6629
Sheep (Gate)
N-cs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 78:70
וַ֭/יִּבְחַר
bâchar
H977
"to choose"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
To choose or select is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which appears in Deuteronomy. It can also mean to be chosen or elected. The KJV translates it as 'choose' or 'acceptable'.
Definition: 1) to choose, elect, decide for 1a) (Qal) to choose 1b) (Niphal) to be chosen 1c) (Pual) to be chosen, selected
Usage: Occurs in 162 OT verses. KJV: acceptable, appoint, choose (choice), excellent, join, be rather, require. See also: Genesis 6:2; 2 Kings 23:27; Psalms 25:12.
בְּ/דָוִ֣ד
Dâvid
H1732
"David"
Prep | N-proper
David was the youngest son of Jesse and a king of Judah, first mentioned in Ruth 4:17, and an ancestor of Jesus.
Definition: A king of the tribe of Judah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at Rut.4.17; son of: Jesse (H3448) and Nahash (H5176I); brother of: Eliab (H0446I), Abinadab (H0041I), Shimeah (H8093), Zeruiah (H6870), Abigail (H0026H)(?), Nethanel (H5417H), Raddai (H7288), Ozem (H0684) and Elihu (H0453J); married to Michal (H4324), Abigail (H0026), Ahinoam (H0293H), Maacah (H4601I), Haggith (H2294), Abital (H0037), Eglah (H5698) and Bathsheba (H1339); father of: Amnon (H0550), Chileab (H3609), Absalom (H0053), Adonijah (H0138), Shephatiah (H8203), Ithream (H3507), Shammua (H8051H), Shobab (H7727), Nathan (H5416), Solomon (H8010), Ibhar (H2984), Elishua (H0474), Nepheg (H5298H), Japhia (H3309I), Elishama (H0476H), Eliada (H0450), Eliphelet (H0467), Tamar (H8559H), Elpelet (H0467I), Nogah (H5052) and Jerimoth (H3406N) Also named: Daueid, Dauid, Dabid (Δαυείδ, Δαυίδ, Δαβίδ "David" G1138) § David = "beloved" youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel
Usage: Occurs in 912 OT verses. KJV: David. See also: Ruth 4:17; 1 Samuel 20:41; 1 Samuel 27:9.
עַבְדּ֑/וֹ
ʻebed
H5650
"servant/slave"
N-ms | Suff
This word refers to a servant or slave, often in the context of serving God or a human master. It can also describe a prophet or Levite. The KJV translates it as bondage, bondman, or servant.
Definition: 1) slave, servant 1a) slave, servant, man-servant 1b) subjects 1c) servants, worshippers (of God) 1d) servant (in special sense as prophets, Levites etc) 1e) servant (of Israel) 1f) servant (as form of address between equals) Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (עֲבַד "servant/slave" H5649)
Usage: Occurs in 714 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant. See also: Genesis 9:25; Exodus 11:3; 1 Samuel 8:16.
וַ֝/יִּקָּחֵ֗/הוּ
lâqach
H3947
"to take"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms | Suff
This Hebrew word means to take or get something, and it is used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to take a wife, to take possession of something, or to receive a gift. For example, in Genesis 2:22, God takes a rib from Adam to create Eve.
Definition: : take 1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to take, take in the hand 1a2) to take and carry along 1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away 1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept 1a5) to take up or upon, put upon 1a6) to fetch 1a7) to take, lead, conduct 1a8) to take, capture, seize 1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be captured 1b2) to be taken away, be removed 1b3) to be taken, brought unto 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to be taken from or out of 1c2) to be stolen from 1c3) to be taken captive 1c4) to be taken away, be removed 1d) (Hophal) 1d1) to be taken unto, be brought unto 1d2) to be taken out of 1d3) to be taken away 1e) (Hithpael) 1e1) to take hold of oneself 1e2) to flash about (of lightning)
Usage: Occurs in 909 OT verses. KJV: accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. See also: Genesis 2:15; Genesis 34:17; Exodus 30:23.
מִֽ/מִּכְלְאֹ֥ת
miklâʼâh
H4356
"fold"
Prep | N-cp
A fold refers to a pen or enclosure for flocks of sheep, providing a safe space for them to graze and rest. This term is used in the Bible to describe the care of sheep.
Definition: fold, enclosure
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: (sheep-)fold. Compare H4357 (מִכְלָה). See also: Psalms 50:9; Psalms 78:70; Habakkuk 3:17.
צֹֽאן
tsôʼn
H6629
"Sheep (Gate)"
N-cs
This word refers to a flock of sheep or goats, and is sometimes used to describe people in a figurative sense. It is also associated with the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem, a significant location in biblical times.
Definition: This name means sheep and goats Also named: probatikos (προβατικός "Sheep Gate" G4262)
Usage: Occurs in 247 OT verses. KJV: (small) cattle, flock ([phrase] -s), lamb ([phrase] -s), sheep(-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds). See also: Genesis 4:2; Deuteronomy 28:31; Psalms 44:12.
Study Notes — Psalms 78:70
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 78:70 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 78:70
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 78:70
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 78:70
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 78:70
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 78:70
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 78:70
- Sermons on Psalms 78:70
Context — I Will Open My Mouth in Parables
68But He chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which He loved.
69He built His sanctuary like the heights, like the earth He has established forever.
70He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds;
71from tending the ewes He brought him to be shepherd of His people Jacob, of Israel His inheritance. 72So David shepherded them with integrity of heart and guided them with skillful hands.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Samuel 16:11–12 | And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.” So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.” |
| 2 | Acts 13:22 | After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety.’ |
| 3 | Exodus 3:1 | Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. |
| 4 | 2 Samuel 3:18 | Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’” |
| 5 | 2 Samuel 6:21 | But David said to Michal, “I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me over your father and all his house when He appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel. I will celebrate before the LORD, |
| 6 | Exodus 3:10 | Therefore, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt.” |
| 7 | Amos 7:14–15 | “I was not a prophet,” Amos replied, “nor was I the son of a prophet; rather, I was a herdsman and a tender of sycamore-fig trees. But the LORD took me from following the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’ |
| 8 | 1 Samuel 17:15–54 | but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep in Bethlehem. For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening to take his stand. One day Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. Take also these ten portions of cheese to the commander of their unit. Check on the welfare of your brothers and bring back an assurance from them. They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.” So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with a keeper, loaded up, and set out as Jesse had instructed him. He reached the camp as the army was marching out to its position and shouting the battle cry. And Israel and the Philistines arrayed in formation against each other. Then David left his supplies in the care of the quartermaster and ran to the battle line. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were doing. And as he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the Philistines and shouted his usual words, which David also heard. When all the men of Israel saw Goliath, they fled from him in great fear. Now the men of Israel had been saying, “Do you see this man who keeps coming out to defy Israel? To the man who kills him the king will give great riches. And he will give him his daughter in marriage and exempt his father’s house from taxation in Israel.” David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” The people told him about the offer, saying, “That is what will be done for the man who kills him.” Now when David’s oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, his anger burned against David. “Why have you come down here?” he asked. “And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and wickedness of heart—you have come down to see the battle!” “What have I done now?” said David. “Was it not just a question?” Then he turned from him toward another and asked about the offer, and those people answered him just as the first ones had answered. Now David’s words were overheard and reported to Saul, who called for him. And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail on account of this Philistine. Your servant will go and fight him!” But Saul replied, “You cannot go out against this Philistine to fight him. You are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” David replied, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, I went after it, struck it down, and delivered the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” David added, “The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” “Go,” said Saul, “and may the LORD be with you.” Then Saul clothed David in his own tunic, put a bronze helmet on his head, and dressed him in armor. David strapped his sword over the tunic and tried to walk, but he was not accustomed to them. “I cannot walk in these,” David said to Saul. “I am not accustomed to them.” So David took them off. And David took his staff in his hand, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag. And with his sling in hand, he approached the Philistine. Now the Philistine came closer and closer to David, with his shield-bearer before him. When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him because he was just a boy, ruddy and handsome. “Am I a dog,” he said to David, “that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. “Come here,” he called to David, “and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!” But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.” As the Philistine started forward to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Then David reached into his bag, took out a stone, and slung it, striking the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword and pulled it from its sheath and killed him; and he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. Then the men of Israel and Judah charged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. And the bodies of the Philistines were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. When the Israelites returned from their pursuit of the Philistines, they plundered their camps. David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, and he put Goliath’s weapons in his own tent. |
| 9 | 2 Samuel 7:8 | Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel. |
| 10 | Psalms 89:19–20 | You once spoke in a vision; to Your godly ones You said, “I have bestowed help on a warrior; I have exalted one chosen from the people. I have found My servant David; with My sacred oil I have anointed him. |
Psalms 78:70 Summary
This verse tells us that God chose David, a humble shepherd, to be His servant and to lead His people. Just like David, we can be called by God from our everyday lives to serve Him in special ways (1 Corinthians 1:26-31). God sees something in each of us that makes Him want to use us for His purposes, and He is able to elevate us to do great things for Him, just like He did with David (Psalm 113:7-8). As we reflect on this verse, we can remember that God's choices are not based on our abilities, but on His sovereign will and grace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did God choose David as His servant?
God chose David because He saw something in him that no one else did, much like He chose Saul before him, but David's heart was fully committed to God, as seen in 1 Samuel 16:7 and Acts 13:22.
What does it mean that David was taken from the sheepfolds?
The sheepfolds represent David's humble beginnings as a shepherd, and God taking him from there signifies His power to elevate and use anyone for His purposes, as also seen in the call of Moses in Exodus 3:1-4:17.
How does this verse relate to the concept of divine election?
This verse illustrates God's sovereign choice, where He selects individuals for specific tasks, similar to the election of Israel in Deuteronomy 7:6-8, highlighting His sovereignty and grace.
What can we learn from David's experience about God's calling?
David's experience teaches us that God's calling can come at any time and from any circumstance, and it requires obedience and trust, as emphasized in Isaiah 6:8 and Matthew 4:18-22.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that God has called you from your own 'sheepfolds' to serve Him, and how have you responded?
- How does the concept of God choosing us, as seen in this verse, impact your understanding of your purpose and identity in Christ?
- In what ways can you, like David, be a faithful servant of God, even in the midst of humble or challenging circumstances?
- What does this verse reveal about God's heart and character, and how can you reflect these qualities in your own life and relationships?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 78:70
He chose David also his servant,.... To be king of Israel, the youngest of his father's family, when he rejected all the rest; see 1 Samuel 16:6, an eminent type of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 78:70
Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 78:70
Psalms 78:70 He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:Ver. 70. He chose David also] God chooseth not as man doth, 1 Corinthians 1:26, yet Alexander the Great advanced Abdolominus, a poor gardener, to be king in Sidon. And took him from the sheepfolds] The art of feeding cattle and the art of ruling men are sisters, saith Basil.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 78:70
Verse 70. He chose David] See the account, Clarke, "1 Samuel 16:11", &c.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 78:70
70–72. The choice of David as king.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 78:70
He chose David also his servant - He chose him that he might set him over his people as their king.
Sermons on Psalms 78:70
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(Through the Bible) 1 Chronicles 1-11 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of farsightedness and not being deceived by immediate fulfillment offered by Satan. He warns against turning aside from God's |
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King David by David Guzik | This sermon delves into the remarkable life of David, a man after God's own heart, contrasting him with Saul and highlighting how God looks at the heart rather than outward appeara |
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The Testing of David by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen emphasizes the testing of David, highlighting how God chose David for his faithfulness and concern for God's glory, contrasting him with Saul, who failed God's tests. Da |
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Feeding and Leading by Warren Wiersbe | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being a person of integrity and using one's unique gifts and message in preaching. He encourages preachers to not be imitat |
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(Genesis) Genesis 48:14 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of the new birth and how God does not choose individuals based on their natural abilities or birth order. The preacher uses t |
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(The Life of David) 05 Purpose and Power in David's Life by Denny Kenaston | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes that God has a purpose for every young person's life. He uses the example of David from the Bible to illustrate this point. The speaker encou |
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Vessels of Recovery Ii by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the condition of the people of Israel during the time of Eli. The Word of God was rare and the people were spiritually low. Despite being deli |