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Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

Psalms 81:9

There shall no strange god be in thee - Worshipped by thee; or recognized and regarded as a god. This was a condition of his favor and friendship. Compare Deuteronomy 32:12; Isaiah 43:12. The word here rendered “strange” - זר zār - has reference to one of a foreign nation; and the meaning is, that they were not to worship or adore the gods that were worshipped by foreigners. This was a fundamental law of the Hebrew commonwealth.

Neither shalt thou worship any strange god - The Hebrew word here is different - נכר nêkâr - but means substantially the same thing. The allusion is to gods worshipped by foreign nations.

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See also Psalms 81:9 in other biblical comments:

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    Psalms 81 Hope Revived: His Gracious Return to Israel _ 1. The blowing of the trumpet (Psalms 81:1)_ 2. His loving call to His people (Psalms 81:6) 3. Gracious results promised ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    LXXXI. This Ps. is probably composite. A. PSALMS 81:1. A FESTAL HYMN, specially adapted for the old New Year's Day or Feast of Trumpets (p. 104), which was held on the new moon of Tishri, the seventh...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    STRANGE. foreign, or foreigner _'_ s. STRANGE GOD. god of the foreigner. Not the same as above. For the former, See Psalms 44:20; Isaiah 43:12. for the latter, Deuteronomy 32:12. GOD. Hebrew.

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Israel's duty of allegiance to Jehovah alone; the fundamental principle of the covenant. Israel in the wilderness is primarily addressed, but Israel of every age is included....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _no strange god_ Cp. Psalms 44:20; Deuteronomy 32:16. any _strange god_ Any alien god. Cp. Deuteronomy 32:12. Absolute frdelity to Jehovah was the fundamental principle of the Sinaitic covenant, embo...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PSALMS 81 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE A Mission-Song, to be Sung to the Northern Tribes. ANALYSIS Stanza I., Psalms 81:1-5, A Festive Celebration Invoked; in which People, Levites, and Priests can Recall the...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. THERE SHALL NO STRANGE GOD BE IN THEE - i:e., 'let no strange god be in thee,' or among you. There is a reference...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    After a summons to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Psalms 81:1) this Ps. recalls the meaning of Israel's national festivals as memorials of their deliverance from Egypt (Psalms 81:4). From Psalms...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    is a quotation of the first commandment (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7)....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

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  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    OPEN... — A condensed statement of God’s gracious promise (Deuteronomy 7:12; Deuteronomy 8:7; Deuteronomy 8:9; Deuteronomy 11:

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    _[Psalms 81:10]_ לֹֽא ־יִהְיֶ֣ה בְ֭ךָ אֵ֣ל זָ֑ר...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Psalms 81:1 THE psalmist summons priests and people to a solemn festival, commemorative of Israel's deliverance from Egypt, and sets forth the lessons which that deliverance teaches, the learning of w...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    “IF THOU WOULDEST HEARKEN UNTO ME” Psalms 81:8 God wants our emptiness, which seems to Him like the gaping beak of the young fledgling, Psalms 81:10. _Give me room_! is his incessant appeal. It must...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

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  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Reader! let us for a moment drop Israel's history, to which these verses refer, to look into our own. We know how the Lord delivered Israel upon the several occasions here described; but may not you a...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    9_Let there be no strange god _(414) _in thee. _Here there is propounded the leading article of the covenant, and almost the whole sum of it, which is, that God alone must have the pre-eminence. Some...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Psalms 81, while celebrating in figure the restoration of Israel, again returns to historical ground, specially introducing Joseph, who represents the ten tribes (see Ezekiel 37:16). Otherwise Judah,...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THERE SHALL NO STRANGE GOD BE IN THEE,.... Or in the midst of thee, owned and worshipped as God; or in thine heart, for whatever engrosses the affection, or a man puts his trust and confidence in, tha...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. Ver. 9. _There shall no strange god_] This is the first and chief commandment, wherein all the rest are contained, s...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Hear, O my people_ And who should hear me if my people will not? I have heard and answered thee, now wilt thou hear me? Hear what is said, with the greatest solemnity, and the most unquestionable cer...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    A JOYFUL SALUTATION AND GOD'S RESPONSE. To the chief musician upon Gittith, to be sung to the accompaniment of the zitherlike instrument which David brought along from the Philistine city of Gath, a...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    There shall no strange god be in thee, every form of idolatry being an abomination before Him; NEITHER SHALT THOU WORSHIP ANY STRANGE GOD....

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

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  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Thou shalt renounce all false gods and worship, and worship me only....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Psalms 81:9 foreign H2114 (H8801) god H410 worship H7812 (H8691) foreign H5236 god H410 There shall -...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Psalms 81:1. _Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob._ In these days, the Psalm would have to be altered if they are to suit the dogmas of modern thought, for «th...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    We have here an exhortation to praise God; and this is always in season. Perhaps we need more stirring up to praise than to prayer, yet it ought to be as natural for us to praise God as it is for the...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: God chides His people for their ingratitude and pictures their happy state had they but obeyed Him. CHARACTERS: God, Asaph, Joseph, Jacob. CONCLUSION: God gives those up to their own heart...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    This psalm was composed for the festival of tabernacles, when the people celebrated the deliverance from Egypt. It was a statute in Israel on the first day of the Hebrew month of _Tisri,_ or the new m...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob._ A REVELATION OF THREE GREAT SUBJECTS I. True worship (verses1-5) 1. True worship is the highest happiness, which consi...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PSALM PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 81:1. This psalm resembles the OT prophets’ oracles, so perhaps it is best to think of it as a prophetic hymn. The primary function of the OT prophets is to challenge God’s...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 81:8 I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, WHO BROUGHT YOU UP OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT is very similar to the preface to the Ten Commandments ...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    INTRODUCTION _Superscription_.—“_To the chief Musician upon Gittith_.” Gittith is explained in several ways. One interpretation is that it was a musical instrument invented in Gath, or common among th...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION PROFESSOR CHEYNE regards this psalm as composed of "two distinct lyrical passages," accidentally thrown together (compare his theory of Psalms 19:1, Psalms 24:1, Psalms 36:1

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Let's turn to Psalms 81:1-16. On the first day of the seventh month in the Jewish calendar, which, because their calendar begins, the religious calendar begins the first of April, it usually coincides...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 8:5; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Deuteronomy 32:12; Deuteronomy 6:14;...

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