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Psalm 78:2
I will open my mouth in a parable. I will utter dark sayings of old,
1A contemplation by Asaph. Hear my teaching, my people. Turn your ears to the words of my mouth.
2I will open my mouth in a parable. I will utter dark sayings of old,
3which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, his strength, and his wondrous deeds that he has done.
Notice
The phrase “dark sayings of old” suggests that teaching passed down through generations can still ask for close attention, even when its words are familiar.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What teaching about God have you heard for years that still leaves you with questions?
Write on thisWhat do you notice about calling these sayings both “dark” and, in the next verse, “known”?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Matthew 13:35that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of …Matthew quotes the psalm’s opening words about speaking in parables and identifies their fulfillment in Jesus’ teaching.
Matthew 13:34–35Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the multitudes; and without a parable, he didn’t speak to them,The psalm announces teaching through a parable, and Matthew describes Jesus speaking to the multitudes in parables.
Proverbs 1:6to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.Both passages link parables with sayings that require understanding: the psalm’s dark sayings and Proverbs’ riddles of the wise.
1 Corinthians 2:7But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds for our glory,Both describe spoken teaching with an element of mystery, though Corinthians speaks of God’s wisdom hidden before the worlds.
Mark 4:34Without a parable he didn’t speak to them; but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.Both passages mention teaching through parables; Mark adds that Jesus explained his teaching to his own disciples.
Matthew 13:11–13He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.Both concern understanding what is obscure or mysterious, though Matthew speaks of knowledge of the Kingdom of Heaven being given.
Psalm 49:4I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will solve my riddle on the harp.Both psalms introduce teaching through sayings that need interpretation, with Psalm 49 adding the harp to its treatment of a riddle.
Matthew 13:3He spoke to them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, a farmer went out to sow.Both introduce speech in parables, with Matthew supplying the concrete beginning of Jesus’ story about a farmer sowing.
Numbers 23:7He took up his parable, and said, “From Aram has Balak brought me, the king of Moab from the mountains of the East. Come, curse Jacob for me. Come, defy Israel.Both introduce speech as a parable, though Numbers recounts Balak’s demand to curse Jacob and defy Israel.
Proverbs 18:4The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.Both draw attention to words from a mouth and suggest that spoken teaching can have depths worth attending to.
John 16:25“I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. But the time is coming when I will no more speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you …Both describe teaching through indirect forms of speech, while John also promises clear speech about the Father.
Job 27:1Job again took up his parable, and said,Both announce that a speaker is taking up a parable before presenting the words that follow.
Where this verse fits
Sermon or Bible study notes. parenting.
One step
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Encouragement
These old sayings have been heard and passed down. Their depth is no reason to hide them; the next generation is to hear of God’s wondrous deeds.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).