Psalms 78:3

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Which we have heard {H8085}{H8804)} and known {H3045}{H8799)}, and our fathers {H1} have told {H5608}{H8765)} us.

Complete Jewish Bible

The things which we have heard and known, and which our fathers told us

Berean Standard Bible

that we have heard and known and our fathers have relayed to us.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 78:3 introduces a sweeping historical recounting, emphasizing that the profound truths of God's mighty acts and Israel's journey were not new revelations but faithfully transmitted through generations. It underscores the vital role of oral tradition and familial instruction in preserving spiritual heritage and serving as a foundational basis for future instruction and warning against past failures.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 78 opens with a solemn appeal to the audience to "give ear" to the psalmist's "law" or "teaching" (`torah`). Verse 3 immediately follows this imperative, establishing the authority and reliability of the historical narrative that is about to unfold. By stating that these truths have been "heard and known" and "told" by previous generations, the verse grounds the subsequent account in established tradition, not novel revelation. This sets the stage for the explicit didactic purpose articulated in [Psalms 78:4](/psalms/78-4 "Psalms 78:4 - The Purpose of Recounting History"), which declares the intention to teach the coming generation about God's praiseworthy deeds. The entire psalm then functions as a comprehensive historical review, illustrating God's faithfulness despite Israel's repeated rebellion, culminating in the selection of David as king.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Israel was predominantly an oral culture where the transmission of history, laws, and religious traditions relied heavily on verbal instruction and storytelling within the family and community. This was not merely casual recounting but a deliberate, mandated act of preserving national and spiritual identity, ensuring that the covenant relationship with Yahweh was understood and maintained. The setting of the psalm is likely post-Exodus or during a period of national introspection, looking back at the wilderness generation and subsequent periods of Israel's history. The psalmist, Asaph, aims to instruct a contemporary generation by drawing lessons from the past, particularly from the repeated cycles of God's faithfulness and Israel's disobedience, to prevent them from repeating the mistakes of their ancestors.
* **Key Themes:** Psalms 78:3 powerfully introduces several key themes pervasive throughout the psalm and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the **intergenerational transmission of truth**, emphasizing the divine mandate for parents and elders to pass on God's mighty deeds and statutes, a principle deeply rooted in the Torah, as seen in [Deuteronomy 6:7](/deuteronomy/6-7 "Deuteronomy 6:7 - Teaching Children Diligently"). Secondly, it underscores the **value of heritage and collective memory**, asserting that understanding the past—both God's unwavering faithfulness and Israel's recurrent failures—is essential for the present and future. This collective memory serves as both a guide for righteous living and a warning against rebellion. Finally, the verse points to the nature of **experiential knowledge**, where "heard and known" implies a deep, internal comprehension and not just superficial acquaintance, laying the groundwork for the psalm's didactic purpose to foster genuine spiritual understanding and obedience in the audience, echoing the call to "know the Lord" found in passages like [Jeremiah 24:7](/jeremiah/24-7 "Jeremiah 24:7 - A Heart to Know the Lord").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Heard (Hebrew, _shama'_):** Implies more than mere auditory reception; it encompasses listening attentively, understanding, and often, obeying. In a covenant context, to "hear" God's voice is to respond in faith and obedience. Here, it suggests a receptive posture to the transmitted truths, indicating that the current generation has not only received the information but is expected to heed it.
* **Known (Hebrew, _yada'_):** Denotes an intimate, experiential, and relational knowledge, not just intellectual assent. It implies a deep personal acquaintance with the truths and events, suggesting that the previous generations had not only received but also internalized and lived out these realities, making them part of their very being. This is a knowledge that transforms.
* **Told (Hebrew, _saphar'_):** Means to recount, declare, or number in detail. This word emphasizes a deliberate, comprehensive, and authoritative transmission of information, underscoring the active role of the "fathers" in preserving and passing down the historical and theological narrative with precision and intentionality.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Which we have heard and known":** This opening phrase establishes the continuity of divine revelation and historical memory. The "we" refers to the current generation receiving the instruction. It asserts that the truths to be recounted are not newly discovered but have been part of their collective consciousness, deeply impressed upon them through consistent, active reception and internalisation.
* **"and our fathers have told us":** This clause identifies the authoritative source and method of transmission. The "fathers" are the preceding generations responsible for faithfully preserving and communicating the historical and spiritual legacy. The act of "telling" signifies a deliberate, oral tradition, emphasizing the importance of active teaching and storytelling in ancient Israelite culture to ensure the continuity of faith and national identity across time.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Repetition** and **Emphasis** through the use of three verbs related to knowledge and transmission: "heard," "known," and "told." This tripartite structure underscores the thoroughness, reliability, and active nature of the information being passed down. It highlights both the active reception ("heard," "known") by the current generation and the active transmission ("told") by the preceding one. The central role of **Oral Tradition** is also a key literary and cultural device, reflecting the primary mode of knowledge transfer in ancient Near Eastern societies. Furthermore, the verse functions as a **Proleptic Statement**, setting the stage for the detailed historical narrative that follows by asserting its basis in established, handed-down truth, thereby lending it immediate credibility and weight.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 78:3 profoundly articulates the biblical principle of intergenerational faithfulness. It underscores that divine truth and the record of God's redemptive acts are not meant to be confined to one generation but are to be diligently preserved and transmitted. This continuous flow of spiritual heritage is crucial for maintaining covenant identity, learning from past mistakes, and fostering future obedience. It highlights God's consistent engagement with His people across time and their corresponding responsibility to remember and respond, ensuring that the lessons of His faithfulness and humanity's failures are not forgotten but serve as a guide for successive generations.

* [Deuteronomy 6:7](/deuteronomy/6-7 "Deuteronomy 6:7 - Teaching the Commandments to Children")
* [Joel 1:3](/joel/1-3 "Joel 1:3 - Passing on the Story to Generations")
* [Psalms 78:4](/psalms/78-4 "Psalms 78:4 - The Purpose of Recounting God's Works")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 78:3 serves as a timeless mandate for believers today, urging us to embrace our role in the ongoing narrative of God's faithfulness. It challenges us to be intentional stewards of the spiritual heritage we have received, actively engaging in the process of discipling the next generation. This involves not only teaching biblical facts and doctrines but also modeling a vibrant, experiential faith, ensuring that the truths we pass on are "known" through lived experience, not just "heard" intellectually. Our lives become a living commentary on God's Word, providing tangible examples of His grace, truth, and transforming power. By faithfully transmitting the story of God's mighty acts and the lessons from humanity's responses, we equip future generations to navigate their own walk with God, avoiding past pitfalls and embracing His purposes for their lives and for His kingdom.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What stories of God's faithfulness have been passed down to you, and how have they shaped your faith and understanding of God's character?**
* **In what practical and intentional ways can you "tell" the next generation (children, youth, younger believers) about God's works and truths, both within your family and your community?**
* **How does your own "knowing" of God (experiential knowledge) influence your ability to transmit faith authentically and powerfully to others?**

### FAQ
**Why is intergenerational transmission so important in the Bible?**

Answer: Intergenerational transmission is crucial because it ensures the continuity of God's covenant relationship with His people, preserving their identity, history, and purpose. As seen in the explicit command in [Deuteronomy 6:7](/deuteronomy/6-7 "Deuteronomy 6:7 - Teaching Children Diligently"), it is a divine mandate for parents and elders to pass on God's laws, deeds, and character. This practice prevents spiritual amnesia, helps future generations learn from past mistakes, and enables them to understand God's consistent faithfulness. It allows each new generation to embrace their role in God's ongoing redemptive plan, ensuring that the faith is not lost but deepened and expanded through time.

**What does "heard and known" imply beyond simple understanding?**

Answer: The phrase "heard and known" (Hebrew: `shama'` and `yada'`) implies a profound, holistic engagement with the truth, extending far beyond mere intellectual comprehension. "Heard" (`shama'`) suggests not just auditory reception but also attentive listening and a readiness to heed or obey, as in the call to "hear the word of the Lord" in [Jeremiah 2:4](/jeremiah/2-4 "Jeremiah 2:4 - Hear the Word of the Lord"). "Known" (`yada'`) signifies an intimate, experiential, and relational understanding, akin to the deep personal knowledge Adam had of Eve in [Genesis 4:1](/genesis/4-1 "Genesis 4:1 - Adam Knew Eve"). It means the truths were internalized, deeply understood through personal experience, and integrated into one's life, leading to a transformative impact rather than just a passive accumulation of facts.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Psalms 78:3 speaks of the transmission of Israel's history and God's mighty acts, its ultimate fulfillment and deepest significance are found in Christ. The "truths" and "works" passed down through generations ultimately pointed to the coming of the Messiah, the culmination of God's redemptive plan. Jesus Christ is the ultimate "Word made flesh" ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")), the very embodiment of the divine truths that were heard and known throughout Israel's history. The "fathers" told of a God who would deliver His people, a promise fully realized in Christ's atoning sacrifice and resurrection ([Hebrews 9:12](/hebrews/9-12 "Hebrews 9:12 - Christ's Sacrifice") and [Romans 4:25](/romans/4-25 "Romans 4:25 - Christ's Resurrection for Our Justification")). The New Testament church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, continues this intergenerational transmission, not just of historical narratives, but of the gospel of Jesus Christ—the good news that must be proclaimed to all generations ([Matthew 28:19-20](/matthew/28-19 "Matthew 28:19-20 - The Great Commission")). Thus, the call to "hear and know" and for "fathers to tell" finds its supreme purpose in ensuring that every generation encounters and embraces the saving truth revealed in the person and work of our Lord Jesus, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 44:1

¶ To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, [what] work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.

Psalms 48:8

¶ As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.

Exodus 13:8

And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, [This is done] because of that [which] the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.

Exodus 13:14

And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What [is] this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:

Exodus 13:15

And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.

Exodus 12:26

And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?

Exodus 12:27

That ye shall say, It [is] the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.