Psalms 77:5
And he set up a testimony in Jacob: and made a law in Israel. How great things he commanded our fathers, that they should make the same known to their children:
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- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Et suscitavit testimonium in Jacob, et legem posuit in Israël, quanta mandavit patribus nostris nota facere ea filiis suis :
- Septuagint (Swete)
- καὶ ἀνέστησεν μαρτύριον ἐν Ἰακώβ, καὶ νόμον ἔθετο ἐν Ἰσραήλ, ὃν ἐνετείλατο τοῖς πατράσιν ἡμῶν γνωρίσαι αὐτὸν τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτῶν,
- Hebrew (WLC) shown from Psalms 78:5
- וַיָּ֤קֶם עֵד֨וּת בְּֽיַעֲקֹ֗ב וְתוֹרָה֮ שָׂ֤ם בְּיִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִ֭וָּה אֶת אֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ לְ֝הוֹדִיעָ֗ם לִבְנֵיהֶֽם
Haydock's commentary
Testimony. The tabernacle, (Eusebius) or the law which notifies his will. (Calmet) (Menochius)
He also thrice required the Israelites to perpetuate the memory of what he had done for them, by instructing their children, Deuteronomy iv. 9., and vi. 7., and xi. 19. Both the written and the unwritten word must be carefully preserved, 2 Thessalonians ii. 14. God had freely chosen Abraham, and given him the law of circumcision; as he directed his posterity by the mouth of Moses. (Worthington)
From Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859, in the transcription made by Todd Easton and kept online by John Paul Wohlschied at johnblood.gitlab.io/haydock.
The Fathers on this verse
St Irenaeus Against Heresies: Book III, Chapter XVI. Proofs from the
3. Paul, when writing to the Romans, has explained this very point: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, predestinated unto the Gospel of God, which He had promised by His prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was made to Him of the seed of David according to the flesh, who was predestinated the Son of God with power through the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead of our Lord Jesus Christ.” And again, writing to the Romans about Israel, he says: “Whose are the fathers, and from whom is Christ according to the flesh, who is God over all, blessed for ever.” And again, in his Epistle to the Galatians, he says: “But when the fulness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption;” plainly indicating one God, who did by the prophets make promise of the …
St Augustine Expositions on the Book of Psalms, Psalm LXXVIII
6. “They have not been hidden from their sons in another generation” ( ver. 4 ). This is our generation wherein there hath been given to us regeneration. “Telling forth the praises of the Lord and His powers, and His wonderful works which He hath done.” The order of the words is, “and our fathers have told unto us, telling forth the praises of the Lord.” The Lord is praised, in order that He may be loved. For what object can be loved more to our health? “And He hath raised up a testimony in Jacob, and hath set a law in Jacob” ( ver. 5 ). This is the beginning whereof hath been spoken above, “I will declare propositions from the beginning.” So then the beginning is the Old Testament, the end is the New. For fear doth prevail in the law. …
St Augustine Expositions on the Book of Psalms, Psalm LXXVIII
7. “How great things,” he saith, “He hath commanded our fathers, to make the same known to their sons?” ( ver. 5 ). “That another generation may know, sons who shall be born and shall rise up, and they may tell to their sons” ( ver. 6 ). “That they may put their hope in God, and may not forget the works of God, and may seek out His commandments” ( ver. 7 ). “That they may not become, like their fathers, a crooked and embittering generation: a generation that hath not guided their heart, and the spirit thereof hath not been trusted with God” ( ver. 8 ). …