Psalms 78:2 Commentary: Parable, Dark Sayings, and Jesus

Psalm 78 is a historical psalm, attributed to Asaph, a Levitical musician appointed by David. The psalm surveys Israel's story from the Exodus to the election of David, framing it not as mere history but as a lesson for future generations. The terms “parable” (mashal) and “dark sayings” (chidot) signal that the narration carries deeper meaning. In ancient Israelite wisdom literature, mashal could mean a proverb, a byword, or a parable, a form that invites comparison and reflection. Chidah, often translated “riddle,” appears in places like Judges 14 (Samson’s riddle) and Proverbs 1:6, referring to an enigmatic saying requiring interpretation.

Here, the psalmist calls his teaching a “parable” even though the rest of the psalm reads as a straightforward narrative of rebellion and grace. This is because the history itself functions as a parabolic lesson: Israel's story embodies principles of covenant faithfulness, human stubbornness, and divine mercy. The “dark sayings of old” refer to events from the distant past (the Exodus, the wilderness wandering) that, when pondered, yield insights about God’s character and human nature.

The literary context (Psalm 78:1-8) shows a deliberate chain of instruction: fathers are commanded to teach their children, so that each generation trusts God and keeps his commandments (v. 7). The psalm is thus part of a broader tradition of intergenerational catechesis. The Septuagint (LXX) rendered the verse as “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter problems from the beginning,” which Matthew adapts freely. When Matthew 13:35 cites this verse, he connects Jesus’ parabolic teaching to the prophetic tradition of speaking hidden truth, thereby fulfilling the psalmist’s role in a climactic way.

The Hebrew text of Psalm 78:2 reads: אֶפְתְּחָ֣ה בְמָשָׁ֣ל פִּ֑י אַבִּ֥יעָה חִ֝יד֗וֹת מִנִּי־קֶֽדֶם (I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter riddles from of old). The Septuagint renders it: ἀνοίξω ἐν παραβολαῖς τὸ στόμα μου, φθέγξομαι προβλήματα ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς. Matthew 13:35 adapts this: ἀνοίξω ἐν παραβολαῖς τὸ στόμα μου, ἐρεύξομαι κεκρυμμένα ἀπὸ καταβολῆς (κόσμου). The chief change is from “from of old” (ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς) to “hidden from the foundation of the world” (κεκρυμμένα ἀπὸ καταβολῆς). Some manuscripts of Matthew (e.g., Codex Bezae) attribute the quotation to Isaiah, a known scribal error. No significant textual variants exist for the psalm verse itself in the Masoretic tradition.

Psalm 78:2 was received in the early church primarily through its citation in Matthew 13:35. The Gospel writer read the verse as a prophecy of Christ’s parabolic teaching, a view that shaped patristic homilies on the parables. In the medieval period, commentators like Thomas Aquinas used the verse to justify figurative interpretation of Scripture. During the Reformation, Calvin and others emphasized the didactic purpose: the psalmist uses history to teach doctrine. Modern scholarship (e.g., Keil & Delitzsch, Cambridge Bible) stresses the typological connection, Jesus fulfills the role of the prophet‑teacher who unveils hidden truths. The verse has also been sung in hymns that celebrate the preaching of God’s word, and it continues to be used in evangelism as a reminder that God’s ancient deeds speak to contemporary faith.

Three-point outline

1. The method of the teacher. The psalmist opens his mouth in a parable, he teaches not by bare command but by story and comparison. God’s truth often comes wrapped in narrative that invites the hearer to discover meaning.
2. The matter of the message. “Dark sayings of old”, the past is not just to be remembered but interpreted. History becomes a riddle that reveals both human sin and God’s relentless grace.
3. The goal of the instruction. Verses 6-8 show the purpose: that the next generation would set their hope in God, keep his commandments, and not repeat the stubbornness of their ancestors. The parable is meant to produce faith, not mere knowledge.

Five-point outline

1. Open mouth, The teacher speaks freely, urgently, and with authority.
2. Parable form, Truth is conveyed through analogy and story, requiring active listening.
3. Dark sayings, The content is deep, hidden, and challenging; it demands reflection.
4. From old, The material comes from ancient history, showing that God's past acts speak to the present.
5. To the next generation, The ultimate aim is to build faith in children yet unborn.

Illustration hooks

• A family heirloom, an old letter or photograph, that, when explained, reveals a pattern of faithfulness or failure that speaks to current choices.
• A teacher using a familiar story (like the tortoise and the hare) to teach a moral lesson; the story is simple, but the application is deep.
• Watching a movie that uses flashbacks; the audience must piece together the past to understand the present conflict.

Questions your congregation is asking

• Why does God use parables instead of plain statements?
• How do I read Old Testament narratives for spiritual formation, not just facts?
• What does Matthew mean when he says Jesus fulfilled a proverb from a psalm?

Psalm 78:2 is a bridge between the old story of Israel and the new teaching of Jesus. It challenges us to see history not just as record but as revelation, a divine parable woven through human events.

Discussion questions

1. What does it mean for the psalmist to call his own historical poem a “parable” (mashal) and a “dark saying” (chidah)? How does this affect how we read the rest of the psalm?
2. Read Matthew 13:34-35. Why do you think Matthew applies this verse to Jesus? What does this tell us about how the early Christians understood the Old Testament?
3. The Hebrew word for “utter” in verse 2 is abbia, meaning to pour forth like a spring. What image does that give you of the psalmist’s teaching? How does it compare to Jesus’ teaching in parables?
4. How can recounting a family history (your own or your church’s) be a form of parable that teaches deeper truths about God?
5. Verse 7 says the goal is that future generations might “set their hope in God” and “keep his commandments.” How does hearing the story of God’s faithfulness and human failure achieve that in your life?
6. Why are “dark sayings” or riddles effective for teaching? Can you think of a time when a puzzling story or situation led you to deeper faith?
7. In what ways does Jesus’ parabolic method “fulfill” the pattern set by Asaph in this psalm? How is Jesus both like and unlike the Old Testament teachers?