Psalms 78:70 · Bible study
Psalms 78:70 Commentary: The Shepherd Chosen from the Sheepfolds
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examine God's sovereign choice of David from the sheepfolds, its typological link to Christ, and what it teaches about divine election and humble beginnings.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God sovereignly chose David from the lowly task of shepherding to be king over Israel.
- Key words: chose (H0977, deliberate selection), servant (H5650, title of honour), sheepfolds (H4356, humble enclosures).
- Main debate: Whether the primary focus is historical renewal of God's grace (Calvin) or typological foreshadowing of Christ (Gill).
- Theological theme: God's sovereign election, exaltation of the humble, the shepherd-king motif.
- Best use: Preaching on God's unexpected choices, typology, and the nature of biblical leadership.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds;
WEB World English Bible 2000
He also chose David his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds;
KJV King James Version 1769
He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
ASV American Standard Version 1901
He chose David also his servant, And took him from the sheepfolds:
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And He fixeth on David His servant, And taketh him from the folds of a flock,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And he chose David his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
Translations in other languages (9 available)
Y eligió á David su siervo, y tomólo de las majadas de las ovejas:
E ele escolheu a seu servo Davi; e o tomou dos apriscos de ovelhas.
Il choisit David, son serviteur,
Und erwählte seinen Knecht David und nahm ihn von den Schafställen;
En Hij verkoos Zijn knecht David, en nam hem van de schaapskooien;
Elesse Davide, suo servitore, lo prese dagli ovili;
I obrał Dawida sługę swego, wziąwszy go z obór owczych;
又揀選 他的僕人 大衛，從羊 圈 中將他召來，
He took David to be his servant, taking him from the place of the flocks;
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Psalms 78:70
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Psalm 78:70 highlights God's sovereign choice of David from a humble background. Barnes notes that David had 'no natural pretensions to the office,' being taken from the lowly occupation of a shepherd. Calvin sees this as a 'renewal of God's grace' and a 'second election' after the rejection of Ephraim. Gill identifies David as an 'eminent type of our Lord Jesus Christ,' who also came from humble origins and was chosen by the Father. The Cambridge Bible points out that the title 'servant' is a special honour given to only a few key figures like Abraham and Moses. The consensus is that this verse demonstrates God's freedom to choose whom He will, often passing over the expected in favour of the humble, and that this choice carries a forward-looking typology fulfilled in Christ.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: God deliberately chose David from a shepherd's life to become king, emphasizing His sovereignty and the value of humble service.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| David as type of Christ | All traditions see a typological connection between David's humble anointing and Christ's coming. | Some, like Gill, emphasize a direct prophetic typology, while others, like Calvin, focus on the historical pattern of grace without explicit prophecy. |
| God's sovereign choice | All affirm God's freedom to choose David despite human expectations. | Calvin sees it as a 'second election' after rejecting Ephraim; others view it as part of God's ongoing plan without the rejection being absolute. |
| Significance of 'servant' | The title 'servant' denotes special relationship and honour (Cambridge Bible). | Some see it primarily as David's service to God as king; others stress it as a Messianic title pointing to Christ the Servant (Gill). |
Historical & Cultural Context
Psalm 78 is a teaching psalm, a retelling of Israel's history from the Exodus to the reign of David. It weaves together Israel's repeated rebellion and God's faithful acts of deliverance. The immediate context (vv.67, 68) reports God's rejection of the tribe of Ephraim and His choice of the tribe of Judah, along with Mount Zion. This shift points to the removal of the sanctuary from Shiloh (in Ephraim) to Jerusalem (in Judah) after the ark was captured by the Philistines (1 Sam 4). The verse before ours (v.69) describes God building His sanctuary like the heavens, a reference to the temple established on Zion.
Into this landscape of rejection and renewal comes David. He is called 'his servant,' a title of honour in Hebrew (עֶבֶד, eved) reserved for those raised up for special service: Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and David himself. The Hebrew verb וַיִּבְחַר (vayivchar) is a narrative wayyiqtol, stressing a past, decisive act of selection. The word for 'sheepfolds' (מִכְלְאֹת, mikhleot) points to enclosures for flocks, a humble, everyday setting. David is taken from there to become shepherd over God's people (v.71). In the ancient Near East, kings were often called shepherds; here God takes a literal shepherd and makes him a royal shepherd.
The historical moment is recorded in 1 Samuel 16: Samuel, sent to Jesse's family, passes over the older sons and anoints the youngest, David, who was keeping the sheep. This pattern of choosing the lowly and unexpected is a hallmark of God's ways in Scripture, Moses was called from shepherding (Ex 3:1), and Amos from tending flocks (Am 7:13). God's choice is not based on human status but on His own purposes.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Psalm 78:70. The Hebrew text is well preserved across manuscripts.
Reception History
Psalm 78:70 has been read throughout church history as a key text on God's sovereign choice. The Reformers, particularly Calvin, used it to illustrate election and the rejection of a faithless people in favour of a faithful remnant. In the Wesleyan tradition, Adam Clarke points to the narrative of David's anointing. The typological reading, with David as a type of Christ, appears in both Catholic and Protestant exegesis, connecting the shepherd king to the Good Shepherd of the New Testament. This verse also appears in hymns celebrating God's unexpected call, though no specific hymn title is recorded in the supplied sources.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God's sovereignty in election. He chooses whom He will, often setting aside the expected (Ephraim) and raising up the overlooked (David from Judah). This shows that leadership in God's kingdom is not earned but given.
- From sheepfold to throne. David's humble beginnings left him with no claim to power. God's pattern is to exalt the lowly (1 Sam 16:11). This reversal of fortunes is a source of hope for those who feel insignificant.
- A foreshadowing of Christ. David is a type of the ultimate Shepherd-King. Jesus, the descendant of David, was also born in lowly circumstances and was called by the Father to shepherd His people.
Five-point outline
- God's rejection of the unfaithful (vv.67, 68): Ephraim set aside, Judah chosen.
- God's deliberate choice (v.70a): He chose David as His servant, a personal, sovereign act.
- The chosen one's lowly origin (v.70b): Taken from the sheepfolds, no human advantage.
- The shepherd's new role (v.71): From tending ewes to feeding Jacob, God's people.
- The leader's character (v.72): Integrity of heart and skillfulness of hands.
Illustration hooks
- A person passed over for a promotion who later finds a more meaningful calling that matches their gifts.
- A small, struggling church that produces a leader who goes on to impact the wider community.
- An overlooked student whose teacher discovers a hidden talent and encourages them to develop it.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God still choose unlikely people today? If so, how do I recognize that call?
- How can I trust God's choice when the world overlooks me?
- What does this passage say about God's standards for leadership in the church?
Leading a Discussion
Psalm 78:70 shows that God's ways do not follow human expectations. He chose David, a shepherd boy with no royal credentials, to become king. This choice is part of a larger story of God's grace to a rebellious people. As you discuss this verse, consider how God's surprising choices challenge your assumptions about calling and worth.
Discussion questions
- What catches your attention most about the way God chooses David in this verse?
- How does the rejection of Ephraim (v.67) help you understand the choice of David?
- Why do you think God so often calls people from humble backgrounds to lead His people?
- In what ways does David's anointing from the sheepfolds point ahead to Jesus?
- How does knowing that God chooses based on His own purposes (not on your status) change how you see yourself or others in the church?
- What “sheepfolds”, ordinary or difficult places, might God be using to prepare someone for service today?
- How can this passage encourage someone who feels forgotten or insignificant?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 3:1 | Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to God’s mountain, to Horeb. |
| Exodus 3:10 | Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” |
| I Samuel 16:11 | Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your children here?” He said, “There remains yet the youngest. Behold, he is keeping the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down until he comes here.” |
| I Samuel 16:12 | He sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with a handsome face and good appearance. Yahweh said, “Arise! Anoint him, for this is he.” |
| I Samuel 17:15 | Now David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem. |
| I Samuel 17:54 | David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent. |
| II Samuel 3:18 | Now then do it! For Yahweh has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David, I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.’” |
| II Samuel 6:21 | David said to Michal, “It was before Yahweh, who chose me above your father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of Yahweh, over Israel. Therefore I will celebrate before Yahweh. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke directs attention to the account of David's anointing to show that God's choice was deliberate and overlooked outward qualifications. By pointing to the youngest son keeping sheep, he underscores that divine selection often bypasses human expectations.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes emphasizes that God chose David when he had no natural claim to the throne, since he came from no royal family and held the lowly job of a shepherd. The choice was entirely God's initiative, not earned or inherited.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin sees this psalm as a deliberate two-sided contrast: God's tender adoption and constant care for His chosen people, and their repeated, treacherous rebellion against such a generous Father. He also highlights a distinct act of renewed grace—God's second election in choosing David to rule, showing God's goodness persisting despite human faithlessness.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator observes that while any Israelite could call themselves God's servant in prayer, only individuals raised up for a unique mission—like Abraham, Moses, or David—received this as a formal title of honor. The phrase marks a special relationship and divine appointment, not mere piety.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes highlight God's sovereign choice in selecting David from the lowly work of shepherding to be His servant. This underscores that God raises up leaders from humble origins, acting by His own will rather than human qualifications.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill reads David's selection as the youngest son from the sheepfolds as a direct type of Christ. Just as David was chosen from low
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that God's sovereignty is clearly displayed in this particular choice. The passage presents a striking contrast between humility and exaltation, and JFB sees a beautiful correspondence between the two states, where the low condition fittingly relates to the later honor.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that the psalm's contrast between Ephraim and Judah does not require a date after the kingdom split. Ephraim's failure represents the whole people's unfaithfulness, and the psalm prepares for the later rejection of Shiloh and choice of Judah. Composition in David's time remains possible.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry emphasizes that Israel's sin in the wilderness was not ordinary forgetfulness but a deliberate limiting of the Holy One, provoked Him despite witnessing His mighty signs in Egypt. They turned back