Favor · the best way to learn the Bible
Psalm 95 Bible study: Today, hear his voice
The psalm's two Oh comes are two Hebrew verbs, and the second, bo, comes back in its last line as enter: "They won’t enter into my rest" (95:11). And "the sheep in his care" (95:7) are, in Hebrew, the sheep of his hand, the hand that holds the deep places of the earth (95:4).
Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the words behind the words, what most readers miss, and how it all leads to Jesus.
First week free, then $10 a month per person
“Oh come, let’s worship and bow down. Let’s kneel before the LORD, our Maker, for he is our God. We are the people of his pasture, and the sheep in his care. Today, oh that you would hear his voice!”
Try it · Did you catch it?
“Where Psalm 95:8 has "as at Meribah", Hebrews 3:8 has "as in the rebellion".”
Is that in Psalm 95, or not? Make your call.
What's really going on
Two calls, and a reason for each
The psalm has no title. It opens with a call, in the plural: "Oh come, let’s sing to the LORD. Let’s shout aloud to the rock of our salvation!" (95:1) (tap rock). "Let’s come before his presence with thanksgiving. Let’s extol him with songs!" (95:2). Then the reason: "For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods" (95:3) (tap King). Three verses later the call comes again: "Oh come, let’s worship and bow down. Let’s kneel before the LORD, our Maker" (95:6) (tap kneel), and again a reason: "for he is our God" (95:7). In Hebrew both Fors are the same small word, ki. The two Oh comes are not the same word, though: 95:1 has lekhu, and 95:6 has bo'u, a different verb (tap come in 95:6).
Where it leads to Jesus
Today, if you will hear his voice
Psalms 95:7leads toHebrews 3:7-11
The psalm says, "Today, oh that you would hear his voice!" (Psalm 95:7), and "Don’t harden your heart, as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the wilderness" (Psalm 95:8). Hebrews opens its chapter, "consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession: Jesus" (Hebrews 3:1), and then gives the psalm's words from 95:7 to its end: "Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of the trial in the wilderness" (Hebrews 3:7-8), through "They will not enter into my rest" (Hebrews 3:11). It speaks that Today to its own readers: "exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called “today”" (Hebrews 3:13), "For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm to the end" (Hebrews 3:14). Hebrews applies the psalm's words to its readers, not to Jesus, and doesn't say the psalm speaks of Jesus; it is Hebrews' own argument that sets the psalm's Today beside Jesus (Hebrews 3:1) and being "partakers of Christ" (Hebrews 3:14). The WEB words the psalm and Hebrews differently (oh that and if; Meribah and the rebellion; Massah and the trial), and these notes make no claim about the Greek.
Honest questions
Questions people ask about Psalm 95
That was a taste
The rest of Psalm 95 is waiting in Favor
- In his hand
- Today, and then another voice
- Words from Numbers 14
- The psalm, and the psalm in Hebrews
- Psalm 95 and Psalm 100
- 5 questions as you read
- 14 more Hebrew words
- A short check at the end
- Your notes, saved as you go
Favor reads the Bible in order, so you'll reach Psalm 95 with everything before it in view. First week free, then $10 a month per person.
The Hebrew word behind it
מְנוּחָהmenuchahsay me-noo-KHAH
Brown-Driver-Briggs: "resting-place, rest". Strong's: "repose". "Therefore I swore in my wrath, “They won’t enter into my rest.”" (95:11): in Hebrew my rest is menuchati, this word with my, and it is the psalm's last word. The Psalms have it five times in Hebrew; Psalm 23's notes follow it in still waters (Psalm 23:2). Psalm 132 has the same form: "This is my resting place forever" (Psalm 132:14). Moses told Israel, "you haven’t yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which the LORD your God gives you" (Deuteronomy 12:9), with this word and the verb of the psalm's enter (tap come).
For your group
Psalm 95 Bible study questions
- 1The psalm calls a whole group to sing and shout (95:1-2), then to "worship and bow down" and "kneel" (95:6). Which of these comes most easily to you, and which least? Why do you think that is?
- 2"Today, oh that you would hear his voice!" (95:7). What makes it easier to put off listening to God until some other day than to listen today?
- 3The fathers "tempted me, tested me, and saw my work" (95:9): they had seen and still tested. When have you seen God at work and still found your heart growing hard?
Leading a group? In Favor, everyone reads Psalm 95 during the week and answers these questions privately. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together, and you can print the week's sheet.
Start a Bible studyThe best way to learn the Bible
Favor opens up every chapter as you read.
Favor is a Bible study app for your phone or computer. It takes you through the Bible one chapter at a time, a few minutes a day, and shows you what's really there: the words behind the words, the moments most people miss, and how the whole story fits together. For you. For everyone.
Every chapter explains itself
As you read, short notes open up what's really going on, the details most readers walk past, and the honest questions people ask.
The Hebrew and Greek behind it
Tap a highlighted word to see the original, how to say it, and what it means, checked against the original-language texts.
Every page leads to Jesus
Watch promises made in Genesis kept in Jesus. Each line lights up on your map as you read.
Better together
Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together.
- 1
Start your free week
Sign up in a minute with your email.
- 2
Read a few minutes a day
Each chapter opens itself up as you go. Tap what you're curious about.
- 3
Bring your people, if you like
Send one link. Everyone reads the same chapter, then meets to talk.
First week free, then $10 a month per person
Questions
What is Favor?
Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the Hebrew and Greek behind the words, the details most readers miss, and how each part of the Bible leads to Jesus. Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church.
How much does it cost?
Your first week is free. After that it's $10 a month per person, the same for everyone, including groups and churches. There are no tiers and nothing extra to unlock.
Can I read Psalm 95 straight away?
Favor takes the Bible as one story, in order, so you'll reach Psalm 95 with everything that leads up to it in view. Start from Genesis, or meet Jesus first in the Gospels. You can read the text of any chapter in Favor's Look up whenever you like.
Do I need a group?
No. Many people read on their own. If you'd like to read with others, start a Bible study and share one link. Everyone's answers stay private until you meet.
I've never really read the Bible. Is this for me?
Yes. Favor starts where you are and explains as it goes. The questions along the way aren't marked right or wrong: you answer, then see what the text shows.
Which Bible does Favor use?
The World English Bible, a modern, readable translation in the public domain. God's name appears as "the LORD", as in most English Bibles.
Is Favor tied to a church?
No. Favor is non-denominational. Where Christians read a passage differently, it shows the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
Start with Psalm 95
The best way to learn the Bible. For you. For everyone.
There's a seat for you at the table.
Start your free weekFirst week free, then $10 a month per person · Log in
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Hebrew and Greek words are checked against the original-language texts and public-domain lexicons. What we believe · Favor home