Psalms 32:9

Psalms 32:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
• New International Version (NIV)Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you.

Context of Psalms 32:9

7Yes, Lord, you are a place where I can hide. You will keep me safe from trouble. I will hear happy songs all around me, because you save your people from danger. Selah. 8I will teach you the right way to live. I will be your guide and I will take care of you. Do not be like a silly horse, or a mule. You have to use a rope to show them which way to go. Without that, they will not obey you. 10Wicked people will receive a lot of trouble and pain. But if anyone trusts in the Lord, they will know that God always loves them. 11So all you people who belong to the Lord, praise him and be happy! All of you who are good, honest people, shout aloud because you are so happy!

Psalms 32:9 word by word

אַל־תִּֽהְי֤וּ׀ כְּס֥וּס כְּפֶרֶד֮ אֵ֤ין הָ֫בִ֥ין בְּמֶֽתֶג־וָרֶ֣סֶן עֶדְי֣וֹ לִבְל֑וֹם בַּ֝֗ל קְרֹ֣ב אֵלֶֽיךָ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Be ye not as the horseסוּסsûs sûs · horseH5483
• as the muleפֶּ֫רֶדpered · muleH6505
• have no understandingבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
• whose mouthעֲדִי‛ădîy · ornamentH5716
• must be heldבָּלַםbâlam · to hold inH1102
• in with bitמֶ֫תֶגmetheg · bridleH4964
• and bridleרֶ֫סֶןresen · bridleH7448
• lestבַּלbal · notH1077
• they come nearקָרַבqârab · to present: comeH7126

Cross-references for Psalms 32:9

• Proverbs 26:3There are right ways to punish a horse or a donkey. The right way to punish a fool is to beat him with a stick.
• Jeremiah 31:18‘I have heard Israel's people when they are sad. They say to me, “You punished us, and we accepted it. You taught us to obey you, like a farmer teaches an ox to work for him. So let us come back to serve you. We are ready to return to you, because you are the Lord, our God.
• James 3:3For example, think about how we make a horse go the right way. We put a small bit of metal in its mouth so that we can turn it. Then we can cause the horse's whole body to go where we want it to go.
• James 4:7So obey God's authority. Be strong against the Devil and he will run away from you.
• Job 35:11God teaches us more things than he teaches to the animals. He makes us wiser than the birds.”
• Jeremiah 4:22The Lord says, ‘My people are fools. They do not know me. They are like children who do not know anything. They understand nothing. They are very clever at doing evil things. But they do not know how to do what is good.’
• Jeremiah 8:6I have listened carefully to them, but they do not say what is right. They are not sorry for the wicked things that they have done. None of them say, “I have done something wrong.” They all continue to do what they want to do. They are like horses that are running into a battle.

Commentaries on Psalms 32:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Be ye not as the horse or as the mule - They will only act by force and constraint; be not like them; give a willing service to your Maker. "They have no understanding;" you have a rational soul, made to be guided and influenced by reason. The service of your God is a reasonable service; act, therefore, as a rational being. The horse and the mule are turned with difficulty; they must be constrained with bit and bridle. Do not be like them; do not oblige…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Be ye not as the horse - The horse as it is by nature - wild, ungoverned, unwilling to be caught and made obedient. The counsel referred to in the previous verse is here given; and it is, that one who wishes to obtain the favor of God should not be as the wild and unbroken horse, an animal that can be subdued only by a curb, but should evince a calm, submissive spirit - a spirit “disposed” to obey and submit. If he becomes a subject of God‘s government…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-11Verses 8-11 God teaches by his word, and guides with the secret intimations of his will. David gives a word of caution to sinners. The reason for this caution is, that the way of sin will certainly end in sorrow. Here is a word of comfort to saints. They may see that a life of communion with God is far the most pleasant and comfortable. Let us rejoice, O Lord Jesus, in thee, and in thy salvation; so shall we rejoice indeed.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9The foolish person lacks wisdom. Ignoring the Lord’s advice harms life and makes a person like an animal (see Isaiah 1:3; James 3:3).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. The latter clause, more literally, "in that they come not near thee"; that is, because they will not come, &c., unless forced by bit and bridle.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 32:9

• Animals
• Bit
• Bridle
• Impenitence
• Self-Will

In the dictionaries

• Bit and Bridle
• Acknowledge
• Bit
• Bridle
• Cover
• Hide
• Horse
• Mule
• Pentateuch
• Psalms, Book of

Commentaries on Psalms 32

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings