Psalms 39:3

Psalms 39:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,
• New International Version (NIV)my heart grew hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:
• English Standard Version (ESV)My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:
• New King James Version (NKJV)My heart was hot within me; While I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:

Context of Psalms 39:3

1I said, ‘I will be careful what I do, so that I do not sin. I will also be careful what I say. When wicked people are listening, I will not even open my mouth.’ 2So I did not speak a word, even about good things. That made me very upset. It was like a fire inside me! As I thought more about it, I just had to say something! So I said this: 4‘Lord, tell me about my life. Tell me how long it will be, and when it will finish. I need to remember that life is only short. 5Yes, you have made the days of my life only a few! The time that I live seems very short to you. Human life is only a breath, even for those who seem to be strong. Selah.

Psalms 39:3 word by word

חַם־לִבִּ֨י׀ בְּקִרְבִּ֗י בַּהֲגִיגִ֥י תִבְעַר־אֵ֑שׁ דִּ֝בַּ֗רְתִּי בִּלְשֽׁוֹנִי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• My heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• was hotחָמַםchâmam · to warmH2552
• withinקֶ֫רֶבqereb · entrails: amongH7130
• me, while I was musingהָגִיגhâgîyg · meditationH1901
• the fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
• burnedבָּעַרbâ‛ar · to burn: burnH1197
• thenאָז'âz · thenH227
• spakeדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• I with my tongueלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongueH3956

Cross-references for Psalms 39:3

• Jeremiah 20:9Sometimes I think, ‘I will say nothing about the Lord or his message.’ But then his message burns like a fire inside me. It gives me pain in my mind and my body. I cannot keep his message to myself. I have to speak it.
• Ezekiel 3:14Then a spirit lifted me up and he took me away. I was angry and upset in my mind. But the Lord gave me great power and strength.
• Luke 24:32They said to each other, ‘When he talked to us, it was like a fire that was burning inside us. We felt it while we were walking along the road. We also felt it when he was explaining God's message in the Bible.’

Commentaries on Psalms 39:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3My heart was hot within me - A natural feeling of repressed grief. While I was musing - What was at first a simple sensation of heat produced a flame; the fire broke out that had long been smothered. It is a metaphor taken from vegetables, which, being heaped together, begin to heat and ferment, if not scattered and exposed to the air; and will soon produce a flame, and consume themselves and every thing within their reach.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3My heart was hot within me - My mind became more and more excited; my feelings more and more intense. The attempt to suppress my emotions only more and more enkindled them. While I was musing the fire burned - literally, “in my meditation the fire burned.” That is, while I was dwelling on the subject; while I was agitating it in my mind; while I thought about it - the flame was enkindled, and my thoughts found utterance. He was unable longer to suppress…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-3Suffering in silence makes the psalmist's anguish, pain, and inner distress worse.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. His emotions, as a smothered flame, burst forth.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 39:3

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Meditation

In the dictionaries

• Altogether
• Frail
• Jeduthun
• Measure
• Psalms
• Silence
• Vain
• Dumb
• Fire
• Muse; Musing

Commentaries on Psalms 39

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings