God’s Word Translation
Psalms 8:2
2From the mouths of little children and infants, you have built a fortress against your opponents to silence the enemy and the avenger.
Psalms 8:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
- New International Version (NIV)Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
Context of Psalms 8:2
1O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the earth! Your glory is sung above the heavens. From the mouths of little children and infants, you have built a fortress against your opponents to silence the enemy and the avenger. 3When I look at your heavens, the creation of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have set in place— 4what is a mortal that you remember him or the Son of Man that you take care of him?
Read all of Psalms 8Psalms 8:2 word by word
מִפִּ֤י עֽוֹלְלִ֨ים׀ וְֽיֹנְקִים֮ יִסַּ֪דְתָּ֫ עֹ֥ז לְמַ֥עַן צוֹרְרֶ֑יךָ לְהַשְׁבִּ֥ית א֝וֹיֵ֗ב וּמִתְנַקֵּֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Out of the mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
- of babesעוֹלֵל‛ôlêl ‛ôlâl · infantH5768
- and sucklingsיָנַקyânaq · to suckleH3243
- hast thou ordainedיָסַדyâsad · to foundH3245
- strengthעֹז‛ôz ‛ôz · strengthH5797
- because of thine enemiesצָרַרtsârar · to vexH6887
- that thou mightest stillשָׁבַתshâbath · to ceaseH7673
- the enemyאֹיֵב'ôyêb 'ôyêb · enemyH341
- and the avengerנָקַםnâqam · to avengeH5358
Cross-references for Psalms 8:2
- Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from wise and intelligent people and revealing them to little children.
- Matthew 21:16They said to him, “Do you hear what these children are saying?” Jesus replied, “Yes, I do. Have you never read, ‘From the mouths of little children and infants, you have created praise’?”
- Luke 10:21In that hour the Holy Spirit filled Jesus with joy. Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from wise and intelligent people and revealing them to little children. Yes, Father, this is what pleased you.
- 1 Corinthians 1:27But God chose what the world considers nonsense to put wise people to shame. God chose what the world considers weak to put what is strong to shame.
- Psalms 84:5Blessed are those who find strength in you. Their hearts are on the road ⌞that leads to you⌟.
- Isaiah 40:31Yet, the strength of those who wait with hope in the Lord will be renewed. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and won’t become weary. They will walk and won’t grow tired.
- Amos 5:9He destroys strongholds and ruins fortresses.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9But he told me: “My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So I will brag even more about my weaknesses in order that Christ’s power will live in me.
- Psalms 4:4Tremble and do not sin. Think about this on your bed and remain quiet. Selah
- Psalms 46:10Let go ⌞of your concerns⌟! Then you will know that I am God. I rule the nations. I rule the earth.
- Exodus 11:7But where the Israelites are, not even a dog will be startled by any person or animal. This is how you will see that the Lord shows the distinction between Egypt and Israel.
- Exodus 15:16Terror and dread will fall on them. Because of the power of your arm, they will be petrified until your people pass by, O Lord, until the people you purchased pass by.
- Joshua 2:9She said to them, “I know the Lord will give you this land. Your presence terrifies us. All the people in this country are deathly afraid of you.
- 1 Samuel 2:9He safeguards the steps of his faithful ones, but wicked people are silenced in darkness because humans cannot succeed by their own strength.
- Isaiah 37:20Now, Lord our God, rescue us from Assyria’s control so that all the kingdoms on earth will know that you alone are the Lord.”
- Habakkuk 2:20The Lord is in his holy temple. All the earth should be silent in his presence.
Commentaries on Psalms 8:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings - We have seen how our Lord applied this passage to the Jewish children, who, seeing his miracles, cried out in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" Matthew 21:16. And we have seen how the enemy and the avenger - the chief priests and the scribes - were offended because of these things; and as the Psalm wholly concerns Jesus Christ, it is most probable that in this act of the Jewish children the prophecy had…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Out of the mouth - This passage is quoted by the Saviour in Matthew 21:16, to vindicate the conduct of the children in the temple crying, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” against the objections of the Pharisees and Scribes, and is perhaps alluded to by him in Matthew 11:25. It is not affirmed, however, in either place, that it had an original reference to the times of the Messiah, or that it was meant, as used by the psalmist, to denote that children would…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2silence: The loud noise of the adversaries contrasts with the praise of God. In the end, the praise of God will overwhelm the sound of evil (Psalms 31:18; 63:11; 101:5; 143:12). Those who oppose God are filled with vengeful anger (Psalm 2:1–3; 44:16; compare 149:6–7).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. So manifest are God's perfections, that by very weak instruments He conclusively sets forth His praise. Infants are not only wonderful illustrations of God's power and skill, in their physical constitution, instincts, and early developed intelligence, but also in their spontaneous admiration of God's works, by which they put to shame-- still--or, silence men who rail and cavil against God. A special illustration of the passage is afforded in Mt 21:16…Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 8:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 8
- 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
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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