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 Living Translation (NLT)Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

Context of Psalms 32:9

7You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah 8I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. 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. 10Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. 11Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

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 26:3A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the fool’s back.
• Jeremiah 31:18“I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself: ‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised, Like an untrained bull; Restore me, and I will return, For You are the Lord my God.
• James 3:3Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.
• James 4:7Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
• Job 35:11Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, And makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?’
• Jeremiah 4:22“For My people are foolish, They have not known Me. They are silly children, And they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, But to do good they have no knowledge.”
• Jeremiah 8:6I listened and heard, But they do not speak aright. No man repented of his wickedness, Saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turned to his own course, As the horse rushes into the 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