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 to myself, “I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will hold my tongue when the ungodly are around me.” 2But as I stood there in silence— not even speaking of good things— the turmoil within me grew worse. The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words: 4“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. 5You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” Interlude

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 20:9But if I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!
• Ezekiel 3:14The Spirit lifted me up and took me away. I went in bitterness and turmoil, but the Lord’s hold on me was strong.
• Luke 24:32They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”

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