Revised Literal Translation
Psalms 49:4
4I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
Psalms 49:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
- New International Version (NIV)I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:
- English Standard Version (ESV)I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.
- New King James Version (NKJV)I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will disclose my dark saying on the harp.
Context of Psalms 49:4
2Both low and high, rich and poor, together. 3My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp. 5Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about? 6They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
Read all of Psalms 49Psalms 49:4 word by word
אַטֶּ֣ה לְמָשָׁ֣ל אָזְנִ֑י אֶפְתַּ֥ח בְּ֝כִנּ֗וֹר חִידָתִֽי׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Psalms 49:4
- Psalms 78:2I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
- Matthew 13:35That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
- Numbers 23:7And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.
- Ezekiel 20:49Then said I, Ah Lord Yhwh! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
- Matthew 13:11He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
- Proverbs 1:6To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
- Daniel 8:23And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
- Luke 12:3Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
- 2 Corinthians 3:12Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
Commentaries on Psalms 49:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4I will incline mine ear to a parable - This was the general method of conveying instruction among the Asiatics. They used much figure and metaphor to induce the reader to study deeply in order to find out the meaning. This had its use; it obliged men to think and reflect deeply; and thus in some measure taught them the use, government, and management of their minds. My dark saying upon the harp - Music was sometimes used to soothe the animal spirits, and…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4I will incline mine ear to a parable - The phrase “I will incline mine ear” means that he would listen or attend to - as we incline our ear toward those whom we are anxious to hear, or in the direction from which a sound seems to come. Compare Psalm 5:1; Psalm 17:1; Psalm 39:12; Isaiah 1:2. On the word rendered “parable” here משׁל mâshâl - see the notes at Isaiah 14:4. Compare Job 13:12, note; Job 27:1, note. The word properly means similitude; then, a…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4The teacher used proverbs and riddles to teach wisdom (see Proverbs 1:5–6).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. incline--to hear attentively (Psa 17:6; 31:2). parable--In Hebrew and Greek "parable" and "proverb" are translations of the same word. It denotes a comparison, or form of speech, which under one image includes many, and is expressive of a general truth capable of various illustrations. Hence it may be used for the illustration itself. For the former sense, "proverb" (that is, one word for several) is the usual English term, and for the latter, in which…Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 49:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 49
- 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
Revised Literal Translation — © 2018 Michael W. Jones, Sr. — GPL
Commentaries