Psalm 49:3 kjv
My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
Psalm 49:3 nkjv
My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.
Psalm 49:3 niv
My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.
Psalm 49:3 esv
My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
Psalm 49:3 nlt
For my words are wise,
and my thoughts are filled with insight.
Psalm 49 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 78:2 | I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter dark sayings of old... | Parallel of mouth speaking profound truth. |
| Prov 1:2 | ...for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight... | Connects directly to the purpose of wisdom and understanding. |
| Prov 2:6 | For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. | God as the ultimate source of wisdom and understanding. |
| Prov 3:13 | Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding... | Value and blessing associated with wisdom and understanding. |
| Prov 4:7 | The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. | Emphasizes the paramount importance of wisdom and understanding. |
| Prov 8:1-2 | Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice...? | Personification of wisdom and understanding actively speaking. |
| Eccl 7:12 | Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves those who have it. | Highlights the protective nature of wisdom over earthly wealth. |
| Isa 55:8-9 | “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." | Contrast between divine wisdom/understanding and human understanding, often worldly. |
| Dan 9:22 | He instructed me and said to me, "Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding." | God granting understanding to His servants. |
| 1 Cor 1:19-21 | For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” ...Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? | God nullifying worldly wisdom, highlighting the true source of wisdom. |
| 1 Cor 1:30 | It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God... | Christ as the embodiment of God's wisdom. |
| 1 Cor 2:6-7 | We do, however, speak wisdom among those who are mature; but not the wisdom of this age... God’s secret wisdom... | Apostolic teaching of divine wisdom, contrasting with human wisdom. |
| Col 2:3 | In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. | Christ as the ultimate repository of wisdom and knowledge. |
| Jas 1:5 | If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously... | Divine source of wisdom accessible through prayer. |
| Jas 3:13 | Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. | Wisdom and understanding evident in practical, godly living. |
| Matt 12:34 | For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. | Direct correlation between inner state (heart) and outward expression (mouth). |
| Matt 13:35 | This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world." | Christ teaching in parables, revealing hidden wisdom from above. |
| Lk 6:45 | The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart... For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. | Emphasizes the internal source of words and their quality. |
| Rom 1:21-22 | For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him... Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools. | Critique of worldly "wisdom" that rejects God, contrasting with true understanding. |
| Rom 11:33 | Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! | Awe at the profound, inexhaustible wisdom and knowledge of God. |
Psalm 49 verses
Psalm 49 3 Meaning
Psalm 49:3 declares the psalmist's profound intent: his mouth will proclaim wisdom, and the deepest meditation of his heart will be focused on understanding. This verse sets the stage for the universal message that follows, emphasizing that the speaker’s pronouncements originate from a wellspring of inner wisdom and enlightened comprehension, not superficial knowledge. It highlights the congruence between outward speech and inward reflection, presenting a foundational principle for discerning divine truth from worldly deceit.
Psalm 49 3 Context
Psalm 49 is a Maskil, a psalm imparting wisdom and instruction, particularly concerning the futility of trusting in wealth and earthly glory. It challenges the common ancient perception that prosperity indicates divine favor or provides lasting security. The psalm opens with a call for all humanity to listen (Ps 49:1-2), signifying a message of universal importance. Verse 3 immediately establishes the credibility and nature of the message to be conveyed—it is not ordinary talk, but deeply considered wisdom and understanding. The ensuing verses highlight the ephemeral nature of life, the inevitability of death for all (rich and poor alike), and the inability of riches to redeem or save from the grave. Thus, the wisdom declared is fundamentally about valuing eternal truth over transient material possessions, encouraging reliance on God rather than self or earthly power.
Psalm 49 3 Word analysis
My mouth (פִּי - pi):
- Denotes an organ of speech, declaration, and public proclamation.
- Signifies a purposeful, authoritative articulation, beyond casual utterance.
- In biblical usage, words from the mouth can carry weight, revealing the inner self or God's revelation.
shall speak (יְדַבֵּר - yedabbēr):
- From the verb dibber, meaning to speak, declare, converse, or proclaim.
- Implies intentional, coherent speech, often used for prophetic or didactic utterance.
- More deliberate than ’āmar (to say); it points to a careful and clear enunciation of truth.
wisdom (חָכְמָה - choḵmāh):
- Refers to skill, insight, good judgment, and the practical application of knowledge to live rightly.
- Beyond mere intellectual acuity, it involves moral and spiritual discernment.
- Biblical wisdom often begins with the fear of the Lord and leads to godly living.
and the meditation (וְהֶגְיוֹן - wəhegyōn):
- Implies deep thought, ponderous reflection, rumination, or even a soft sound/murmuring.
- It's a form of sustained mental focus that leads to understanding or creative expression.
- The term also has musical connotations (a solemn sound or theme), suggesting the profound, almost resonant quality of the heart's contemplation.
of my heart (לִבִּי - libbī):
- The heart (lev/leb) in biblical anthropology is not just the seat of emotions, but also intellect, will, conscience, and the innermost being.
- It is the source from which thoughts, intentions, and life’s directions flow.
- Emphasizes the deep internal origin of the declared wisdom, suggesting authenticity and integrity.
shall be of understanding (תְּבוּנָה - təḇunāh):
- Denotes insight, discernment, comprehension, and the ability to grasp relationships between facts and ideas.
- Often paired with choḵmāh, signifying the intellectual capacity to process and apply wisdom.
- It is the insight that follows profound thought, allowing one to distinguish between truth and error, especially concerning the vanity of human ambition.
"My mouth shall speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding":
- This phrase reveals a perfect synergy between outward expression and inward experience.
- The wisdom declared publicly (from the mouth) is not superficial but flows from profound internal contemplation (meditation of the heart).
- It indicates integrity; the psalmist's message is congruent with his deepest convictions and comprehensive insights, making his pronouncement credible and powerful.
- It underscores that true wisdom (practical godliness) is birthed from deep understanding and insight into life's ultimate realities, particularly the fleeting nature of material possessions and human existence.
Psalm 49 3 Bonus section
The concept of "meditation" (hegyōn) in Psalm 49:3 is akin to a deep, musing sound, reflecting not just thought, but a kind of profound internalization and absorption of truth. This aligns with other wisdom literature which encourages constant reflection on God's law (e.g., Ps 1:2). The verse sets up the psalmist as a sage or a prophet delivering an oracle of divine wisdom, much like the teachers of Proverbs. It lays the groundwork for the core message that follows: material wealth cannot deliver one from death or judgment, an insight achievable only through divine understanding, not human shrewdness.
Psalm 49 3 Commentary
Psalm 49:3 serves as a programmatic statement, indicating that the forthcoming message is weighty, significant, and universally relevant. It is not an idle thought but a truth born of profound internal reflection and divine illumination. The psalmist commits his entire being—mouth for declaration, heart for deep contemplation—to convey vital wisdom. This wisdom is designed to counter a pervasive human folly: the illusion that earthly wealth, status, or power offers true security or can ultimately overcome death. Instead, the wisdom imparted points beyond transient materialism to enduring spiritual realities, fostering understanding of divine providence and the human condition. It prompts listeners to shift their trust from the temporary to the eternal.