Psalm 50 13

Psalm 50:13 kjv

Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?

Psalm 50:13 nkjv

Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats?

Psalm 50:13 niv

Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?

Psalm 50:13 esv

Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?

Psalm 50:13 nlt

Do I eat the meat of bulls?
Do I drink the blood of goats?

Psalm 50 verses

Psalm 50 13 Meaning

Psalm 50:13 presents a rhetorical question from God to His people: "Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?" This verse decisively challenges a deeply flawed understanding of sacrifice prevalent among some in ancient Israel, similar to pagan concepts. It underscores that God, as the Almighty Creator and Sustainer, has no physical need for the offerings His people bring. Rather than being a divine consumer, He is the absolute possessor and requires the offerings as acts of humble thanksgiving, faithful obedience, and heartfelt worship, not as sustenance. The verse powerfully redirects focus from the mere external ritual to the internal disposition of the worshiper and the spiritual significance of the sacrifice.

Psalm 50 13 Context

Psalm 50 is a divine oracle, distinct from the psalms of individual lament or praise. God, depicted as a mighty judge (vv. 1-6), convenes a divine court to address His covenant people, Israel. The preceding verses (7-12) establish God's absolute ownership of all creation, stating explicitly that He has no need for their physical offerings because "every animal of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills" (v. 10). Verse 13 directly follows this declaration, launching into a critique of Israel's misplaced understanding of sacrifice. They meticulously brought the physical sacrifices according to the Mosaic Law, but had forgotten the heart behind the ritual. The chapter subsequently condemns their ethical failings (lying, stealing, adultery, slandering, v. 18-20) while maintaining their religious observance. Psalm 50 functions as a powerful polemic against empty ritualism and a call to genuine thanksgiving, spiritual worship, and obedience. It highlights the divine frustration with external performance without internal transformation, mirroring similar prophetic messages across the Old Testament.

Psalm 50 13 Word analysis

• Do I: This is a rhetorical question, initiated by the Hebrew interrogative particle ha- (הַ). It expects a resounding "No." It underscores the absurdity of the implied idea that God could physically consume the sacrifices. The implied answer forcefully rejects any notion of God having physical needs like humans or pagan deities.
• eat: The Hebrew word is 'okhel (אוּכַל), which means "I shall eat" or "do I eat." It refers to the physical act of consuming food for sustenance. The choice of this verb here is deliberate, creating a stark contrast between God's self-sufficiency and the pagan idea of gods feeding on offerings.
• the flesh: The Hebrew word is besar (בְּשַׂר), meaning "flesh," "meat," or "body." In this context, it specifically refers to the meat of animals, especially those brought for sacrifice. Its mention immediately draws to mind the physical component of the sacrifices that Israel was performing.
• of bulls: The Hebrew is parim (פָּרִים), plural for par (פַּר), referring to oxen or young bulls. Bulls were among the largest and most valuable animals prescribed for burnt offerings and peace offerings in the Israelite sacrificial system. Their inclusion emphasizes the most substantial offerings being brought.
• or drink: The Hebrew is 'o 'eshteh (אוֹ אֶשְׁתֶּה). 'o (אוֹ) means "or," and 'eshteh (אֶשְׁתֶּה) means "I shall drink" or "do I drink." Like "eat," "drink" here implies physical consumption and a need for replenishment. The rhetorical question continues to reinforce the point that God has no such physiological requirements.
• the blood: The Hebrew is dam (דַּם). Blood held immense theological significance in the Israelite cultic system, primarily as the medium of atonement, representing life itself (Lev 17:11). Crucially, the consumption of blood was strictly forbidden for humans in the Mosaic Law (Lev 17:10-12, Deut 12:16, Gen 9:4). For God to "drink" blood would not only be contrary to His own commands but would align Him with pagan practices where gods were sometimes depicted consuming blood in gruesome ways. The question highlights the gross theological error if they imagined God consuming what was forbidden even to them.
• of goats?: The Hebrew is 'attudim (עַתּוּדִים), plural for 'attud (עַתּוּד), referring to he-goats or male goats, also common sacrificial animals (e.g., for sin offerings or peace offerings). Paired with "bulls," it encompasses the full scope of their animal sacrifices.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?" This entire phrase functions as a sharp rhetorical question and a direct polemic against contemporary pagan understandings of deity and sacrifice. In many ancient Near Eastern religions, sacrifices were literal "food for the gods," offerings believed to physically sustain or appease deities. The Canaanite, Egyptian, and Mesopotamian pantheons were often depicted as anthropomorphic beings who consumed food and drink offered by their worshipers. Yahweh, through this verse, emphatically distinguishes Himself from such localized, limited, and needy deities. He is not subject to physical hunger or thirst. He is self-sufficient, eternal, and transcendent, entirely distinct from man-made idols or mythological gods who crave earthly provisions. This statement also implicitly corrects any Israelite who might have slipped into such a materialistic view of God, seeing sacrifices as a way to "feed" Him or pay Him off. The emphasis is that God owns everything (vv. 10-12), therefore, the offering is for the benefit of the worshiper, for their thanksgiving and atonement, not for God's material sustenance.

Psalm 50 13 Bonus section

Psalm 50:13 contributes to a powerful biblical theme known as the "Prophetic Critique of Sacrifice," where numerous prophets (like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Amos, Micah) echoed God's disdain for ritual unaccompanied by justice, righteousness, and love. It shows that even practices explicitly commanded by God, when performed with a wrong heart or understanding, become meaningless, even abhorrent to Him. The verse implies that the problem was not with the institution of sacrifice (which God ordained), but with the abuse of it and a superficial understanding by His people. They separated the external act from the internal disposition and the covenant requirements of holy living. The rhetorical question here effectively unmasks Israel's anthropomorphic and almost idolatrous leanings, portraying God in terms usually associated with finite pagan deities who had human-like needs and could be manipulated by gifts. This verse highlights Yahweh's infinite, transcendent nature, radically differentiating Him from any human or created entity.

Psalm 50 13 Commentary

Psalm 50:13 serves as a pivotal statement in God's judicial address, dismantling a common misconception about the nature of sacrifice. It strips away the materialistic, quasi-transactional view of offerings, clarifying that the ultimate recipient of the sacrifice is not physically benefiting, but spiritually honored or rejected based on the worshiper's heart. God is not a divine giant consuming meals; His declaration of absolute ownership over creation (vv. 10-12) pre-empts any notion that He would derive material sustenance from human offerings. This verse pushes beyond the outward ritual (bringing "flesh of bulls" and "blood of goats") to challenge the internal attitude and understanding of the worshiper. It's a foundational truth for all spiritual acts: true worship stems from a heart aligned with God's righteousness, expressed in obedience and gratitude, rather than the mechanical performance of religious duties. Sacrifices are means of expressing covenant faithfulness, not mechanisms to satiate divine hunger or compensate for sin in an unrepentant life.

• Example for Practical Usage: A person religiously attending church and giving offerings but secretly engaging in unethical business practices needs to hear Psalm 50:13. Their "sacrifice" (attending church, giving money) is questioned: Does God "eat" or "need" this without a corresponding commitment to justice and righteousness in their daily life? It emphasizes that God values integrity more than mere ritual performance.