Psalm 81 10

Psalm 81:10 kjv

I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Psalm 81:10 nkjv

I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Psalm 81:10 niv

I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

Psalm 81:10 esv

I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Psalm 81:10 nlt

For it was I, the LORD your God,
who rescued you from the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.

Psalm 81 verses

Psalm 81 10 Meaning

Psalm 81:10 presents God's self-declaration as the Deliverer of Israel from Egyptian bondage, immediately followed by an invitation and promise. It reveals the Lord as the exclusive source of abundant provision for His people, contingent on their complete trust, openness, and active receptivity. The verse underscores God's past faithfulness as the basis for future and present blessing, calling for absolute reliance upon Him.

Psalm 81 10 Context

Psalm 81 is a communal psalm of Asaph, likely intended for a national festival like Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) or Passover, as indicated by references to trumpets (v. 3), new moon (v. 3), and the Exodus (vv. 5-7). The psalm opens with an exultant call to worship and remembrance of God's mighty acts. Following this joyous instruction, the voice of God Himself breaks in, recounting His redemptive power demonstrated in delivering Israel from Egypt. Verse 10 serves as a direct divine pronouncement within this address, flowing from God's identity as the sole Redeemer and establishing the condition for His continued, abundant blessing, juxtaposed with the people's past disobedience (vv. 11-12) and an earnest plea for future faithfulness (vv. 13-16). It represents God’s call for absolute, exclusive dependence on Him alone.

Psalm 81 10 Word analysis

• I am (אֲנִ֤י Anoki): This is a powerful, authoritative self-designation by God. It echoes the divine declaration "I AM" from Exodus 3:14 and its reiteration at the beginning of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:2. It asserts God's eternal existence, self-sufficiency, and absolute sovereignty. In this context, it is the voice of the covenant-keeping God.
• the Lord (יהוה YHWH): The covenant name of God, the Tetragrammaton. It signifies God's personal, relational, and unchanging character, emphasizing His faithfulness to His promises.
• your God (אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ Eloheykha): This expresses a unique, personal covenant relationship. God is not just a god but the specific, particular God of Israel. It implies His ownership, protection, and provision for them.
• who brought you up (הַמַּעֲלֶךָ֙ hamma'alecha): This participle refers to God's definitive historical action. "Brought up" (Hiphil of עָלָה alah) signifies God’s power to lift, lead out, and exalt. It highlights His initiation of the covenant relationship and His mighty act of redemption.
• out of the land of Egypt (מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם me'eretz Mitzrayim): This phrase unequivocally grounds God’s identity and authority in the seminal event of Israel's national liberation. Egypt symbolizes slavery, oppression, and separation from God. This deliverance established Israel's identity and their obligation to God alone.
• open (הַרְחֶב harchev): A command in the Hiphil imperative, meaning "make wide," "enlarge," or "stretch open." It signifies a deliberate act of receptivity and expectancy on the part of the people.
• your mouth (פִּ֬יךָ pika): Refers to the physical organ, but here metaphorically for expression, desire, and capacity to receive. It symbolizes inner hunger, spiritual longing, and a readiness to ingest or embrace God's provision. It also can imply proclaiming God's praise or prayers.
• wide (הַרְחֶב harchev - inherent in the verb "open wide"): The repetition of the root "r-ch-v" (wide/spacious) emphasizes the degree of openness required – not just slightly open, but fully, without reservation or doubt. It speaks of full trust and an insatiable desire for God's blessings.
• and I will fill it (וַאֲמַלְאֵֽהוּ va'amall'ehu): The emphatic promise of God (Waw consecutive with imperfect). "Fill" (מָלֵא male) signifies completion, satisfaction, and abundance. It implies comprehensive provision – not just enough, but overflowing, meeting every spiritual and legitimate need. This contrasts with the meager provision or false promises of idols.

Words-group Analysis:

• "I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt": This initial declaration establishes God's unique identity as the covenant-keeping redeemer. It is the theological foundation upon which the subsequent command and promise are built. God grounds His authority not in arbitrary decree, but in historical demonstration of power and love. This functions as a strong polemic against the temptation of foreign gods (v. 9), who offered no such historical salvation.
• "open your mouth wide": This is a call to active faith, trust, and complete reliance. It's an invitation to cultivate spiritual hunger and a radical posture of dependence, contrasting with self-sufficiency or seeking aid from other sources. It also suggests a preparedness to receive divine revelation, wisdom, and the "bread of life." Some interpret it as a command to pray with great boldness and expectation.
• "and I will fill it": This is God's unconditional promise in response to the condition of openness. It guarantees abundant provision, spiritual satisfaction, and the fulfillment of genuine needs and desires, often in ways that far exceed human expectations or capabilities. This "filling" extends to every area of life where God's will and purpose are involved, symbolizing spiritual nourishment, anointing, and blessing. It is God's overflowing goodness countering Israel's past wandering hearts.

Psalm 81 10 Bonus section

The Hebrew root behind "open wide" (רחב – rāḥaḇ) literally means "to be wide, spacious." When applied to the mouth, it conveys the idea of an immense, cavernous opening, indicating a profound longing and an insatiable capacity for God’s provision. This isn't merely a small request but a declaration of boundless desire and a challenge to God's limitless abundance.

The phrase can also carry a prophetic nuance. When a prophet's "mouth is opened wide," it signifies that God will fill it with His divine word to speak to His people. This could mean a filling of the Word, the Holy Spirit, or even revelation, implying that the very instrument of our expression is supernaturally equipped by God.

This verse presents a sharp contrast to the conditional disobedience described later in the Psalm (vv. 11-12), where Israel refused to listen and walk in God’s ways. God desires to pour out abundant blessings, but this outpouring is contingent on their willing, expectant reception and adherence to His covenant. The divine call is consistent: God acts powerfully to save, and then invites a relationship of complete dependence and generous giving on His part in return for their full devotion.

Psalm 81 10 Commentary

Psalm 81:10 is a pivotal verse in God’s direct address to His people during a covenant renewal ceremony, reminding them of His unique and unparalleled role in their lives. The verse begins with a thunderous declaration, echoing the preamble to the Ten Commandments: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt." This opening solidifies God’s identity as the one true, covenant-keeping Redeemer, whose authority and faithfulness are proven by the definitive historical act of the Exodus – the very foundation of Israel's identity and their liberation from bondage. This statement stands as an immediate and potent challenge to any inclination toward idolatry or trusting in other sources for deliverance or provision, affirming God's exclusive claim on their worship and loyalty.

Following this divine self-identification and reminder of His saving power, God issues an imperative paired with an extraordinary promise: "open your mouth wide, and I will fill it." The command "open your mouth wide" calls for a posture of complete and eager expectation, boundless faith, and active receptivity. It implies an internal longing and an outward readiness to receive, extending to prayer, worship, hearing God’s Word, and embracing His will. It's a call to trust Him fully for all needs, spiritual and physical, without reserve or doubt. In response, the promise "and I will fill it" signifies not just adequate, but overflowing and abundant provision. This divine filling goes beyond material needs, encompassing spiritual nourishment, wisdom, satisfaction, and a deep sense of completeness that only God can provide. The Lord desires to satisfy the deep spiritual hunger of His people, pouring out His blessings supernaturally and comprehensively, if they will only abandon self-reliance and wholly depend on Him.

Examples:

• Spiritual Hunger: Like those who earnestly seek deeper knowledge of God's Word, praying for understanding, God fills them with wisdom and insight (James 1:5).
• Expectant Prayer: When believers bring large, seemingly impossible requests before God in faith, daring to believe He is capable, He answers them in abundant, sometimes surprising ways (Eph 3:20).
• Openness to Serve: Individuals who make themselves completely available for God's purposes, however daunting, often find themselves uniquely empowered and equipped for ministry beyond their natural abilities (Acts 2:4).