Psalms 49:3

3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the thinking of mine heart shall speak prudence.

Psalms 49:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 49:3

My mouth shall speak of wisdom
Or "wisdoms" F13; of Christ, who is so called, ( Proverbs 1:20 ) ( 9:1 ) . He being as a divine Person the wisdom of God, and the only wise God; and having all the treasures of wisdom in him, as man and Mediator: of him the prophet spake, and of him the apostles and all Gospel ministers speak; of the glories of his Person, of the fulness of his grace, and of his wonderful works; especially of that of redemption and salvation by him, in which there is an abounding of wisdom and prudence. Or the Gospel may be meant, and all the truths of it, in which there is a glorious display of divine wisdom; it is the wisdom of God in a mystery; hidden and ancient wisdom; and which, when truly understood, makes a man wise unto salvation; see ( 1 Corinthians 2:6 1 Corinthians 2:7 ) ;

and the meditation of my heart [shall be] of understanding;
or "understandings" F14; and this is in order to the former; what the heart meditates the mouth speaks. If the heart meditates on understanding, the mouth will speak of wisdom; and a man should think before he speaks, especially the ministers of the Gospel: they ought to meditate on the word of God, the Gospel, and the truths of it, that their profiling may appear to all; that they may understand divine things themselves, and deliver them out to the understanding of others: their concern should be, that through meditation they may have a good treasure of wisdom and knowledge in their hearts, that out of it they may bring forth things pleasant and profitable unto others.


FOOTNOTES:

F13 (twmkx) "sapientias", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Cocceius, Gejerus, Michaelis.
F14 (twnwbt) "intelligentias", Pagninus, Montanus.

Psalms 49:3 In-Context

1 To victory, a psalm to the sons of Korah. All ye folks, hear these things; all ye that dwell in the world, perceive with ears. (To victory, a song for the sons of Korah. All ye nations, hear these things; all ye who live in the world, listen!)
2 All the sons of earth, and the sons of men; together the rich man, and the poor into one. (All the sons and daughters of the earth, the sons and daughters of men; yea, the rich and the poor, together as one.)
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the thinking of mine heart shall speak prudence.
4 I shall bow down mine ear into a parable; I shall open my reason set forth in a psaltery. (I shall listen closely to a parable; then I shall set forth my understanding on a lute.)
5 Why shall I dread in the evil day? the wickedness of mine heel shall (en)compass me. (Why should I have fear, or be afraid, on the day of evil, when the wickedness of my enemies shall surround me?)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.