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Psalm 131

Psa. 131:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

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1
<<A Song
shiyr (Hebrew #7892)
from 7891; a song; abstractly, singing
KJV usage: musical(-ick), X sing(-er, -ing), song.
Pronounce: sheer
Origin: or feminine shiyrah {shee-raw'}
of degrees
ma`alah (Hebrew #4609)
elevation, i.e. the act (literally, a journey to a higher place, figuratively, a thought arising), or (concretely) the condition (literally, a step or grade-mark, figuratively, a superiority of station); specifically a climactic progression (in certain Psalms)
KJV usage: things that come up, (high) degree, deal, go up, stair, step, story.
Pronounce: mah-al-aw'
Origin: feminine of 4608
of David
David (Hebrew #1732)
Daviyd {daw-veed'}; from the same as 1730; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse
KJV usage: David.
Pronounce: daw-veed'
Origin: rarely (fully)
.>> Lord
Yhovah (Hebrew #3068)
(the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
KJV usage: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
Pronounce: yeh-ho-vaw'
Origin: from 1961
, my heart
leb (Hebrew #3820)
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
KJV usage: + care for, comfortably, consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly, wisdom.
Pronounce: labe
Origin: a form of 3824
is not haughty
gabahh (Hebrew #1361)
to soar, i.e. be lofty; figuratively, to be haughty
KJV usage: exalt, be haughty, be (make) high(-er), lift up, mount up, be proud, raise up great height, upward.
Pronounce: gaw-bah'
Origin: a primitive root
, nor mine eyes
`ayin (Hebrew #5869)
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
KJV usage: affliction, outward appearance, + before, + think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, + displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble, knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please, presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, + think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).
Pronounce: ah'-yin
Origin: probably a primitive word
lofty
ruwm (Hebrew #7311)
to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: bring up, exalt (self), extol, give, go up, haughty, heave (up), (be, lift up on, make on, set up on, too) high(-er, one), hold up, levy, lift(-er) up, (be) lofty, (X a-)loud, mount up, offer (up), + presumptuously, (be) promote(-ion), proud, set up, tall(-er), take (away, off, up), breed worms.
Pronounce: room
Origin: a primitive root
: neither do I δexercise
halak (Hebrew #1980)
a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
KJV usage: (all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant, depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth, forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on, out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead, march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away), be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread, still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad, on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax, (way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.
Pronounce: haw-lak'
Origin: akin to 3212
myself in great matters
gadowl (Hebrew #1419)
from 1431; great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
KJV usage: + aloud, elder(-est), + exceeding(-ly), + far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, X sore, (X ) very.
Pronounce: gaw-dole'
Origin: or (shortened) gadol {gaw-dole'}
, or in things too ηhigh
pala' (Hebrew #6381)
properly, perhaps to separate, i.e. distinguish (literally or figuratively); by implication, to be (causatively, make) great, difficult, wonderful
KJV usage: accomplish, (arise...too, be too) hard, hidden, things too high, (be, do, do a, shew) marvelous(-ly, -els, things, work), miracles, perform, separate, make singular, (be, great, make) wonderful(-ers, -ly, things, works), wondrous (things, works, -ly).
Pronounce: paw-law'
Origin: a primitive root
for me.
δ
walk.
η
wonderful,
Job 42:3• 3Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. (Job 42:3)
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More on:

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David,
Heart,
Songs of Degrees

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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1-2:  David, professing his humility,
3:  exhorts Israel to trust in God.
(Title.)
A Song of degrees.Some think that this Psalm was composed by David when accused by Saul and his courtiers that he affected the crown; though others refer it to the time of the captivity; and consider it as containing a fair account of the manner in which the captives behaved themselves.
Psa. 122:1• 1<<A Song of degrees of David.>> I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. (Psa. 122:1)
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Psa. 124:1• 1<<A Song of degrees of David.>> If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say; (Psa. 124:1)
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Psa. 133:1• 1<<A Song of degrees of David.>> Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (Psa. 133:1)
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Psa. 133•  (Psa. 133)
:*titles
my heart.
Num. 12:3• 3(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) (Num. 12:3)
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Deut. 17:20• 20That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel. (Deut. 17:20)
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1 Sam. 16:13,18,22• 13Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
 18Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him.
 22And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favor in my sight. (1 Sam. 16:13,18,22)
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1 Sam. 17:15,28‑29• 15But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
 28And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
 29And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? (1 Sam. 17:15,28‑29)
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1 Sam. 18:23• 23And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed? (1 Sam. 18:23)
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Matt. 11:29• 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matt. 11:29)
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Acts 20:19• 19Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: (Acts 20:19)
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1 Thess. 2:6‑7,10• 6Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
 7But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
 10Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: (1 Thess. 2:6‑7,10)
neither.
Psa. 78:70‑72• 70He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
 71From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
 72So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands. (Psa. 78:70‑72)
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Jer. 17:16• 16As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee. (Jer. 17:16)
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Jer. 45:5• 5And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Lord: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest. (Jer. 45:5)
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Amos 7:14‑15• 14Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:
 15And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel. (Amos 7:14‑15)
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Rom. 12:16• 16Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. (Rom. 12:16)
exercise.
Heb. walk.
high for me.
Heb. wonderful for me.
Psa. 139:6• 6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. (Psa. 139:6)
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Job 42:3• 3Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. (Job 42:3)
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Rom. 11:33• 33O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Rom. 11:33)
• Psa. 131 is the humility of heart that will be manifest in the twelve tribes of Israel resulting from their deep soul searching and self-judgment in the preceding psalm. Zeph. 3:11-13. (“Book 5.” by B. Anstey)
• Psalms 130 describes the anguish of soul before the Lord on account of iniquities. Psalms 131 depicts the chastened spirit that results from the realization of the grace of the Lord when in the depths of anguish on account of sins. (“Psalms 131” by H. Smith)
• Through the exercises of his soul the godly man becomes marked by lowliness that makes nothing of self, and meekness that gives place to others. Thus the natural haughtiness of the heart, that makes everything self, is judged, and the lofty eyes that look down upon others are condemned. With a chastened spirit the soul ceases to exercise itself with things unrevealed by God, and therefore too wonderful for its comprehension. (“Psalms 131” by H. Smith)
• Psa. 131 gives us another character of the returning soul—the soul right with God. It is not speculative or haughty in mind, does not reason about matters. (“Practical Reflections on the Psalms: Psalms 120-131” by J.N. Darby)

J. N. Darby Translation

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A Song of degrees. Of David. Jehovah, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; neither do I exercise myselfd in great matters, and in things too wonderful for me.

JND Translation Notes

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d
Lit. "have I walked."