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Psalm 39

Psa. 39:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

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1
<<To the chief Musician
natsach (Hebrew #5329)
properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); also (as denominative from 5331), to be permanent
KJV usage: excel, chief musician (singer), oversee(-r), set forward.
Pronounce: naw-tsakh'
Origin: a primitive root
, even too Jeduthun
Yduwthuwn (Hebrew #3038)
or Ydiythuwn {yed-ee-thoon'}; probably from 3034; laudatory; Jeduthun, an Israelite
KJV usage: Jeduthun.
Pronounce: yed-oo-thoon'
Origin: or Yduthuwn {yed-oo-thoon'}
, A Psalm
mizmowr (Hebrew #4210)
properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes
KJV usage: psalm.
Pronounce: miz-more'
Origin: from 2167
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)
.>> I said
'amar (Hebrew #559)
to say (used with great latitude)
KJV usage: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech), utter, X verily, X yet.
Pronounce: aw-mar'
Origin: a primitive root
, I will take heed
shamar (Hebrew #8104)
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.
KJV usage: beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
Pronounce: shaw-mar'
Origin: a primitive root
to my ways
derek (Hebrew #1870)
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
KJV usage: along, away, because of, + by, conversation, custom, (east-)ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-)way(-side), whither(-soever).
Pronounce: deh'-rek
Origin: from 1869
, that I sin
chata' (Hebrew #2398)
properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn
KJV usage: bear the blame, cleanse, commit (sin), by fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend(-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin(-ful, -ness), trespass.
Pronounce: khaw-taw'
Origin: a primitive root
not with my tongue
lashown (Hebrew #3956)
also (in plural) feminine lshonah {lesh-o-naw'}; from 3960; the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water)
KJV usage: + babbler,bay, + evil speaker, language, talker, tongue, wedge.
Pronounce: law-shone'
Origin: or lashon {law-shone'}
q: I will keep
shamar (Hebrew #8104)
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.
KJV usage: beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
Pronounce: shaw-mar'
Origin: a primitive root
νmy mouth
peh (Hebrew #6310)
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to
KJV usage: accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), X eat, edge, end, entry, + file, hole, X in, mind, mouth, part, portion, X (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, X spoken, talk, tenor, X to, + two-edged, wish, word.
Pronounce: peh
Origin: from 6284
with a bridle
machcowm (Hebrew #4269)
a muzzle
KJV usage: bridle.
Pronounce: makh-sohm'
Origin: from 2629
, whiler the wicked
rasha` (Hebrew #7563)
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
KJV usage: + condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did wrong.
Pronounce: raw-shaw'
Origin: from 7561
is before me.
o
1 Chron. 16:41• 41And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the Lord, because his mercy endureth for ever; (1 Chron. 16:41)
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Prov. 21:23• 23Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. (Prov. 21:23)
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James 3:2• 2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. (James 3:2)
,etc.
ν
a bridle, or, muzzle for my mouth.
r
Col. 4:5• 5Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. (Col. 4:5)

More on:

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David,
Jeduthun,
Music; Musicians; Musical Instruments,
Psalms,
Sin

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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1-3:  David's care of this thoughts.
4-6:  The consideration of the brevity and vanity of life;
7-9:  the reverence of God's judgments,
10-13:  and prayer, are his bridles of impatience.
A.M. 2970.
B.C. 1034.
(Title.)
Jeduthun.Jeduthun, probably the same as Ethan, 1 Ch 6:44, was one of the sons of Merari, and is supposed to have been one the four masters of music, or leaders of bands, belonging to the temple service.
It is therefore probable that David, having composed this Psalm, gave it to Jeduthun and his company to sing; and it is very likely, that it was written on the same occasion as the preceding.
Psa. 62:1• 1<<To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.>> Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. (Psa. 62:1)
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Psa. 77:1• 1<<To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph.>> I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. (Psa. 77:1)
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Psa. 77•  (Psa. 77)
:*titles;
1 Chron. 16:41• 41And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the Lord, because his mercy endureth for ever; (1 Chron. 16:41)
;
1 Chron. 25:1‑6• 1Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:
 2Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king.
 3Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the Lord.
 4Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth:
 5All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
 6All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the Lord, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. (1 Chron. 25:1‑6)
I said.
Psa. 119:9• 9BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. (Psa. 119:9)
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1 Kings 2:4• 4That the Lord may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel. (1 Kings 2:4)
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2 Kings 10:31• 31But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin. (2 Kings 10:31)
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Prov. 4:26‑27• 26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
 27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. (Prov. 4:26‑27)
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Heb. 2:1• 1Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. (Heb. 2:1)
that I.
Psa. 12:4• 4Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us? (Psa. 12:4)
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Psa. 73:8‑9• 8They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
 9They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. (Psa. 73:8‑9)
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Psa. 141:3• 3Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. (Psa. 141:3)
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Prov. 18:21• 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (Prov. 18:21)
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Prov. 21:23• 23Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. (Prov. 21:23)
my mouth, etc.
Heb. a bridle, or muzzle, for my mouth.
James 1:26• 26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. (James 1:26)
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James 3:2‑8• 2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
 3Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
 4Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
 5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
 7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
 8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. (James 3:2‑8)
while.
Amos 5:13• 13Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time. (Amos 5:13)
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Mic. 7:5‑6• 5Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
 6For the son dishonoreth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. (Mic. 7:5‑6)
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Col. 4:5• 5Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. (Col. 4:5)
• Book 1, Series 6. The great tribulation. (““The Placement of the Psalms in Prophecy”” by B. Anstey)
• In the presence of the wicked the soul remains dumb. Seeing that he is being chastened of God for his own failure it was not fitting that he should reply to their reproaches, even though he knows their motive to be hatred of the godly. (“Psalms 39” by H. Smith)
• In despair the remnant make a resolution not to sin with their tongue. They hope that this will bring divine favor and hasten their deliverance. However, this self-imposed restraint doesn’t last and they do the very thing they said they wouldn’t (vs. 1-3). (“Book 1.” by B. Anstey)

J. N. Darby Translation

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To the chief Musician, to Jeduthunl. A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked is before me.

JND Translation Notes

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l
See Ps. 62.