Psalm 40:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.

NIV: Sacrifice and offering you did not desire— but my ears you have opened — burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.

NASB: You have not desired sacrifice and meal offering; You have opened my ears; You have not required burnt offering and sin offering.

CSB: You do not delight in sacrifice and offering; you open my ears to listen. You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering.

NLT: You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand — you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.

KJV: Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

NKJV: Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.

David ponders how he might show his gratitude for all the wondrous things God had done him (Psalm 40:1–5). Certainly, David knew that God accepted and even commanded certain physical sacrifices under the Old Testament law. However, David has enough wisdom to understand that God looks at the worshiper's heart and not simply at his sacrifices and offerings.

King Saul had learned the hard way what David knew: The Lord delights in obedience and not in the ritual of offering sacrifices while the heart is not in tune with His will. Samuel reprimanded Saul for disobeying the Lord by not slaying Agag and all that pertained to Agag and by offering sacrifices after disobeying the Lord. He told Saul: "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams" (1 Samuel 15:22). David testifies that the Lord had given him an open ear; that is, David listened to hear what the Lord commanded him.

The phrasing used here is apparently a Hebrew idiom—a figure of speech—which in many literal translations implies "digging ears." The meaning of the phrase is God forming the body such that a person has the privilege of hearing from God. The Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Old Testament, takes this approach, which is why Hebrews 10:5 speaks of God preparing a body. Whether in the poetic form of Hebrew or the literalized version of Greek, the point is the same: the Lord has "dug out," or "opened," or "created" the ears of David so he can hear from God.

Psalm 40:1–10 delivers a steady stream of thanksgiving, as David recounts the Lord's deliverance of him from his enemies. He is grateful for giving him a new lease on life. He commits himself to doing the Lord's will and to telling others about how the Lord delivered him from his enemies. Psalm 37:1–7 emphasizes the fact that the Lord delivers those who wait on Him and commit themselves to His will. Hebrews 10:5–9 quotes the Greek version of Psalm 40:6–8 and applies the passage to Jesus the Messiah.

David waited on the Lord for quite some time to be delivered from his foes, and the Lord heard him. This remarkable deliverance would persuade many to trust in the Lord. David insists that no one can compare with the Lord. Verses 6–8 are messianic; Hebrews 10:5–9 applies them to Jesus. David shared this story with his fellow worshipers in the sanctuary. He was confident that the Lord would continue to show him His mercy, His steadfast love, and His faithfulness. David needed the Lord's help because he was conscious of his many sins, and he knew his enemies wanted to kill him. He concludes this psalm by humble acknowledging that the Lord thought about him and was his help and deliverer. He asks the Lord to come quickly to his defense.

In this psalm David offers praise to the Lord for meeting his needs. He may have composed this psalm during one of his exiles in the wilderness or during the infancy of his rule as Israel's king. Verses 1–5 may refer to his exile, and verses 6–10 may depict his dedication as king. Verses 11–17 tell of his prayer for forgiveness and his exaltation over his foes. Psalm 70 parallels Psalm 40:13–17. Hebrews 10:5–9 quotes Psalm 40:6–8, making the latter passage messianic.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.