King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
So foolish [was] I, and ignorant: I was [as] a beast before thee.
Complete Jewish Bible:
I was too stupid to understand; I was like a brute beast with you.
Berean Standard Bible:
I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.
American Standard Version:
So brutish was I, and ignorant; I wasasa beast before thee.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
So foolish{H1198} was I, and ignorant{H3045}{H8799)}: I was as a beast{H929} before thee.
Cross-References (KJV):
Ecclesiastes 3:18
- I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
Psalms 92:6
- A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.
Psalms 49:10
- For he seeth [that] wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
Proverbs 30:2
- Surely I [am] more brutish than [any] man, and have not the understanding of a man.
Psalms 32:9
- Be ye not as the horse, [or] as the mule, [which] have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
Isaiah 1:3
- The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: [but] Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
Psalms 69:5
- O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.
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Commentary for Psalms 73:22
Psalm 73:22 is part of a larger psalm traditionally attributed to Asaph, who was a Levite and a temple musician during the time of King David. The psalm reflects a crisis of faith, where the psalmist struggles with the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous. This theme is common in wisdom literature, questioning the traditional understanding of retributive justice where good is rewarded and evil is punished.
In verse 22, the psalmist confesses to a moment of deep self-reflection and humility, acknowledging personal foolishness and ignorance. The phrase "I was as a beast before thee" suggests that, without spiritual insight, the psalmist felt no more enlightened or morally aware than an animal, which in biblical context often symbolizes a lack of reason or spiritual discernment. This admission is significant because it reveals the psalmist's recognition of a need for divine guidance to understand the true nature of wisdom and righteousness.
The historical context of this verse is set in a time when the Israelites were grappling with their national identity and religious practices, frequently influenced by surrounding polytheistic cultures. The psalm serves as a personal testimony to the importance of trusting in God's wisdom and justice, even when they do not align with human expectations. It is a call to look beyond material success and to seek a deeper relationship with God, which ultimately leads to true understanding and contentment. The psalmist's journey from confusion to clarity underscores a central theme in the Psalms: turning to God in times of doubt and emerging with a renewed sense of faith and purpose.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1198
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּעַר
Transliteration: baʻar
Pronunciation: bah'-ar
Description: from בָּעַר; properly, foot (as consumed); i.e. (by exten.) of cattle brutishness; (concretely) stupid; brutish (person), foolish. - Strong's Number: H3045
There are 873 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָדַע
Transliteration: yâdaʻ
Pronunciation: yaw-dah'
Description: a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.); acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot. - Strong's Number: H929
There are 172 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּהֵמָה
Transliteration: bᵉhêmâh
Pronunciation: be-hay-maw'
Description: from an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective); beast, cattle.