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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Psalms 32:7–11. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
David is here improving the experience he had had of the comfort of pardoning mercy.
I.He speaks to God, and professes his confidence in him and expectation from him, Psa 32:7.
Having tasted the sweetness of divine grace to a penitent sinner, he cannot doubt of the continuance of that grace to a praying saint, and that in that grace he should find both safety and joy.
1.Safety: "Thou art my hiding-place; when by faith I have recourse to thee I see all the reason in the world to be easy, and to think myself out of the reach of any real evil. Thou shalt preserve me from trouble, from the sting of it, and from the strokes of it as far as is good for me. Thou shalt preserve me from such trouble as I was in while I kept silence," Psa 32:3. When God has pardoned our sins, if he leaves us to ourselves, we shall soon run as far in debt again as ever and plunge ourselves again into the same gulf; and therefore, when we have received the comfort of our remission, we must fly to the grace of God to be preserved from returning to folly again, and having our hearts again hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. God keeps his people from trouble by keeping them from sin.
2.Joy: "Thou shalt not only deliver me, but compass me about with songs of deliverance; which way soever I look I shall see occasion to rejoice and to praise God; and my friends also shall compass me about in the great congregation, to join with me in songs of praise: they shall join their songs of deliverance with mine. As every one that is godly shall pray with me, so they shall give thanks with me."
II.He turns his speech to the children of men.
Being himself converted, he does what he can to strengthen his brethren (Luk 22:32): I will instruct thee, whoever thou art that desirest instruction, and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go, Psa 32:8. This, in another of his penitential psalms, he resolves that when God should have restored to him the joy of his salvation he would teach transgressors his ways, and do what he could to convert sinners to God, as well as to comfort those that were converted, Psa 51:12, Psa 51:13. When Solomon became a penitent he immediately became a preacher, Ecc 1:1. Those are best able to teach others the grace of God who have themselves had the experience of it: and those who are themselves taught of God ought to tell others what he has done for their souls (Psa 66:16) and so teach them. I will guide thee with my eye. Some apply this to God's conduct and direction. He teaches us by his word and guides us with his eye, by the secret intimations of his will in the hints and turns of Providence, which he enables his people to understand and take direction from, as a master makes a servant know his mind by a wink of his eye. When Christ turned and looked upon Peter he guided him with his eye. But it is rather to be taken as David's promise to those who sat under his instruction, his own children and family especially: "I will counsel thee; my eye shall be upon thee" (so the margin reads it); "I will give thee the best counsel I can and then observe whether thou takest it or no." Those that are taught in the word should be under the constant inspection of those that teach them; spiritual guides must be overseers. In this application of the foregoing doctrine concerning the blessedness of those whose sins are pardoned we have a word to sinners and a word to saints; and this is rightly dividing the word of truth and giving to each their portion.
1.Here is a word of caution to sinners, and a good reason is given for it.
(1.)The caution is, not to be unruly and ungovernable: Be you not as the horse and the mule, which have no understanding, Psa 32:9. When the psalmist would reproach himself for the sins he repented of he compared himself to a beast before God (so foolish have I been and ignorant, Psa 73:22) and therefore warns others not to be so. It is our honour and happiness that we have understanding, that we are capable of being governed by reason and of reasoning with ourselves. Let us therefore use the faculties we have, and act rationally. The horse and mule must be managed with bit and bridle, lest they come near us, to do us a mischief, or (as some read it) that they may come near to us, to do us service, that they may obey us, Jam 3:3. Let us not be like them; let us not be hurried by appetite and passion, at any time, to go contrary to the dictate of right reason and to our true interest. If sinners would be governed and determined by these, they would soon become saints and would not go a step further in their sinful courses; where there is renewing grace there is no need of the bit and bridle of restraining grace.
(2.)The reason for this caution is because the way of sin which we would persuade you to forsake will certainly end in sorrow (Psa 32:10): Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, which will not only spoil their vain and carnal mirth, and put an end to it, but will make them pay dearly for it. Sin will have sorrow, if not repented of, everlasting sorrow. It was part of the sentence, I will greatly multiply thy sorrows. "Be wise for yourselves therefore, and turn from your wickedness, that you may prevent those sorrows, those many sorrows."
2.Here is a word of comfort to saints, and a good reason is given for that too.
(1.)They are assured that if they will but trust in the Lord, and keep closely to him, mercy shall compass them about on every side (Psa 32:10), so that they shall not depart from God, for that mercy shall keep them in, nor shall any real evil break in upon them, for that mercy shall keep it out.
(2.)They are therefore commanded to be glad in the Lord, and to rejoice in him, to such a degree as even to shout for joy, Psa 32:11. Let them be so transported with this holy joy as not to be able to contain themselves; and let them affect others with it, that they also may see that a life of communion with God is the most pleasant and comfortable life we can live in this world. This is that present bliss which the upright in heart, and they are only, are entitled to and qualified for.
Historical interpretation
Two Centuries of Reception
10 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
People have special need of [understanding], for when they have lost it, they become like horses and mules. Thus he says: I was turned to misery when thorns were thrust in me—that is, the sin that tormented him. On that account he says to God: I have shown you my sin, and my lawlessness I did not hide from you; and you removed my wickedness. The first duty of repentance is for a person to confess his sin, according to [the saying]: God will have mercy on him who confesses his sins and abandons them.
The one who was God pursued the nations who pursued gods that were not gods at all. And [using] words like bridles, he turned them away from many gods [and brought them] to one.
The person with understanding and reason perceives the sin, whereas the one without understanding does not perceive it, not wanting to.
Why do you dishonor yourself by indulging in physical allurements, while serving your belly and its passions? Why do you take away the understanding that the Creator has given you? Why do you compare yourself to animals, from which God wanted you to be separate, saying: Do not become like the horse and the mule, which have no understanding?
Fools then are not free, for it is said to them, Be ye not like to horse and mule, which have no understanding, whose mouths must be held with bit and bridle lest they fall upon thee. Great plagues remain for the ungodly; for they have need of these, in order that their folly may be restrained. It is good discipline which requires this, not severity. Further, he that spareth his rod hateth his son: for a man's own sins scourge him still more severely. For heavy is the weight of crime, heavy the scourges of sin; they are heavy as a sore burthen, they inflict wounds upon the soul, and make the ulcers of the mind to stink.
He calls the irrational movement of spirit “horse” and “mule.” Intellect is rational thinking and judgment.
"Be not ye like horse or mule, which have no understanding:" and therefore would govern themselves. But says the Prophet, "Hold in their jaws with bit and bridle." Do Thou then, O God, unto them "that will not come near You" [Psalm 32:9], what man does to horse and mule, that by scourges Thou make them to bear Your rule.
To have a soul and not to have an understanding, that is, not to use it or to live according to it, is a beast’s life. For there is in us something bestial by which we live in the flesh, but it must be ruled by the understanding. For the understanding rules from above the impulses of the soul when it moves itself according to the flesh and desires to pour itself out immoderately into carnal delights.
He gives instruction to us, and thus he teaches us on the way by which we walk so that he may fix his eyes upon us and so that we do not become as a horse or a mule. Those reluctant to draw near will have their jaws restrained with a rein of tribulation and a curb of judgment.
Our Lord admonishes us through the prophet: “Be not senseless like horses or mules.” … As the ass or mule is tied to a grindstone with his bodily eyes weakened or closed with rages, so the dissipated soul has the eyes of its mind put out by the filth of its life, and through the errors of its thoughts is guided, as it were, around the turning millstone through laborious compassion, without its own sight and working with that of another. [A dissipated person] stands on the road of sinners, fettered with the bonds of his passions. He is his own prison, filled with the darkness of his error, stiff with the squalor of his conscience, enduring within himself the imprisonment of a mill. He turns the rock of his heart, which has been hardened by perseverance in iniquity, like a grindstone, making flour for his enemy out of the corrupt grain of his soul.
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Summary
Psalm 32:9 delivers a profound admonition, urging believers to embrace God's divine guidance with willing hearts rather than resisting instruction like unreasoning beasts. This verse vividly contrasts the stubborn, unthinking nature of a horse or mule, which requires external, forceful control, with the human capacity for understanding and volitional obedience. It underscores the blessedness of yielding to God's counsel, thereby avoiding the harsher discipline necessitated by spiritual stubbornness, and highlights God's desire for a relationship characterized by willing submission and trust.
Context
Literary Context
Psalm 32 is a "maskil," a psalm of instruction or contemplation, attributed to David, likely reflecting on his own experience with sin and forgiveness. It immediately follows a profound declaration of blessedness for those whose transgression is forgiven and sin covered, and whose spirit is without deceit, as articulated in Psalm 32:1-2. David then recounts his personal anguish under the weight of unconfessed sin, leading to physical and spiritual distress, and the subsequent relief and joy found in open confession and divine forgiveness, detailed in Psalm 32:3-5. Following this powerful testimony, the psalm transitions to broader instruction on God's faithfulness to those who pray to Him in a time of trouble (Psalm 32:6) and His role as a hiding place and deliverer (Psalm 32:7). Verse 8 introduces God's direct promise of guidance: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you" (Psalm 32:8). Psalm 32:9 then serves as a direct, imperative warning, contrasting the desired willing response to God's guidance with the undesirable stubbornness of an unthinking animal, thus reinforcing the call to wisdom and obedience that permeates the psalm.
Historical & Cultural Context
The imagery of horses and mules, along with the use of "bit and bridle," was deeply familiar and potent to an ancient Israelite audience. These animals were indispensable for agriculture, transport, and warfare, and their characteristics were universally understood. Horses, known for their strength, speed, and sometimes their wildness, and mules, renowned for their endurance and often their stubborn disposition, both necessitated firm control by their handlers. Without a bit in their mouth and a bridle to guide them, they would be uncontrollable, potentially dangerous, and certainly useless for human purposes. The "bit and bridle" were not merely instruments of coercion but essential tools for direction, safety, and utility, enabling the animal to serve its purpose and preventing harm to itself or others. This common cultural understanding of animal management provided a powerful metaphor for human behavior in relation to divine authority. The comparison highlights the human capacity for stubbornness and resistance to guidance, implying that without a willing heart, God might need to employ more forceful means of discipline, much like a farmer controls a recalcitrant animal.
Key Themes
This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Psalm 32 and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it emphasizes Willing Obedience versus Stubborn Resistance. The core message is an appeal for humanity to respond to God's guidance with a teachable and open heart, rather than resisting like an unthinking animal that must be forced into submission. Secondly, it highlights The Value of Understanding and Discernment. Unlike animals that lack rational thought, humans are endowed with the capacity to comprehend and respond to divine wisdom. The Hebrew word for "understanding" (בִּין, bîn) implies not just intellectual grasp but also discernment and insight, a call to use our God-given faculties to choose the path of wisdom, echoing the wisdom literature's emphasis on seeking knowledge and understanding (e.g., Proverbs 1:7). Thirdly, it speaks to Divine Guidance and Discipline. God desires to guide His people gently, through His word and Spirit, as promised in Psalm 32:8. However, if humans are stubborn and refuse to listen, God, in His love and for their ultimate good, may resort to "bit and bridle"—forms of discipline or challenging circumstances designed to bring them back into alignment with His will, preventing them from straying into destructive paths.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
The Hebrew word סוּס (çûwç), or סֻס (çûs), refers to a horse, an animal known for its strength, speed, and often, its spirited nature. The root meaning suggests "to skip" or "to leap," perhaps for joy, but in the context of control, it implies an animal that can be difficult to manage without proper restraint. The psalmist uses the horse as an archetype of powerful, yet unreasoning, creatures that require external force to be directed.
The Hebrew word פֶּרֶד (pered) refers to a mule, a hybrid animal known for its strength, endurance, and notably, its stubbornness. The root meaning suggests "to separate," perhaps alluding to its solitary habits or its distinct nature. The mule, even more so than the horse, embodies the idea of an animal that is resistant to guidance and often requires significant coercion to obey, making it a fitting comparison for human obstinacy.
The Hebrew word בִּין (bîyn) signifies more than mere intellectual comprehension. It denotes discernment, insight, and the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, wisdom and folly. It implies a deep, reflective understanding that leads to prudent action. When the psalmist states that horses and mules "have no understanding," it highlights their lack of rational thought, moral discernment, and volitional choice, contrasting sharply with the human capacity for these very qualities. The exhortation is for humans to utilize their God-given capacity for bîyn to willingly accept divine instruction.
The Hebrew word מֶתֶג (metheg) refers specifically to the bit, a piece of metal placed in an animal's mouth, connected to the bridle. It is the primary instrument by which a rider or handler exerts direct control over the animal's head and thus its direction. It symbolizes forceful, external control, necessary when an animal is unwilling to respond to gentler cues. In the metaphorical sense, it represents God's corrective discipline when His people stubbornly refuse His gentle guidance.
The Hebrew word רֶסֶן (reçen) refers to the bridle, the headgear used to control an animal, which includes the bit, reins, and headstall. While metheg (bit) is the specific control mechanism in the mouth, reçen (bridle) encompasses the entire apparatus. Its inclusion alongside "bit" emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the external control required for an unyielding animal. Spiritually, it underscores the thoroughness of God's disciplinary measures when His children resist His loving counsel.
Verse Breakdown
"Be ye not as the horse, [or] as the mule, [which] have no understanding"
This opening clause is a direct, imperative warning from the psalmist. It urges the reader not to emulate the behavior of animals that lack rational thought and moral discernment. Horses and mules, despite their strength and utility, operate purely on instinct and learned responses, requiring external force for direction. The core distinction highlighted is the absence of "understanding" (Hebrew: bîn), a capacity humans possess. This sets up the crucial contrast between unthinking, forced obedience and thoughtful, willing submission.
"whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle"
This phrase describes the practical necessity of controlling such unreasoning animals. The "bit and bridle" are instruments of coercion, applied to the mouth to direct and restrain. This imagery vividly portrays the consequence of lacking understanding and willingness: the need for external, sometimes painful, control. Spiritually, it suggests that if God's people refuse to respond to His gentle voice and loving counsel, He may, out of His sovereign love and for their ultimate good, employ harder circumstances or disciplinary measures to bring them into alignment.
"lest they come near unto thee"
The King James Version's translation "lest they come near unto thee" is a common rendering, but the Hebrew phrase (בַּל קְרֹב אֵלֶיךָ, bal qerov 'eleyka) is subject to interpretive debate. Many modern translations render it as "or else they will not come near you," or "they will not come near you unless they are held by bit and bridle." This alternative interpretation suggests that without the bit and bridle, the animals would remain wild and unapproachable, unable to be effectively utilized or guided. In the spiritual application, this implies that without the "bit and bridle" of divine discipline, a stubborn individual would remain distant from God's intended path, unable to draw near in true fellowship and obedience. Both interpretations underscore the necessity of control for an unyielding subject, emphasizing the undesirable state of being forced rather than willingly guided.
Literary Devices
Psalm 32:9 is rich in Imagery and employs a striking Simile to convey its message. The comparison "Be ye not as the horse, [or] as the mule" directly likens human stubbornness and lack of understanding to the brute, unthinking nature of these powerful animals. This simile is extended into a powerful Metaphor where the "bit and bridle" represent divine discipline or the necessary external controls God might employ when His people resist His gentle guidance. The verse also implicitly uses Contrast, juxtaposing the animal's instinctual, forced submission with the human's capacity for rational, willing obedience. The vivid depiction of controlling a powerful, stubborn animal creates a memorable and impactful illustration of the consequences of an unyielding spirit, urging the reader towards a humble and responsive heart that embraces God's wisdom.
Theological and Thematic Connections
This verse profoundly connects to the broader biblical teaching on wisdom, obedience, and God's fatherly discipline. It underscores the divine expectation for humanity, created in God's image, to respond to His instruction not out of coercion, but out of a discerning heart that understands His goodness and wisdom. The alternative—stubborn resistance—necessitates God's "bit and bridle," which, though corrective, is still an expression of His love, aimed at preventing greater harm and restoring fellowship. This divine discipline is not punitive in a retributive sense for the forgiven, but formative, designed to guide His children back to the path of righteousness and flourishing. The call is to cultivate a teachable spirit, recognizing that God's guidance is always for our ultimate good and spiritual maturity.
Reflection and Application
Psalm 32:9 stands as a timeless challenge to every believer: How do we respond to God's voice and His leading in our lives? Do we exhibit a teachable spirit, eager to receive and obey His instruction, or are we prone to stubbornness, requiring God to use "bit and bridle" methods to correct our path? This verse encourages a humble and responsive heart, recognizing that God's guidance, whether gentle or firm, is always for our good. Cultivating a spirit of quick obedience avoids the harder lessons that often come from resistance, leading instead to a deeper, more trusting relationship with our Heavenly Father. It calls us to actively seek understanding, to discern God's will, and to willingly align our lives with His wisdom, thereby experiencing the full blessedness of His guidance and avoiding the painful consequences of an unyielding spirit.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why does the psalmist compare people to horses and mules?
The comparison to horses and mules is a vivid simile used to illustrate the negative consequences of stubbornness and a lack of understanding in humans. These animals were well-known in ancient Israel for their strength, but also for their tendency to be uncooperative and to operate purely on instinct, requiring external, forceful control like a bit and bridle. By contrasting this animalistic behavior with the human capacity for rational thought and moral discernment, the psalmist emphasizes that humans, unlike animals, have the ability to understand and willingly choose to follow God's guidance. The warning is against behaving like unthinking beasts who must be forced into submission, rather than responding with a teachable spirit to God's loving instruction.
What does "bit and bridle" mean in a spiritual sense?
In a spiritual sense, the "bit and bridle" symbolize God's corrective discipline or the harder circumstances He may allow in our lives when we stubbornly resist His gentle guidance. Just as a bit and bridle are necessary to control a powerful, unyielding animal, God, in His love and wisdom, may use various means—difficult situations, consequences of our choices, or even direct divine intervention—to bring His children back into alignment with His will. This discipline is not punitive for those who are forgiven, but formative, designed to teach, correct, and guide us toward righteousness and deeper fellowship with Him. It's a testament to His fatherly love, as Hebrews 12:6 states, "For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives."
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Psalm 32:9, with its call for willing obedience over stubborn resistance, finds its ultimate fulfillment and perfect example in Jesus Christ. Unlike the horse or mule that lacks understanding and requires external coercion, Jesus perfectly embodied the spirit of willing submission to God's will. He did not need a "bit and bridle" because His heart was always perfectly aligned with the Father's. From His declaration, "I have come to do your will, O God" (Hebrews 10:7), to His prayer in Gethsemane, "Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done" (Luke 22:42), Christ demonstrated perfect, volitional obedience, even unto death on a cross (Philippians 2:8). Through His atoning sacrifice, He secured forgiveness for our stubbornness and rebellion, making it possible for us to receive a new heart and a new spirit that desires to obey (Ezekiel 36:26-27). Now, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, believers are empowered to respond to God's guidance from within, with understanding and willingness, fulfilling the very desire expressed in this psalm—to be led by God's "loving eye" rather than by force, walking in the freedom of Christ's perfect example and the Spirit's gentle leading (Romans 8:14).