Psalms 39:9

KJV

I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst [it].

KJV (with Strong's)

I was dumb {H481}, I opened {H6605}{H8799)} not my mouth {H6310}; because thou didst {H6213}{H8804)} it.

Complete Jewish Bible

I am silent, I keep my mouth shut, because it is you who have done it.

Berean Standard Bible

I have become mute; I do not open my mouth because of what You have done.

American Standard Version

I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; Because thou didst it.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 39:9 captures a pivotal moment in the psalmist's lament, where David transitions from expressing deep anguish and questioning the brevity of life to a profound posture of silent submission. After an initial resolve to guard his speech and subsequent outpouring of his heart to God, he arrives at a place of complete cessation of complaint, recognizing that his affliction, whatever its form, originates directly from the sovereign hand of God. This verse encapsulates a deep trust in divine authorship and purpose, even when the reasons for hardship remain undisclosed or painful.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 39 is a deeply personal lament, distinct from communal laments, and is situated within a collection of psalms (Psalms 38-41) that often deal with themes of suffering, sin, and divine justice. The psalm opens with David's initial resolve to guard his tongue, fearing he might sin by speaking rashly while in the presence of the wicked ([Psalms 39:1](/psalms/39-1 "Psalm 39:1 - David's Resolution to Guard his Tongue")). However, his internal anguish intensifies, leading him to break his silence and pour out his heart to God, reflecting on the brevity of life and the vanity of humanity ([Psalms 39:4-6](/psalms/39-4 "Psalm 39:4-6 - The Brevity of Life")). Verse 9 marks a significant turning point; having articulated his despair and affirmed his ultimate hope in God alone ([Psalms 39:7](/psalms/39-7 "Psalm 39:7 - David's Hope in God")), David transitions from expressing his pain to a posture of profound, deliberate silence before the divine will, acknowledging God's direct involvement in his circumstances.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While the specific historical occasion for Psalm 39 is not stated, it resonates with the experiences of many biblical figures, including David himself, who faced periods of intense personal trial, illness, or public humiliation. In ancient Israel, suffering was often interpreted through a theological lens, sometimes seen as a consequence of sin or as divine discipline. The concept of God's absolute sovereignty was foundational to their worldview, meaning that nothing occurred outside of His ultimate control or permission. The act of "opening one's mouth" could signify complaint, accusation, or even blasphemy against God, making David's decision to remain "dumb" a powerful statement of faith and submission in a culture where direct address to deity was common, but also fraught with reverence.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Psalter and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores **Divine Sovereignty**, asserting God's ultimate control over all circumstances, including personal affliction. David's declaration, "because thou didst it," is a direct theological statement attributing his suffering to God's hand, whether as discipline or for a greater purpose. Secondly, it highlights **Silent Submission**, a profound act of trust where the afflicted chooses to refrain from questioning or complaining against God, even in the face of pain. This is not passive resignation but an active, faith-filled acceptance of God's wisdom and justice. Finally, the verse speaks to the theme of **Trust in God's Purpose**, suggesting that even when the reasons for suffering are unclear, a deep-seated faith enables one to believe that God's actions are purposeful and ultimately for good, aligning with the wisdom literature's emphasis on trusting the Lord with all one's heart ([Proverbs 3:5-6](/proverbs/3-5 "Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Dumb (Hebrew, _ne'elam'_):** This word (נֶאֱלַם) signifies being speechless, silenced, or struck dumb. It conveys a profound and complete cessation of speech, not merely a withholding of words but an inability or deliberate refusal to articulate complaint or protest. It suggests a state of being utterly subdued and quieted before a greater power.
* **Didst (Hebrew, _asita'_):** The verb (עָשִׂיתָ), in the perfect tense, means "you have done" or "you did." It is a direct and emphatic attribution of the action to God. This is not a passive allowance but an active, intentional doing on God's part, highlighting His direct agency and sovereignty over the psalmist's circumstances.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I was dumb":** This phrase signifies the psalmist's deliberate choice to become silent, to cease all verbal complaint or questioning. It is a posture of profound resignation and humility, indicating a surrender of the right to protest or articulate his pain in a manner that would challenge God's justice or wisdom.
* **"I opened not my mouth":** This clause reinforces the previous statement, emphasizing the completeness and intentionality of the psalmist's silence. It is an active withholding of speech, a conscious decision to refrain from uttering words of protest, accusation, or even explanation regarding his suffering. This silence is a testament to his submission.
* **"because thou didst [it]":** This is the crucial theological pivot. The psalmist attributes his affliction directly to God's doing. The "it" refers to the unspecified suffering or chastisement he is experiencing. By acknowledging God's direct agency, the psalmist moves beyond questioning the *why* of his suffering to accepting the *who* behind it, recognizing God's sovereign hand as the ultimate cause or orchestrator of his trials. This recognition is the foundation of his silent submission.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Psalms 39:9 is **Apostrophe**, as David directly addresses God, shifting from internal monologue and general reflections on humanity to a direct statement of submission to the divine "Thou." There is also profound **Irony** in the psalmist's journey: he initially resolves to guard his mouth to avoid sinning against men ([Psalms 39:1](/psalms/39-1 "Psalm 39:1 - David's Resolution")), but ultimately, his deepest silence comes not from fear of man, but from a reverent, submissive acknowledgment of God's sovereign hand. The phrase "I was dumb, I opened not my mouth" employs **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, where the second clause reiterates and intensifies the meaning of the first, emphasizing the completeness of his silence. This silence itself functions as a powerful **Symbolism** of absolute trust and surrender in the face of overwhelming divine power and inscrutable wisdom.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The profound silence of Psalms 39:9, rooted in the acknowledgment of God's sovereign hand, resonates deeply with biblical theology concerning divine discipline and human submission. It echoes the wisdom found in the book of Job, where suffering is not always a direct result of personal sin but can be part of God's larger, often mysterious, purposes. This posture of silent acceptance is a hallmark of mature faith, recognizing that God's ways are higher than human ways and His thoughts deeper than human thoughts. It challenges the human tendency to demand explanations or to protest against perceived injustice, instead calling for a humble surrender to the divine will. This submission is not passive resignation but an active trust in God's ultimate goodness and wisdom, even when His actions are painful or incomprehensible.
* [Job 1:21](/job/1-21 "Job 1:21 - Job's Submission to God's Sovereignty")
* [Lamentations 3:28](/lamentations/3-28 "Lamentations 3:28 - Sitting Alone in Silence")
* [Isaiah 53:7](/isaiah/53-7 "Isaiah 53:7 - The Suffering Servant's Silence")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 39:9 offers a profound lesson for believers navigating the complexities of suffering and unanswered questions. In a world that often encourages vocal protest and demands for justice or explanation, David's example calls us to a different kind of strength: the strength found in silent submission to God's sovereign will. This does not negate the validity of lament or honest prayer, but it points to a deeper spiritual maturity where, after pouring out our hearts, we arrive at a place of trusting that God is ultimately in control, and His purposes, though sometimes painful, are always good. It challenges us to consider whether our complaints stem from a lack of trust in God's wisdom or a desire to control circumstances that are ultimately beyond our grasp. Embracing this posture of silent submission can transform our suffering from a source of bitterness into an opportunity for deeper reliance on God, fostering patience, humility, and a profound peace that transcends understanding.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When facing hardship, do I first seek to understand "why" or to acknowledge "who" is ultimately in control?**
* **What does true "silent submission" look like in my life, and how does it differ from passive resignation?**
* **How can recognizing God's direct agency in my trials deepen my trust in His character and purposes?**

### FAQ
**Does "because thou didst it" mean God causes all suffering directly?**

Answer: This phrase in Psalms 39:9 indicates David's recognition of God's ultimate sovereignty over all circumstances, including his affliction. It doesn't necessarily imply that God *directly causes* every single instance of suffering in a mechanistic way, but rather that nothing happens outside of His divine will or permission. God can use suffering for various purposes: as discipline ([Hebrews 12:5-11](/hebrews/12-5 "Hebrews 12:5-11 - God's Discipline")), to test faith ([James 1:2-4](/james/1-2 "James 1:2-4 - Testing of Faith")), to refine character ([Romans 5:3-5](/romans/5-3 "Romans 5:3-5 - Suffering Produces Perseverance")), or to bring about His greater redemptive plan. David's statement is an acknowledgment of God's ultimate control and authority, leading him to a posture of submission rather than rebellion or complaint.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 39:9 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While David's silence was an act of submission in his own suffering, Christ's silence before His accusers and during His crucifixion was the perfect embodiment of this principle. The prophet Isaiah foretold of the Suffering Servant, "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He opened not His mouth" ([Isaiah 53:7](/isaiah/53-7 "Isaiah 53:7 - The Suffering Servant's Silence")). This prophecy is directly fulfilled in the Gospels, where Jesus, though innocent, remained silent before Pilate and Herod, refusing to defend Himself or protest the injustice being inflicted upon Him ([Matthew 27:12-14](/matthew/27-12 "Matthew 27:12-14 - Jesus Before Pilate"); [Luke 23:9](/luke/23-9 "Luke 23:9 - Jesus Before Herod")). His submission was absolute, not out of resignation, but out of perfect obedience to the Father's will, knowing that His suffering was "because thou didst it" – the Father's sovereign plan to redeem humanity. Christ's silent endurance on the cross, the ultimate "it," was the divine act that secured salvation, demonstrating a perfect trust in God's purpose even unto death ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience")). He is the Lamb of God who silently bore the sins of the world, making His silence a powerful, redemptive act of perfect submission to the divine will.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Job 2:10

But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

2 Samuel 16:10

And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

Job 1:21

And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Daniel 4:35

And all the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and [among] the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

1 Samuel 3:18

And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It [is] the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.

Leviticus 10:3

¶ Then Moses said unto Aaron, This [is it] that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

Job 40:4

Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.