Psalms 50:10

For every beast of the forest [is] mine, [and] the cattle upon a thousand hills.

For every beast {H2416} of the forest {H3293} is mine, and the cattle {H929} upon a thousand {H505} hills {H2042}.

for all forest creatures are mine already, as are the animals on a thousand hills;

for every beast of the forest is Mine— the cattle on a thousand hills.

For every beast of the forest is mine, And the cattle upon a thousand hills.

Psalms 50:10 stands as a powerful declaration of God's absolute and unchallengeable ownership over all creation. It is part of a prophetic psalm by Asaph, where God is depicted as a divine judge calling His people to account, particularly regarding their understanding of worship and sacrifice.

Context

Psalm 50 presents God summoning heaven and earth to witness His judgment of Israel. The preceding verses clarify that God is not scolding His people for failing to offer sacrifices because He is hungry or in need of them. Instead, He challenges their misunderstanding of what true worship entails. Verses 7-9 establish that God already knows their sacrifices and burnt offerings are continually before Him, but His concern is with their heart and obedience, not merely ritualistic performance. This verse, Psalms 50:10, along with verse 11, serves as a foundational statement affirming God's complete independence and boundless resources, setting the stage for His subsequent instruction on genuine spiritual offering.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Ownership: The verse emphatically states that "every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills." This highlights God's ultimate dominion over all living creatures and, by extension, all material possessions. It underscores the biblical truth that "The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein" (Psalm 24:1).
  • God's Self-Sufficiency: This declaration directly challenges the notion that God somehow benefits from or is dependent on human offerings. He possesses everything in abundance. The idea that He would need food or resources from humans is dismissed, reinforcing His eternal self-sufficiency and independence. The Apostle Paul reiterates this in the New Testament, stating that God "is not worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things" (Acts 17:25).
  • Foundation for True Worship: By asserting His absolute ownership, God lays the groundwork for a deeper understanding of worship. If He owns everything, then true worship is not about giving Him something He lacks, but about offering oneself, gratitude, and obedience from a heart of faith. This leads to the call in Psalm 50:14 to "Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High."

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "a thousand hills" (Hebrew: 'eleph hararim) is a poetic hyperbole, signifying an immeasurable, countless number. It emphasizes the vastness and completeness of God's ownership, far beyond a literal count of hills. It paints a picture of boundless wealth and dominion, reinforcing that His resources are infinite and beyond human comprehension.

Practical Application

This verse offers profound implications for believers today:

  1. Humility and Gratitude: Recognizing God's absolute ownership should cultivate humility within us, as we realize that everything we possess is ultimately His. This should naturally lead to a spirit of profound gratitude for His provision.
  2. Stewardship, Not Ownership: We are called to be good stewards of the resources, talents, and time God has entrusted to us, understanding that they are not truly ours but His. This perspective transforms how we manage our finances, possessions, and even our lives.
  3. Trust in God's Provision: If God owns "the cattle upon a thousand hills," we can trust in His ability and willingness to provide for our needs. This truth brings comfort and peace, especially in times of scarcity or uncertainty.
  4. Focus on Heart-Centered Worship: The verse reminds us that God desires our hearts more than our material offerings. While giving is a part of worship, it must flow from a sincere heart of devotion and obedience, recognizing His supreme worth and ownership over all.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 27:5

    I have made the earth, the man and the beast that [are] upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me.

  • Jeremiah 27:6

    And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.

  • Jonah 4:11

    And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and [also] much cattle?

  • Psalms 104:14

    He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;

  • Psalms 8:6

    Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all [things] under his feet:

  • Psalms 8:8

    The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, [and whatsoever] passeth through the paths of the seas.

  • Psalms 104:24

    O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

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