Psalms 69:31

Translation
King James Version
This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
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KJV (with Strong's)
This also shall please H3190 the LORD H3068 better H3190 H8799 than an ox H7794 or bullock H6499 that hath horns H7160 H8688 and hoofs H6536 H8688.
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Complete Jewish Bible
This will please ADONAI more than a bull, with its horns and hoofs.
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Berean Standard Bible
And this will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with horns and hooves.
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American Standard Version
And it will please Jehovah better than an ox, Ora bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
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World English Bible Messianic
It will please the LORD better than an ox, or a bull that has horns and hoofs.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
This also shall please the Lord better then a yong bullocke, that hath hornes and hoofes.
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Young's Literal Translation
And it is better to Jehovah than an ox, A bullock--horned--hoofed.
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See also
Psalms 50:13Psalms 50:14Hebrews 13:15Psalms 50:23Ephesians 5:19Ephesians 5:201 Peter 2:5
In the KJVVerse 14,967 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Psalms 69:31 articulates a profound theological truth, asserting that the heartfelt praise and thanksgiving offered by the psalmist are inherently more pleasing and acceptable to the LORD than even the most valuable and ritually perfect animal sacrifices. This declaration elevates the spiritual offering of a contrite and grateful heart above external, material acts of worship, revealing God's ultimate desire for genuine relationship and authentic devotion over mere ritualistic observance. It establishes a timeless principle, emphasizing that true worship stems from a transformed inner disposition rather than the magnitude or cost of outward performance.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Psalm 69 is a deeply personal and poignant lament, traditionally attributed to David, where the psalmist cries out from a place of intense suffering, persecution, and profound distress. He describes being overwhelmed by enemies, alienated from family, and experiencing the scorn of those who hate him without cause, even feeling consumed by zeal for God's house, as seen in Psalms 69:9. Despite the overwhelming sorrow and a broken heart mentioned in Psalms 69:20, the psalm undergoes a significant shift from verse 30 onwards. This transition moves from fervent complaint and imprecation to an expression of unwavering confidence in God's eventual deliverance and a commitment to praise Him. Verse 30 explicitly states, "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving." Verse 31, with its opening "This also," directly builds upon and clarifies the immense value God places on this very act of spiritual praise and thanksgiving, contrasting it with traditional sacrifices. The psalm concludes with a vision of future restoration for Zion and God's servants, solidifying the shift from lament to hopeful worship.

  • Historical & Cultural Context: In ancient Israel, the offering of oxen, bullocks, and other animals was a central and divinely ordained component of the Levitical sacrificial system, as detailed in Leviticus 1 and throughout the Pentateuch. These sacrifices served multiple purposes: atonement for sin, expressions of thanksgiving, dedication, and fellowship with God. An "ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs" vividly describes a fully grown, healthy, and unblemished animal, representing a significant and costly offering. Such an animal would be considered a prime sacrifice, signifying the worshiper's commitment and the high value placed on the offering. However, throughout the Old Testament, there is a recurring prophetic theme that emphasizes God's preference for obedience, justice, mercy, and a right heart over mere ritual. Prophets like Samuel in 1 Samuel 15:22 and Hosea in Hosea 6:6 consistently conveyed that while ritual was commanded, it was meaningless without genuine internal devotion and moral righteousness. This verse in Psalms 69 stands firmly within this prophetic tradition, articulating a divine priority.

  • Key Themes: This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within the Psalms and broader biblical theology. It underscores the superiority of spiritual worship over external ritual, highlighting that God values the sincerity of the heart and the genuine expression of praise and thanksgiving more than the most valuable material offerings. This theme is echoed in other psalms, such as Psalms 51:17, which speaks of a "broken and contrite heart" as a sacrifice God will not despise. It reveals God's profound desire for intimacy and authentic relationship, showing that He is less interested in the quantity or costliness of outward observances and more in the quality of genuine devotion and a thankful spirit. Furthermore, it redefines what constitutes an acceptable sacrifice to the LORD, not merely something costly or prescribed by law, but something offered from a heart transformed by faith and gratitude. This theme anticipates later prophetic and New Testament teachings on the nature of true worship, moving beyond the physical temple to the spiritual worship of God's people.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Please (Hebrew, yâṭab', H3190): The Hebrew verb יָטַב (yâṭab), translated "please" in the KJV, carries a rich semantic range including "to be good, to be pleasing, to be well, to be agreeable." It denotes a state of being agreeable or acceptable, and in a causative sense, "to make well" or "to do good." In this context, it signifies divine approval and delight. It's not merely that God tolerates or accepts this praise, but that He finds it inherently "good" and takes profound pleasure in it, indicating a deep satisfaction that transcends the efficacy of a material offering. The comparative "better" emphasizes the degree of this divine pleasure.
  • Ox (Hebrew, shôwr', H7794): The Hebrew noun שׁוֹר (shôwr) is a general term for a bull, ox, or cow, often referring to a mature bovine animal. These animals were highly valued in ancient Israel, serving as beasts of burden, sources of food, and, most significantly, as prime offerings in the sacrificial system. When used in the context of sacrifice, it denotes a substantial and costly animal, representing a significant material contribution to worship.
  • Bullock (Hebrew, par', H6499): The Hebrew noun פַּר (par) specifically refers to a young bull or calf, often designated for various types of sacrifices, including burnt offerings, sin offerings, and peace offerings. The inclusion of both "ox" and "bullock" (along with the descriptive "that hath horns and hoofs") serves to encompass the full range of prime, unblemished, and valuable bovine animals typically offered in the Mosaic sacrificial system, emphasizing the highest standard of material offering.

Verse Breakdown

  • "[This] also": This demonstrative phrase serves as a direct anaphoric reference to the preceding verse, Psalms 69:30, where the psalmist declares, "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving." The "this" therefore signifies the act of heartfelt praise, song, and thanksgiving – a spiritual offering from the lips and heart of the worshiper. The inclusion of "also" suggests that while animal sacrifices were valid and commanded, there is another form of offering—a spiritual one—that holds even greater weight in God's eyes.
  • "shall please the LORD better": This is the core assertion of the verse, establishing a clear hierarchy of value in God's estimation. The spiritual offering of praise and thanksgiving is not just acceptable, but it is more pleasing, more delightful, and more agreeable to God than the most esteemed material sacrifice. This phrase reveals God's character and His priorities: He values the internal disposition and genuine devotion of His people over the external performance of ritual, no matter how costly or meticulously performed.
  • "than an ox [or] bullock that hath horns and hoofs": This clause provides the explicit point of comparison, vividly describing the pinnacle of material offerings. By specifying a fully grown, healthy, and complete animal—one that is ritually pure and valuable—the psalmist emphasizes that even the most perfect and costly material sacrifice, the gold standard of offerings in the Mosaic Law, is surpassed in divine favor by sincere spiritual worship. It is a powerful statement that shifts the focus from the physical act of giving to the spiritual posture and internal disposition of the giver.

Literary Devices

Psalms 69:31 primarily employs Contrast and Hyperbole (or a form of Comparative Emphasis) to convey its profound message. The central device is Contrast, setting the "praise and thanksgiving" of the psalmist against the "ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs." This opposition highlights the qualitative difference in God's preference, unequivocally elevating the spiritual over the material. The phrase "better than" functions as a form of Comparative Emphasis, not necessarily to negate the value of animal sacrifices entirely (as they were divinely ordained), but to underscore the superiority and greater delight God finds in heartfelt spiritual worship. This emphasis borders on Hyperbole to powerfully convey the divine preference, suggesting that the spiritual offering is so much more pleasing that it dwarfs the value of even the most magnificent material sacrifice. The vivid description of the animal ("that hath horns and hoofs") serves as Synecdoche, where a characteristic part (horns and hoofs, indicating a complete, healthy animal) stands for the whole, representing the ideal, unblemished animal sacrifice, thereby making the comparison even more impactful by pitting the highest form of ritual against the simplest, yet most profound, spiritual act.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Psalms 69:31 stands as a pivotal Old Testament expression of a recurring theological truth: God's ultimate desire for a relationship characterized by genuine heart-devotion rather than mere external ritual. This verse, therefore, prefigures and aligns with prophetic declarations that consistently prioritize obedience, justice, mercy, and knowledge of God over burnt offerings. It reveals that the heart of worship is not found in the costliness of the offering, but in the sincerity of the giver. This principle is foundational to understanding the New Covenant, where the focus shifts entirely from animal sacrifices to spiritual sacrifices offered through Christ. Our worship, then, becomes a living response to God's grace, expressed through praise, thanksgiving, and a life lived in obedience. It underscores that God seeks worshippers who worship Him in spirit and truth, valuing the internal disposition above all external performances.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Psalms 69:31 offers a timeless and profoundly liberating truth for believers today. In a world that often measures worth by outward display, material contribution, or impressive performance, this verse redirects our focus to the very heart of worship. It reminds us that our most valuable offering to God is not what we can physically give, but the genuine praise and thanksgiving that flow from a sincere and grateful heart. This means cultivating an attitude of gratitude in all circumstances, even amidst suffering and challenge, as the psalmist did. It encourages us to prioritize our inner spiritual posture—our humility, our trust, our joy in the Lord—over any external performance or religious duty. Our lives, our words, and our very being become a continuous sacrifice of praise, deeply pleasing to the LORD, reflecting a vibrant and intimate relationship with Him. This truth frees us from the burden of striving to impress God with outward acts and invites us into a deeper, more authentic connection with Him, where our genuine affection is our highest offering.

Questions for Reflection

  • In what ways might I be prioritizing external religious acts or material contributions over genuine, heartfelt praise and thanksgiving in my own life?
  • How can I cultivate a deeper spirit of gratitude and praise, especially when facing difficulties or suffering, drawing inspiration from the psalmist's journey?
  • What does it mean for my daily life, relationships, and priorities if God values my sincere heart and spiritual devotion more than any outward offering?
  • How does understanding God's preference for spiritual sacrifice impact my approach to corporate worship, personal devotion, and even my giving?

FAQ

Does this verse mean that animal sacrifices were no longer important in ancient Israel?

Answer: No, this verse does not abolish or negate the importance of animal sacrifices within the divinely ordained Mosaic Law. The sacrificial system was a crucial part of Israel's covenant relationship with God, serving as a means of atonement, purification, and worship. Rather, Psalms 69:31, like other prophetic statements (e.g., Isaiah 1:11-17 or Amos 5:21-24), emphasizes God's priority. It highlights that while the ritual was necessary, it was insufficient if performed without a sincere heart. God always desired the internal devotion and obedience of His people more than the mere outward act, even of a costly sacrifice. The verse underscores that the spirit behind the offering was paramount, ensuring that the ritual was an expression of genuine faith and not a substitute for it.

What does "this also" specifically refer to in the context of Psalms 69:31?

Answer: "This also" directly refers to the spiritual acts of worship described in the preceding verse, Psalms 69:30. There, the psalmist declares, "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving." Therefore, "this also" signifies the offering of heartfelt praise, joyful song, and sincere thanksgiving. It is the spontaneous, joyful, and grateful expression of the heart towards God that is being contrasted with the animal sacrifice, demonstrating its superior value in God's eyes. It encapsulates the psalmist's commitment to worship God not merely through prescribed rituals, but through the genuine overflow of a thankful spirit, even in the midst of distress.

How can believers today offer "spiritual sacrifices" that please the LORD?

Answer: For believers today, the concept of spiritual sacrifice is profoundly relevant, especially in light of the New Testament. We no longer offer animal sacrifices, as Christ's perfect sacrifice has fulfilled and superseded them. Instead, we are called to offer ourselves as "living sacrifices," holy and pleasing to God, which is our spiritual worship, as taught in Romans 12:1. Specifically, Hebrews 13:15 instructs us to "continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." This includes acts of worship, thanksgiving, obedience, acts of service, sharing with others (Hebrews 13:16), and prayer (Philippians 4:6). These are the "spiritual sacrifices" that are pleasing to God, flowing from a heart transformed by faith in Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Psalms 69:31 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament sacrificial system, including the offering of oxen and bullocks, was a divinely instituted shadow pointing to the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Christ's crucifixion was the full and final atonement for sin, rendering all animal sacrifices obsolete and establishing a new covenant, as Hebrews 10:1-10 powerfully attests. Because Jesus offered Himself as the perfect, unblemished sacrifice, we are now able to approach God directly, not with the blood of animals, but with the "sacrifice of praise" (Hebrews 13:15)—the very spiritual offering that Psalms 69:31 declares to be more pleasing to the LORD. Our ability to offer genuine praise and thanksgiving, to present our bodies as "living sacrifices" (Romans 12:1), and to live lives of obedience and good works (Ephesians 2:10) is entirely predicated on Christ's finished work. He is the one who makes our spiritual worship acceptable and delightful to the Father, fulfilling the psalmist's longing for a worship that truly pleases God by opening the way for all believers to worship in "spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24).

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Commentary on Psalms 69 verses 30–36

The psalmist here, both as a type of Christ and as an example to Christians, concludes a psalm with holy joy and praise which he began with complaints and remonstrances of his griefs.

I. He resolves to praise God himself, not doubting but that therein he should be accepted of him (Psa 69:30, Psa 69:31): "I will praise the name of God, not only with my heart, but with my song, and magnify him with thanksgiving;" for he is pleased to reckon himself magnified by the thankful praises of his people. It is intimated that all Christians ought to glorify God with their praises, in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs. And this shall please the Lord, through Christ the Mediator of our praises as well as of our prayers, better than the most valuable of the legal sacrifices (Psa 69:31), an ox or bullock. This is a plain intimation that in the days of the Messiah an end should be put, not only to the sacrifices of atonement, but to those of praise and acknowledgment which were instituted by the ceremonial law; and, instead of them, spiritual sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving are accepted - the calves of our lips, not the calves of the stall, Heb 13:15. It is a great comfort to us that humble and thankful praises are more pleasing to God than the most costly pompous sacrifices are or ever were.

II. He encourages other good people to rejoice in God and continue seeking him (Psa 69:32, Psa 69:33): The humble shall see this and be glad. They shall observe, to their comfort, 1. The experiences of the saints. They shall see how ready God is to hear the poor when they cry to him, and to give them that which they call upon him for, how far he is from despising his prisoners; though men despise them, he favours them with his gracious visits and will find a time to enlarge them. The humble shall see this and be glad, not only because when one member is honoured all the members rejoice with it, but because it is an encouragement to them in their straits and difficulties to trust in God. It shall revive the hearts of those who seek God to see more seals and subscriptions to this truth, that Jacob's God never said to Jacob's seed, Seek you me in vain. 2. The exaltation of the Saviour, for of him the psalmist had been speaking, and of himself as a type of him. When his sorrows are over, and he enters into the joy that was set before him, when he is heard and discharged from his imprisonment in the grave, the humble shall look upon it and be glad, and those that seek God through Christ shall live and be comforted, concluding that, if they suffer with him, they shall also reign with him.

III. He calls upon all the creatures to praise God, the heaven, and earth, and sea, and the inhabitants of each, Psa 69:34. Heaven and earth, and the hosts of both, were made by him, and therefore let heaven and earth praise him. Angels in heaven, and saints on earth, may each of them in their respective habitations furnish themselves with matter enough for constant praise. Let the fishes of the sea, though mute to a proverb, praise the Lord, for the sea is his, and he made it. The praises of the world must be offered for God's favours to his church, Psa 69:35, Psa 69:36. For God will save Zion, the holy mountain, where his service was kept up. He will save all that are sanctified and set apart to him, all that employ themselves in his worship, and all those over whom Christ reigns; for he was King upon the holy hill of Zion. He has mercy in store for the cities of Judah, of which tribe Christ was. God will do great things for the gospel church, in which let all that wish well to it rejoice. For, 1. It shall be peopled and inhabited. There shall be added to it such as shall be saved. The cities of Judah shall be built, particular churches shall be formed and incorporated according to the gospel model, that there may be a remnant to dwell there and to have it in possession, to enjoy the privileges conferred upon it and to pay the tributes and services required from it. Those that love his name, that have a kindness for religion in general, shall embrace the Christian religion, and take their place in the Christian church; they shall dwell therein, as citizens, and of the household of God 2. It shall be perpetuated and inherited. Christianity was not to be res unius aetatis - a transitory thin. No: The seed of his servants shall inherit it. God will secure and raise up for himself a seed to serve him, and they shall inherit the privileges of their fathers; for the promise is to you and your children, as it was of old. I will be a God to thee, and thy seed after thee. The land of promise shall never be lost for want of heirs, for God can out of stones raise up children unto Abraham and will do so rather than the entail shall be cut off. David shall never want a man to stand before him. The Redeemer shall see his seed, and prolong his days in them, till the mystery of God shall be finished and the mystical body completed. And since the holy seed is the substance of the world, and if that were all gathered in the world would be at an end quickly, it is just that for this assurance of the preservation of it heaven and earth should praise him.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 30–36. Public domain.
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Clement of RomeAD 99
1 CLEMENT 52
Brothers, the Lord of the universe has need of nothing; he requires nothing of anyone, except that confession be made to him. For David, the chosen one, says, “I will confess to the Lord, and it shall please him more than a young bullock with horns and hoofs. Let the poor see it and be glad.” And again he says, “Sacrifice to God a sacrifice of praise, and render to the All-High your vows; and call on me in the day of affliction, and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” “For a contrite spirit is a sacrifice to God.”
Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 69
"The health of Your countenance, O God, has taken Me up." For what purpose? In order that no longer I may be poor, no longer sorrowful? "I will praise the name of the Lord with a song, I will magnify Him in praise" [Psalm 69:31]. Now it has been said, this poor One praises the name of the Lord with a song, he magnifies Him in praise. When would He have ventured to sing, unless He had been refreshed from hunger? "I will magnify Him with praise." O vast riches! What jewels of God's praise has he brought out of his inward treasures! These are my riches! "The Lord has given, the Lord has taken away." [Job 1:21] Then miserable he has remained? Far be it. See the riches: "As it has pleased the Lord, so has been done, be the name of the Lord blessed."
Peter ChrysologusAD 450
SERMON 5
“And he killed for him the fattened calf.” About that David sang, “And it shall please God better than a young calf that has horns and hoofs.” The calf was slain at this command of the Father, because the Christ, God as the Son of God, could not be slain without the command of his Father. Listen to the apostle: “He who has not spared even his own son but has delivered him for us all.” He is the calf who is daily and continually immolated for our food.
Leo the GreatAD 461
SERMON 44:1
Always indeed, dearly beloved, “the earth is full of the Lord’s kindness,” and the nature of things itself is the teacher to each one of the faithful in the worship of God, while “heaven and earth, the sea and all things that are in them” proclaim the goodness and power of their Creator. The wonderful beauty of the elements that serve him demands a due thanksgiving from the understanding creature.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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