Psalms 8:2

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

Out of the mouth {H6310} of babes {H5768} and sucklings {H3243} hast thou ordained {H3245} strength {H5797} because of thine enemies {H6887}, that thou mightest still {H7673} the enemy {H341} and the avenger {H5358}.

From the mouths of babies and infants at the breast you established strength because of your foes, in order that you might silence the enemy and the avenger.

From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise on account of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and avenger.

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou established strength, Because of thine adversaries, That thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

Psalm 8:2, a profound verse from King David's hymn of praise, highlights a remarkable paradox concerning God's power and His adversaries. It declares that God establishes strength even from the most unexpected sources: "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger." This verse beautifully encapsulates the divine wisdom that often confounds human understanding.

Context of Psalm 8

Psalm 8 is a majestic psalm celebrating God's glory as revealed in creation and His incredible condescension in valuing and exalting humanity. The psalm begins by extolling God's name above all the earth (Psalm 8:1) and then shifts to this surprising statement about children. It sets the stage for understanding God's power not just in grand cosmic displays, but also in the humble and seemingly weak.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Paradox: Strength from Weakness: The central message is God's ability to manifest His power through the least likely means. "Babes and sucklings" represent innocence, vulnerability, and utter dependence. Yet, from their simple praise or even their mere existence, God establishes a formidable "strength" that counters His enemies. This theme resonates with the idea that God often chooses the weak things of the world to confound the mighty.
  • The Power of Praise: While "strength" could refer to God's inherent power displayed through the innocent, it is widely interpreted, especially in the New Testament, as the power of praise and simple faith. The pure, unadulterated adoration of children can be a more potent force than any earthly weapon against spiritual adversaries.
  • Silencing the Adversary: The ultimate purpose of this ordained strength is to "still the enemy and the avenger." This refers to God's adversaries, whether human or spiritual forces of evil, who oppose His will and His people. God uses this unexpected channel to silence their accusations, thwart their schemes, and bring their malice to nothing.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "ordained" is yasad (יסד), meaning to found, establish, or lay a foundation. This suggests that God doesn't just momentarily use the praise of children, but actively and purposefully establishes a foundational strength through them. The word for "strength" (עֹז - oz) denotes might, power, or a stronghold, emphasizing the solid, unyielding nature of this divine establishment. "Still" comes from the Hebrew shabath (שָׁבַת), which means to cease, desist, or bring to an end, implying a complete cessation of hostile activity from the "enemy and avenger."

New Testament Significance and Application

This verse gains profound significance in the New Testament. Jesus Himself quotes Psalm 8:2 in Matthew 21:16 when the chief priests and scribes were indignant that children were praising Him in the temple, crying "Hosanna to the Son of David!" Jesus' use of this verse affirmed that the simple, heartfelt praise of children was a powerful and divinely approved testimony that silenced His critics and adversaries.

Practical Application

Psalm 8:2 encourages us to recognize that God's power is not limited to human strength, wisdom, or status. It reminds us that:

  • Genuine Praise is Potent: Simple, sincere praise and faith, even from the most humble and unassuming, are incredibly powerful in the spiritual realm.
  • God Uses the Unlikely: God can use anyone, regardless of age, background, or perceived weakness, to accomplish His mighty purposes and confound His enemies.
  • Humility Overcomes Pride: This verse challenges human pride and self-sufficiency, showing that God's ways often invert the world's values. It's a call to embrace humility and childlike faith.

The commentary on Psalm 8:2 ultimately testifies to God's supreme sovereignty and His ability to establish His truth and silence opposition through the most unexpected and beautiful means.

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.

  • Matthew 21:16

    And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

  • 2 Corinthians 12:9

    And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:10

    Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

  • Isaiah 40:31

    But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.

  • Psalms 46:10

    Be still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:27

    But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

  • Matthew 11:25

    ¶ At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

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