This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
Parallel translations
- WEB It will please Yahweh better than an ox, or a bull that has horns and hoofs.
- BSB And this will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with horns and hooves.
- NKJV This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bull, Which has horns and hooves.
- NASB And it will please the Lord better than an ox Or bull with horns and hoofs.
- NLT For this will please the Lord more than sacrificing cattle, more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Heartfelt praise pleases God more than animal sacrifices. It teaches that God desires sincere worship above mere ritual.
Overview
David declares that his thankful praise delights the Lord more than the costliest sacrificial ox or bull. God has always sought the worship of the heart, not empty ceremony (Psalm 51:16-17). This points toward the new covenant, where the sacrifices God desires are the praise of redeemed hearts, made acceptable through the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Heb 13:15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
- Ps 50:13–14Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
- Eph 5:19–20Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
- Ps 50:23Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
- 1 Pet 2:5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
- Hos 14:2Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 69:31 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.