I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.

PSALMS 50:9KJV
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Psalms 50:9 (KJV)

What does Psalms 50:9 mean?

Psalms 50:9 means that God is telling the people He does not need to take a bull or a goat from them or their property. God is making it clear that He is not dependent on their animal sacrifices or what they own.

In this psalm, God is speaking to His people, Israel, during a time when animal sacrifices were a regular part of worship. The verse comes as part of a larger message where God explains that He owns everything and is not in need of gifts from humans. This challenges the idea that God’s favor can be earned by simply offering animals, pointing instead to God’s complete self-sufficiency.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 50:9

  • "take" (לָקַח, laqach): This word means to take, receive, or seize. Here, it emphasizes that God does not need to "take" anything from the people, underlining His independence.
  • "bullock" (פַּר, par): This refers to a young bull, often used in sacrifices. Mentioning the "bullock" highlights the most valuable offerings people could give.
  • "house" (בַּיִת, bayith): This means house or household. God is saying He does not need to take animals from anyone’s home, stressing that nothing people own is required by Him.
  • "goats" (עַתּוּד, attud): This word refers to male goats, another common sacrificial animal. Including both bulls and goats covers the main types of offerings.
  • "folds" (מִכְלָאָה, mikla’ah): This means an animal pen or enclosure. God’s mention of "folds" shows He is not limited to what people keep in their care.

Why Psalms 50:9 matters

  • This verse clears up the misunderstanding that God needs anything from people, even their most prized possessions or sacrifices.
  • It emphasizes God’s ownership of all creation, which is a key theme in the surrounding verses of the psalm.
  • By stating He does not need to take animals from anyone, God shifts the focus from ritual acts to the heart and attitude behind worship.

Where else these words appear

“folds” Hebrew H4356 · used in 3 verses

  • Psalms 78:70 He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
  • Habakkuk 3:17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

“goats” Hebrew H6260 · used in 29 verses

  • Genesis 31:10 And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.
  • Numbers 7:59 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
  • Proverbs 27:26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.

“bullock” Hebrew H6499 · used in 119 verses

  • Genesis 32:15 Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.
  • Numbers 7:57 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
  • Numbers 29:32 And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish: