Psalms 81:10 (KJV)

What does Psalms 81:10 mean?

Psalms 81:10 describes God reminding the people of Israel that He is the LORD who brought them out of Egypt, urging them to open their mouths wide so He can fill them. The verse uses the image of an open mouth to show that God wants His people to expect and trust Him for generous provision.

In this psalm, God is speaking to Israel, recalling the time He rescued them from slavery in Egypt. The setting is one of remembering God’s past faithfulness and calling the people to rely on Him. The phrase about opening the mouth wide is a way of saying that God is ready to meet their needs fully if they come to Him with trust.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 81:10

• LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal name of God, emphasizing His covenant relationship with Israel and His unique identity as their deliverer.
• brought (הֶעֱלִיתִךָ, he‘elitikha): This word means "to bring up" or "to lead out," highlighting God’s active role in rescuing Israel from Egypt, not just passively allowing it.
• mouth (פֶּה, peh) and wide (רָחַב, rachav): The image of opening the mouth wide (literally "make your mouth wide") is a vivid way to picture readiness to receive; it suggests that God’s provision is as full as the people are willing to trust Him for.
• fill (מָלֵא, male): This word means "to fill up" or "satisfy completely," reinforcing the idea that God is able and willing to meet every need.

Why Psalms 81:10 matters

• Psalms 81:10 clears up the idea that God’s provision is limited; the verse stresses that God invites His people to expect much from Him, not just a little.
• The verse connects the act of trusting God with remembering His past acts of salvation, grounding faith in real history rather than vague hope.
• This verse sets up the rest of the psalm, where God contrasts His readiness to bless with Israel’s reluctance to listen, highlighting the importance of trust and obedience.