What Does Psalm 69:31 Mean in the King James?

This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.

Psalm 69:31 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The Hebrew word translated “please” comes from a root meaning “be good,” making praise itself the good offering in this comparison.

THE MEANING

The song and thanksgiving just named are pleasing to the LORD, surpassing even an ox or bull marked by horns and hoofs. Praise stands as an offering whose worth is measured by the goodness it expresses.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

This undoes the belief that God’s pleasure depends chiefly on an impressive, costly offering: the verse places praise and thanksgiving above the animal’s visible worth.

THE ROOT

תִיטַב

tîṭaḇ

GROWS FROM

יטב

y-ṭ-b

To be good or well; to be pleasing.

The line before names the gift as a song and thanksgiving, and this verb describes that gift as good to the LORD. The same seed also forms words for doing good and for things going well, so “please” carries the language of goodness rather than bare approval.

ALSO GROWS

hêṭîḇ: Did good; dealt well.

הֵיטִיב

This form uses the same root for doing good, bringing goodness into the verse’s description of what pleases the LORD.

yêṭaḇ: It will be well; it will go well.

יֵיטַב

Here the root describes things going well; in this verse, the offering is described as good to the LORD.

THE PATTERN

The offering that pleases God is responsive praise and obedience, whose worth exceeds the material scale of sacrifice.

Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

Psalm 50:14 · KJVThanksgiving itself is named as an offering presented to God, matching this verse’s valuation of song and gratitude.

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

1 Samuel 15:22 · KJVThe verse places hearkening to the LORD above even the fat of rams, valuing lived response above the substance of the sacrifice.

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Hebrews 13:15 · KJVPraise and thanksgiving are called a sacrifice themselves, the fruit of lips offered continually.

THE THREAD

Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Psalm 51:18 · KJV

Psalm 51:18 uses ⁨הֵיטִיבָה⁩ (hêṭîḇâ, “do good”), another form of ⁨יטב⁩ (y-ṭ-b), the root behind “please” here. The shared root links the LORD’s pleasure with goodness done.

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