Verse

Psalm 50:11

ESV I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.
NIV I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine.
NASB I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine.
CSB I know every bird of the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.
NLT I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine.
KJV I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
NKJV I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine.

What does Psalm 50:11 mean?

God has "arrived," through the description of this psalm, to render a verdict announced to the entire world (Psalm 50:1–6). The accusation begins with what God is not condemning: the completion of required sacrifices (Psalm 50:7–8). Rather, God will rebuke Israel for performing those rituals with hypocrisy and hollowness (Psalm 50:16–21). In this part of the passage, the Lord explains that He doesn't need to be "given" the sacrificed animals, as He already owns them (Psalm 50:10).

Ample evidence of the Lord's knowledge and ownership of all animal life is found throughout the Bible. He directed a flock of quail to fly low enough to the camp of the Israelites so they could knock them to the ground and eat them (Numbers 11:31–32). He gave voice to Balaam's donkey (Numbers 22:22–28). He used ravens to feed Elijah (1 Kings 17:5–6). He appointed a whale to swallow Jonah (Jonah 1:17). He sees the sparrow's fall (Matthew 10:29). He drew a huge school of fish into the nets of Peter, Andrew, James, and John (Luke 5:1–11). He provided an unbroken colt to carry Jesus into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1–9). He kept a viper from poisoning the apostle Paul (Acts 28:3–5).

God already owns all the birds and animals in nature and can command them to do His will. He does not command sacrifices from Israel because He lacks something. There is a greater purpose to those rituals, which should be performed from the right frame of mind (Hosea 6:6).
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