Bible Strands
Psalms 8:2
From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise on account of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and avenger.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David addresses the LORD in a psalm for the choirmaster (tune: Gittith), positioned between declarations of God's majesty above the heavens (v. 1) and His work in the stars (v. 3).
The words — עֹז ('oz, "strength") is the noun the BSB renders "praise"; it carries the sense of valor or might rather than mere verbal commendation. יִסַּדְתָּ (yissadda, "you have established") derives from the root yasad, to lay a foundation — God did not merely permit infant praise but grounded it as a deliberate act.
The thread — Jesus quotes this verse directly in Matthew 21:16, answering the chief priests and scribes who objected to children shouting in the temple.
Why it lands — The verse claims that God's strategy for silencing His enemies runs through the weakest available voices, not the strongest. It asks the reader to stop assuming that power looks like power.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
Cross-references
- Matthew 21:16 “Do You hear what these children are saying?” they asked. “Yes,” Jesus answered. “Have you never read: ‘From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise’?”
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
- Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
- Psalms 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
- Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
- Luke 10:21 At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.
- Psalms 44:16 at the voice of the scorner and reviler, because of the enemy, bent on revenge.
- Psalms 84:5 Blessed are those whose strength is in You, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
- Exodus 15:16 and terror and dread will fall on them. By the power of Your arm they will be as still as a stone until Your people pass by, O LORD, until the people You have bought pass by.