Psalm 8:2 Study Bible: From the lips of children and infants you have established praise, because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger.

◄ Psalm 8:2 ►

From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise on account of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and avenger.

Study Bible

From the mouths of children and infants
This phrase highlights the profound truth that God often chooses the humble and seemingly insignificant to reveal His strength and wisdom. The Hebrew word for "children" is "yeled," which refers to young boys or children in general, while "infants" is "olel," indicating those who are still nursing. This imagery suggests purity, innocence, and dependence. Historically, children were not seen as sources of strength or wisdom in ancient cultures, yet God uses them to demonstrate His power. This aligns with the biblical theme that God’s ways are higher than human ways, as seen in 1 Corinthians 1:27, where God chooses the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

You have ordained praise
The word "ordained" comes from the Hebrew "yasad," meaning to establish or lay a foundation. This suggests that God has intentionally and purposefully established praise from the mouths of the young and innocent. The term "praise" here is "oz," which can also mean strength. This dual meaning implies that the praise of children is a powerful force, ordained by God to accomplish His purposes. In a historical context, this reflects the idea that true strength and victory come from God, not from human might or wisdom.

on account of Your adversaries
This phrase indicates that the praise from children serves a divine purpose against God’s enemies. The Hebrew word for "adversaries" is "tsar," which can mean foes or oppressors. This suggests a spiritual battle where God uses the pure and simple praise of children to silence and defeat His enemies. In the broader scriptural context, this reflects the theme of God’s sovereignty and His ability to use the least likely means to achieve His purposes, as seen throughout the Bible.

to silence the enemy and avenger
The word "silence" is translated from the Hebrew "shabath," meaning to cease or put an end to. This implies that the praise of children has the power to stop the actions and accusations of the enemy. The "enemy" is "oyeb," referring to one who is hostile, while "avenger" is "naqam," indicating one who seeks vengeance. This phrase underscores the spiritual reality that God’s power is made perfect in weakness, and that He can use the most humble means to overcome evil. This is a recurring theme in Scripture, where God’s strength is made manifest in unexpected ways, as seen in the victory of David over Goliath or the ultimate triumph of Christ through the cross.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Children and Infants
Represent innocence and purity, often used in Scripture to symbolize humility and dependence on God.

2. Adversaries
Those who oppose God and His purposes, representing spiritual and earthly opposition.

3. Enemy and Avenger
Terms that denote those who seek to harm or retaliate against God's people or His plans.

Teaching Points

The Power of Praise
Praise is a powerful tool ordained by God to combat spiritual opposition. Even the simplest expressions of worship can have profound effects in the spiritual realm.

God's Use of the Humble
God often chooses the humble and seemingly insignificant to accomplish His purposes, reminding us that His strength is made perfect in weakness.

Childlike Faith
Embrace a childlike faith that trusts and praises God without reservation. This kind of faith is potent and effective against spiritual adversaries.

Silencing the Enemy
Our praise can silence the accusations and lies of the enemy. Regularly engage in worship to maintain spiritual victory.

Dependence on God
Like children, we are called to depend on God for our strength and deliverance. Recognize and embrace your need for His guidance and protection.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the praise of children and infants demonstrate God's power over His adversaries?

2. In what ways can we incorporate childlike faith into our daily walk with God?

3. How does the concept of God using the weak to shame the strong challenge our understanding of power and influence?

4. What are some practical ways we can use praise to silence the enemy in our lives?

5. How can we cultivate a heart of dependence on God similar to that of a child?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Matthew 21:16
Jesus references Psalm 8:2 when children praise Him in the temple, highlighting the fulfillment of this verse in the New Testament.

1 Corinthians 1:27
Paul speaks of God choosing the weak things of the world to shame the strong, paralleling the idea of God using the praise of children to silence His enemies.

Exodus 15:2
The song of Moses and the Israelites after crossing the Red Sea, where praise is used as a weapon against their enemies.

Isaiah 11:6
The imagery of a child leading in the peaceable kingdom, emphasizing the power and purity of childlike faith.

Sermons

A Prophecy of the Incarnation	Joseph Mede, B. D.	Psalm 8:2
God Glorified by Children's Mouths		Psalm 8:2
God Glorified in Little Children	W. Forsyth	Psalm 8:2
Little Children God's Stronghold for Troubled Men	Samuel Cox, D. D.	Psalm 8:2
The Strength of Feeble Instrumentalities	A. Maclaren, D. D.	Psalm 8:2
The Useful Ministry of Children	Dean Farrar, D. D.	Psalm 8:2
David's Poetical Sensitiveness	Henry Housman.	Psalm 8:1-9
God the Glorious Creator	W. Forsyth	Psalm 8:1-9
God's Glory Revealed	C. Short	Psalm 8:1-9
Good Reasons for Praising God	Homilist	Psalm 8:1-9
Lord What is Man?	C. Clemance	Psalm 8:1-9
Religious Affections in Their Objective Ground	L. O. Thompson.	Psalm 8:1-9
The Excellence of the Divine Name and Nature Universal		Psalm 8:1-9
The Excellency of the Divine Name	J. Addison Alexander, D. D.	Psalm 8:1-9
The Excellent Name	T. H. Barnett.	Psalm 8:1-9
The Glory of God in His Works	Thomas Wilcocks.	Psalm 8:1-9
The Supremely Excellent Name	F. B. Meyer, B. A.	Psalm 8:1-9

People

David, Psalmist

Places

Jerusalem

Topics

Adversaries, Avenger, Babes, Babies, Breast, Bulwark, Cease, Clear, Cruel, Enemies, Enemy, Established, Foe, Foes, Founded, Hast, Infants, Lips, Mightest, Mouth, Mouths, Nursing, Ordained, Praise, Revengeful, Self-avenger, Shame, Silence, Strength, Sucklings, Violent

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Psalm 8:2

     2363   Christ, preaching and teaching
     5164   lips
     5652   babies
     5667   children, responsibilities to God
     5950   silence
     5957   strength, spiritual
     7464   teachers of the law

Psalm 8:1-4

4060 nature

Psalm 8:1-9

     4007   creation, and God
     5700   headship
     8662   meditation

Library

The Plan for the Coming of Jesus.
God's Darling, Psalms 8:5-8.--the plan for the new man--the Hebrew picture by itself--difference between God's plan and actual events--one purpose through breaking plans--the original plan--a starting point--getting inside. Fastening a Tether inside: the longest way around--the pedigree--the start. First Touches on the Canvas: the first touch, Genesis 3:15.--three groups of prediction--first group: to Abraham, Genesis 12:1-3; to Isaac, Genesis 26:1-5; to Jacob, Genesis 28:10-15; through Jacob, …
S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks about Jesus

The General Deliverance
"The earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him that subjected it: Yet in hope that the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth, and travaileth in pain together until now." Rom. 8:19-22. 1. Nothing is more sure, than that as "the Lord is loving to every …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

What is Man?
"When I consider thy heaven, the work of thy fingers, the moon and stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man?" Psalm 8:3, 4. How often has it been observed, that the Book of Psalms is a rich treasury of devotion, which the wisdom of God has provided to supply the wants of his children in all generations! In all ages the Psalms have been of singular use to those that loved or feared God; not only to the pious Israelites, but to the children of God in all nations. And this book has been of sovereign …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

That Man Hath no Good in Himself, and Nothing Whereof to Glory
Lord, what is man that Thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that Thou visitest him?(1) What hath man deserved, that Thou shouldest bestow thy favour upon him? Lord, what cause can I have of complaint, if Thou forsake me? Or what can I justly allege, if Thou refuse to hear my petition? Of a truth, this I may truly think and say, Lord, I am nothing, I have nothing that is good of myself, but I fall short in all things, and ever tend unto nothing. And unless I am helped by Thee and inwardly …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

Christ the Redeemer
Q-xxx: HOW DOES THE SPIRIT APPLY TO US THE REDEMPTION PURCHASED BY CHRIST? A: The Spirit applies to us the redemption purchased by Christ by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling. In this answer there are two things. It is implied that Christ is the glorious purchaser of our redemption, in the words, The redemption purchased by Christ,' and it is declared that the Spirit applies to us this purchased redemption, by working in us faith, &c. The thing implied …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Since the Case is So, what is Man...
19. Since the case is so, what is man, while in this life he uses his own proper will, ere he choose and love God, but unrighteous and ungodly? "What," I say, "is man," a creature going astray from the Creator, unless his Creator "be mindful of him," [2683] and choose [2684] him freely, and love [2685] him freely? Because he is himself not able to choose or love, unless being first chosen and loved he be healed, because by choosing blindness he perceiveth not, and by loving laziness is soon wearied. …
St. Augustine—On Patience

Various Experiences in Gospel Work
Soon after I discerned the one body, my brother and I visited St. James, Mo. We had labored there but a short time when Brother Warner and his company came to the town to hold a camp-meeting. When I was first introduced to Brother Warner, he made the remark, "And so you are the sister that wanted to stay in Babylon in order to get wolves to take care of Iambs?" and then broke into a hearty laugh. He referred to my remark that I was going to continue to work with the sects, so that whenever a congregation …
Mary Cole—Trials and Triumphs of Faith

The Shepherd-King
'And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt them mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel! fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided Me a king among his sons. 2. And Samuel said, How can I go? If Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord. 3. And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Purpose in the Coming of Jesus.
God Spelling Himself out in Jesus: change in the original language--bother in spelling Jesus out--sticklers for the old forms--Jesus' new spelling of old words. Jesus is God following us up: God heart-broken--man's native air--bad choice affected man's will--the wrong lane--God following us up. The Early Eden Picture, Genesis 1:26-31. 2:7-25: unfallen man--like God--the breath of God in man--a spirit, infinite, eternal--love--holy--wise--sovereign over creation, Psalm 8:5-8--in his own will--summary--God's …
S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks about Jesus

The Kingdom Undivided
THE POETICAL BOOKS: Psalms Page Song of Solomon Page Proverbs Page THE PSALMS I. The Collection and Divisions: In all probability the book of one hundred and fifty psalms, as it now stands, was compiled by Ezra about 450 B.C. They are divided into five books, each closing with a benediction, evidently added to mark the end of the book. Note the number of psalms in Books 1 and 2. II. The Purposes: 1. They were originally used as songs in the Jewish Temple Worship. …
Frank Nelson Palmer—A Bird's-Eye View of the Bible

Christ and the Little Children
If, when Jesus was here on earth, he had shown a great interest in kings, and princes, in rich, and wise, and great men, it would not have been surprising; because he was a king and a prince, himself; he was richer than the richest, and wiser than the wisest, and greater than the greatest. But he did not do this. He took no particular notice of them; but he showed the greatest possible interest in children. When mothers brought their little ones to him, the disciples wanted to keep them away. They …
Richard Newton—The Life of Jesus Christ for the Young

The History Books
[Illustration: (drop cap T) Assyrian idol-god] Thus little by little the Book of God grew, and the people He had chosen to be its guardians took their place among the nations. A small place it was from one point of view! A narrow strip of land, but unique in its position as one of the highways of the world, on which a few tribes were banded together. All around great empires watched them with eager eyes; the powerful kings of Assyria, Egypt, and Babylonia, the learned Greeks, and, in later times, …
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

Christ Clothed with the True Substance of Human Nature.
1. Proof of the true humanity of Christ, against the Manichees and Marcionites. 2. Impious objections of heretics further discussed. Six objections answered. 3. Other eight objections answered. 4. Other three objections answered. 1. Of the divinity of Christ, which has elsewhere been established by clear and solid proofs, I presume it were superfluous again to treat. It remains, therefore, to see how, when clothed with our flesh, he fulfilled the office of Mediator. In ancient times, the reality …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Great Commission Given.
(Time and Place Same as Last Section.) ^A Matt. XXVIII. 18-20; ^B Mark XVI. 15-18; ^C Luke XXIV. 46, 47. ^a 18 And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. ^b 15 And he said unto them, Go ye ^a therefore, ^b into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. ^a and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: 20 teaching them to observe all things …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Knowledge of God Conspicuous in the Creation, and Continual Government of the World.
1. The invisible and incomprehensible essence of God, to a certain extent, made visible in his works. 2. This declared by the first class of works--viz. the admirable motions of the heavens and the earth, the symmetry of the human body, and the connection of its parts; in short, the various objects which are presented to every eye. 3. This more especially manifested in the structure of the human body. 4. The shameful ingratitude of disregarding God, who, in such a variety of ways, is manifested within …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Creation
Q-7: WHAT ARE THE DECREES OF GOD? A: The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he has foreordained whatsoever shall come to pass. I have already spoken something concerning the decrees of God under the attribute of his immutability. God is unchangeable in his essence, and he-is unchangeable in his decrees; his counsel shall stand. He decrees the issue of all things, and carries them on to their accomplishment by his providence; I …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Conclusion.
"From Heaven He came and sought her To be His Holy Bride, With His own Blood He bought her, And for her life He died." "The Kingdom of Heaven," what is it? It is the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church of Christ. It is that Kingdom which was prophetically set forth by our Lord in His parables; that Kingdom, the subjects of which were described in His teaching, and redeemed by His Blood to be His own "purchased possession" (Eph. i. 14); that Kingdom which was founded through the coming of the Holy …
Edward Burbidge—The Kingdom of Heaven; What is it?

Triumph Over Death and the Grave
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin: and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. T he Christian soldier may with the greatest propriety, be said to war a good warfare (I Timothy 1:18) . He is engaged in a good cause. He fights under the eye of the Captain of his salvation. Though he be weak in himself, and though his enemies are many and mighty, he may do that which in other soldiers …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Jesus, My Rock.
When the storm and the tempest are raging around me, Oh! where shall I flee to be safe from their shock? There are walls which no mortal hands built to surround me, A Refuge Eternal,--'Tis JESUS MY ROCK! When my heart is all sorrow, and trials aggrieve me, To whom can I safely my secrets unlock? No bosom (save one) has the power to relieve me, The bosom which bled for me, JESUS MY ROCK! When Life's gloomy curtain, at last, shall close o'er me, And the chill hand of death unexpectedly knock, I will …
John Ross Macduff—The Cities of Refuge: or, The Name of Jesus

The Son and the Angels.
HEBREWS i. 4-ii. 18. The most dangerous and persistent error against which the theologians of the New Testament had to contend was the doctrine of emanations. The persistence of this error lay in its affinity with the Christian conception of mediation between God and men; its danger sprang from its complete inconsistency with the Christian idea of the person and work of the Mediator. For the Hebrew conception of God, as the "I AM," tended more and more in the lapse of ages to sever Him from all …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

Man's Chief End
Q-I: WHAT IS THE CHIEF END OF MAN? A: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever. Here are two ends of life specified. 1: The glorifying of God. 2: The enjoying of God. I. The glorifying of God, I Pet 4:4: That God in all things may be glorified.' The glory of God is a silver thread which must run through all our actions. I Cor 10:01. Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.' Everything works to some end in things natural and artificial; …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The Upbringing of Jewish Children
The tenderness of the bond which united Jewish parents to their children appears even in the multiplicity and pictorialness of the expressions by which the various stages of child-life are designated in the Hebrew. Besides such general words as "ben" and "bath"--"son" and "daughter"--we find no fewer than nine different terms, each depicting a fresh stage of life. The first of these simply designates the babe as the newly--"born"--the "jeled," or, in the feminine, "jaldah"--as in Exodus 2:3, 6, 8. …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Fourth Commandment
Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day and hallowed it. Exod 20: 8-11. This …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

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