The Meaning of Psalms 40:6 Explained

Psalms 40:6

KJV: Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

YLT: Sacrifice and present Thou hast not desired, Ears Thou hast prepared for me, Burnt and sin-offering Thou hast not asked.

Darby: Sacrifice and oblation thou didst not desire: ears hast thou prepared me. Burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not demanded;

ASV: Sacrifice and offering thou hast no delight in; Mine ears hast thou opened: Burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not required.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Sacrifice  and offering  thou didst not desire;  mine ears  hast thou opened:  burnt offering  and sin offering  hast thou not required. 

What does Psalms 40:6 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Animal and meal offerings were not of primary importance to God under the Mosaic Law. More important than sacrifices for either worship or expiation was the believer"s true commitment of himself or herself to the Lord (cf. 1 Samuel 15:22-23).
The phrase, "my ears Thou hast opened (or pierced)," may mean David viewed God as having made him His willing slave by being so gracious to him (cf. Exodus 21:6). However, it seems more probable that David meant God had given him the ability to comprehend and obey His Word (cf. Psalm 40:8).

Context Summary

Psalms 40:1-10 - A Joyous Testimony
This psalm follows appropriately on the two former, in which the psalmist had been detailing his sufferings. Here he celebrates deliverance. But a Greater than David is here. Hebrews 10:5-7 puts Psalms 40:6-8 upon the lips of Christ, and we hear His voice speaking through these olden words.
In deep distress, Psalms 40:1-3, what can the soul do but wait patiently until the Lord inclines and hears? The horrible pit is a "pit of roaring;" that is, a ravine where the deep waters rush and roar. What Jeremiah experienced literally, Jeremiah 38:6, we pass through spiritually. But God will leave no child of His there; He will lift him to stand on the rock, his mouth filled with songs.
When we are delivered let us set our gladness to music and embody it in renewed consecration, Psalms 40:4-10. Let us not hide God's love in our hearts, but tell it out. The bored ear, Psalms 40:6, in reference to Exodus 21:6, means obedience forever, absolute consecration, the glad submission of the will. This is dearer to God than the most elaborate ceremonial or ritual. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 40

1  The benefit of confidence in God
6  Obedience is the best sacrifice
11  The sense of David's evils inflames his prayer

What do the individual words in Psalms 40:6 mean?

Sacrifice and offering not You did desire My ears You have opened to Burnt offering and sin offering not You did require
זֶ֤בַח וּמִנְחָ֨ה ׀ לֹֽא־ חָפַ֗צְתָּ אָ֭זְנַיִם כָּרִ֣יתָ לִּ֑י עוֹלָ֥ה וַ֝חֲטָאָ֗ה לֹ֣א שָׁאָֽלְתָּ

זֶ֤בַח  Sacrifice 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: זֶבַח  
Sense: sacrifice.
וּמִנְחָ֨ה ׀  and  offering 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִנְחָה  
Sense: gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering.
חָפַ֗צְתָּ  You  did  desire 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: חָפֵץ 
Sense: to delight in, take pleasure in, desire, be pleased with.
אָ֭זְנַיִם  My  ears 
Parse: Noun, fd
Root: אֹזֶן  
Sense: ear, as part of the body.
כָּרִ֣יתָ  You  have  opened 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: כּוּר 
Sense: to dig, excavate, dig through.
עוֹלָ֥ה  Burnt  offering 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֹלָה  
Sense: whole burnt offering.
וַ֝חֲטָאָ֗ה  and  sin  offering 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֲטָאָה  
Sense: sin, sin offering.
שָׁאָֽלְתָּ  You  did  require 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁאַל 
Sense: to ask, enquire, borrow, beg.