Psalms 64
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
A prayer for deliverance from cunning and malicious enemies, with a confident view of their overthrow, which will honor God and give joy to the righteous. (Psa 64:1-10) preserve . . . fear--as well as the danger producing it.
Open source ↗Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer,.... The prayer of the psalmist was vocal and expressed in a mournful manner, with groans and cries, as the word (z) used signifies, and with great ardour and fervency; his condition, by reason of his enemies, being very distressing, and therefore he is very eager and earnest that he might be heard; preserve my life from fear of the enemy; David had his enemies. Saul and his courtiers, and was afraid of them; Christ had his enemies the wicked Jews, who sought his life before the time, and therefore he walked no more in Judea till near the time; and whose human nature was sometimes possessed of the fears of death, though they were sinless ones: the church and people of God have their enemies; as the men of the world, who revile, reproach, and persecute them; Satan their adversary, who goes about seeking to devour them; and their own corruptions and lusts which war against their souls; and death, the last enemy, which is so to human nature, though by the grace of Christ friendly to the saints. And the people of God have their fears of these enemies; they are afraid of men, their revilings and persecutions, though they have no reason since God is on their side; and of Satan, whose fiery darts and buffetings are very distressing, though if resisted he will flee; and of their own corruptions, lest they should one day perish by them; or, at least, lest they should break out, to the wounding of their souls, and the dishonour of God: and some of them, through fear of death, are all their lifetime subject to bondage: which fears, though they are not the saints' excellencies, but their infirmities, yet are consistent with the grace of God; and under the power and influence of these fears they apprehend sometimes their life to be in danger; and t…
Open source ↗The Psalm opens with an octostich, and closes in the same way. The infinitive noun שׂיח signifies a complaint, expressed not by the tones of pain, but in words. The rendering of the lxx (here and in Psa 55:3) is too general, ἐν τῷ θέεσθαί με. The "terror" of the enemy is that proceeding from him (gen. obj. as in Deu 2:15, and frequently). The generic singular אויב is at once particularized in a more detailed description with the use of the plural. סוד is a club or clique; רגשׁה (Targumic = המון, e.g., Eze 30:10) a noisy crowd. The perfects after אשׁר affirm that which they now do as they have before done; cf. Psa 140:4 and Psa 58:8, where, as in this passage, the treading or bending of the bow is transferred to the arrow. דּבר מר is the interpretation added to the figure, as in Psa 144:7. That which is bitter is called מר, root מר, stringere, from the harsh astringent taste; here it is used tropically of speech that wounds and inflicts pain (after the manner of an arrow or a stiletto), πικροὶ λόγοι. With the Kal לירות (Psa 11:2) alternates the Hiph. ירהוּ. With פּתאם the description takes a new start. ולא ייראוּ, forming an assonance with the preceding word, means that they do it without any fear whatever, and therefore also without fear of God (Psa 55:20; Psa 25:18).
Open source ↗David, in these verses, puts in before God a representation of his own danger and of his enemies' character, to enforce his petition that God would protect him and punish them. I. He earnestly begs of God to preserve him (Psa 64:1, Psa 64:2): Hear my voice, O God! in my prayer; that is, grant me the thing I pray for, and this is it, Lord, preserve my life from fear of the enemy, that is, fro the enemy that I am in fear of. He makes request for his life, which is, in a particular manner, dear to him, because he knows it is designed to be very serviceable to God and his generation. When his life is struck at it cannot be thought he should altogether hold his peace, Est 7:2, Est 7:4. And, if he plead his fear of the enemy, it is no disparagement to his courage; his father Jacob, that prince with God, did so before him. Gen 32:11, Deliver me from the hand of Esau, for I fear him. Preserve my life from fear, not only from the thing itself which I fear, but from the disquieting fear of it; this is, in effect, the preservation of the life, for fear has torment, particularly the fear of death, by reason of which some are all their life-time subject to bondage. He prays, "Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked, from the mischief which they secretly consult among themselves to do against me, and from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity, who join forces, as they join counsels, to do me a mischief." Observe, The secret counsel ends in an insurrection; treasonable practices begin in treasonable confederacies and conspiracies. "Hide me from them, that they may not find me, that they may not reach me. Let me be safe under thy protection." II. He complains of the great malice and wickedness of his enemies: "Lord, hide me from them, for they are the worst of men, not fit…
Open source ↗Ps 64 This lament decries the destructive plots and arrogant attitude of the wicked (64:1-6). The psalmist turns to God in prayer and takes heart in God’s justice because whatever the wicked do will be undone by the righteous judge. The godly will rejoice and grow in wisdom as they reflect on God’s mighty acts. 64:1-6 These verses form a prayer for rescue from bold and powerful liars.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
נָצַח (nâtsach, H5329) — properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of… מִזְמוֹר (mizmôwr, H4210) — properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… שִׂיחַ (sîyach, H7879) — a contemplation; by implication, an utterance נָצַר (nâtsar, H5341) — to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal,… חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially… פַּחַד (pachad, H6343) — a (sudden) alarm (properly, the object feared, by implication, the feeling) אֹיֵב (ʼôyêb, H341) — hating; an adversary
Open source ↗סָתַר (çâthar, H5641) — to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively סוֹד (çôwd, H5475) — a session, i.e. company of persons (in close deliberation); by implication, intimacy,… רָעַע (râʻaʻ, H7489) — properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good… רֶגֶשׁ (regesh, H7285) — a tumultuous crowd פָּעַל (pâʻal, H6466) — to do or make (systematically and habitually), especially to practise אָוֶן (ʼâven, H205) — strictly nothingness; also trouble. vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol
Open source ↗שָׁנַן (shânan, H8150) — to point (transitive or intransitive); intensively, to pierce; figuratively, to inculcate לָשׁוֹן (lâshôwn, H3956) — the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or… חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or… דָּרַךְ (dârak, H1869) — to tread; by implication, to walk; also to string abow (by treading on it in bending) חֵץ (chêts, H2671) — properly, a piercer, i.e. an arrow; by implication, a wound; figuratively, (of God)… מַר (mar, H4751) — bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterly דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
Open source ↗יָרָה (yârâh, H3384) — properly, to flow as water (i.e. to rain); transitively, to lay or throw (especially an… מִסְתָּר (miçtâr, H4565) — properly, a concealer, i.e. a covert תָּם (tâm, H8535) — complete; usually (morally) pious; specifically, gentle, dear פִּתְאוֹם (pithʼôwm, H6597) — instantly יָרֵא (yârêʼ, H3372) — to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten
Open source ↗חָזַק (châzaq, H2388) — to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively… רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause סָפַר (çâphar, H5608) — properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe,… טָמַן (ṭâman, H2934) — to hide (by covering over) מוֹקֵשׁ (môwqêsh, H4170) — a noose (for catching animals) (literally or figuratively); by implication, a hook (for… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,…
Open source ↗חָפַשׂ (châphas, H2664) — to seek; causatively, to conceal oneself (i.e. let be sought), or mask עֶוֶל (ʻevel, H5766) — (moral) evil תָּמַם (tâmam, H8552) — to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive חֵפֶשׂ (chêphes, H2665) — something covert, i.e. a trick קֶרֶב (qereb, H7130) — properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… עָמֹק (ʻâmôq, H6013) — deep (literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… יָרָה (yârâh, H3384) — properly, to flow as water (i.e. to rain); transitively, to lay or throw (especially an… חֵץ (chêts, H2671) — properly, a piercer, i.e. an arrow; by implication, a wound; figuratively, (of God)… פִּתְאוֹם (pithʼôwm, H6597) — instantly מַכָּה (makkâh, H4347) — a wound; figuratively, carnage, also pestilence
Open source ↗לָשׁוֹן (lâshôwn, H3956) — the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or… כָּשַׁל (kâshal, H3782) — to totter or waver (through weakness of the legs, especially the ankle); by implication,… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… נָדַד (nâdad, H5074) — properly, to wave to and fro (rarely to flap up and down); figuratively, to rove, flee,…
Open source ↗אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) יָרֵא (yârêʼ, H3372) — to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten נָגַד (nâgad, H5046) — properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to… פֹּעַל (pôʻal, H6467) — an act or work (concretely) אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… שָׂכַל (sâkal, H7919) — to be (causatively, make or act) circumspect and hence, intelligent מַעֲשֶׂה (maʻăseh, H4639) — an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication,…
Open source ↗צַדִּיק (tsaddîyq, H6662) — just שָׂמַח (sâmach, H8055) — probably to brighten up, i.e. (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God חָסָה (châçâh, H2620) — to flee for protection; figuratively, to confide in יָשָׁר (yâshâr, H3477) — straight (literally or figuratively) לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… הָלַל (hâlal, H1984) — to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make ashow, to…
Open source ↗Cross-references
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I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.
I call upon You, O LORD; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to You.
Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence,
and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you.’
Hear, O LORD, my voice when I call; be merciful and answer me.