תהלים 18:1

Hebrew Modern Translation

למנצח לעבד יהוה לדוד אשר דבר ליהוה את דברי השירה הזאת ביום הציל יהוה אותו מכף כל איביו ומיד שאול ויאמר ארחמך יהוה חזקי׃

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Aleppo Codex
לעבד יהוה לדוד אשר דבר ליהוה את-דברי השירה הזאת ביום הציל-יהוה אותו מכף כל-איביו ומיד שאול [18:2] ארחמך יהוה חזקי

Biblia Hebrica Stuttgartensia (1967/77)
לַמְנַצֵּ֤חַ ׀ לְעֶ֥בֶד יְהוָ֗ה לְדָ֫וִ֥ד אֲשֶׁ֤ר דִּבֶּ֨ר ׀ לַיהוָ֗ה אֶת־דִּ֭בְרֵי הַשִּׁירָ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את בְּיֹ֤ום הִֽצִּיל־יְהוָ֘ה אוֹתֹ֥ו מִכַּ֥ף כָּל־אֹ֝יְבָ֗יו וּמִיַּ֥ד שָׁאֽוּל ׃ [18:2] וַיֹּאמַ֡ר אֶרְחָמְךָ֖ יְהוָ֣ה חִזְקִֽי׃

Westminster Leningrad Codex
לַמְנַצֵּחַ ׀ לְעֶבֶד יְהוָה לְדָוִד אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ׀ לַיהוָה אֶת־דִּבְרֵי הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת בְּיוֹם הִֽצִּיל־יְהוָה אוֹתוֹ מִכַּף כָּל־אֹיְבָיו וּמִיַּד שָׁאֽוּל ׃ [18:2] וַיֹּאמַר אֶרְחָמְךָ יְהוָה חִזְקִֽי׃

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

in the day: Psalms 34:19, Exodus 15:1-21, Judges 5:1-31, 1 Samuel 2:1-10, Isaiah 12:1-6

I will: Psalms 116:1-6, Psalms 144:1, Psalms 144:2, 1 John 4:19

my: Psalms 18:32, Psalms 28:7, Psalms 28:8, Psalms 118:14, Isaiah 12:2, Philippians 4:13, Colossians 1:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 19:19 - and thou Genesis 49:24 - the mighty Exodus 15:2 - strength Exodus 18:4 - delivered Deuteronomy 10:12 - love 1 Samuel 26:24 - let him deliver 2 Samuel 7:1 - the Lord 2 Samuel 12:7 - I delivered 2 Samuel 22:1 - in 1 Chronicles 16:7 - into the hand 1 Chronicles 17:8 - have cut off Psalms 7:10 - My Psalms 19:14 - strength Psalms 21:8 - General Psalms 22:19 - O my Psalms 27:1 - strength Psalms 31:2 - my strong rock Psalms 36:1 - servant Psalms 59:9 - his strength Psalms 59:17 - O my Psalms 81:1 - our strength Psalms 140:7 - the strength Song of Solomon 1:7 - O thou Isaiah 38:9 - writing Jeremiah 16:19 - my strength Nahum 1:7 - strong hold Habakkuk 1:12 - mighty God Habakkuk 3:19 - my strength Hebrews 13:6 - The Lord 1 John 4:16 - we

Gill's Notes on the Bible

I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. These words are not in twenty second chapter of Second Samuel: the psalm there begins with

Psalms 18:2. The psalmist here expresses his love to the Lord, and his continuance in it; that Jehovah the Father was, is, and ever will be the object of Christ's love, is certain; and which has appeared by his readiness in the council and covenant of grace to do his will; by his coming down from heaven to earth for that purpose; by his delight in it, it being his meat and drink to do it; and by his sufferings and death, which were in compliance with, and obedience to it, John 14:31; and as in David, so in all regenerate ones, there is love to God; Jehovah is loved by them in all his persons; Jehovah the Father is loved, and to be loved, for the perfections of his nature, because of the works of his hands, of creation and providence; and particularly because of his works of special grace and goodness, and especially because of his love wherewith he has loved his people, 1 John 4:19. Jehovah the Son is loved, and to be loved, above all creatures and things whatever, sincerely and heartily, fervently and constantly; because of the loveliness of his person, the love of his heart, and his works of grace and redemption; all of him is lovely; and he is to be loved, and is loved, in his person, offices, relations, people, word, and ordinances: Jehovah the Spirit is loved, and to be loved, because of his person and perfections, and operations of grace; as a sanctifier, comforter, the spirit of adoption, the earnest and pledge of eternal glory. The word here used signifies the most intimate, tender, and affectionate love; it often designs mercy and bowels of mercy; so Aben Ezra interprets it of seeking mercy of God: the reasons are as follow in this verse and Psalms 18:2: because "the Lord is my strength"; so he was to Christ as man, who as such was the man of his right hand, the Son of Man, whom he made strong for himself, to do his work, and for his glory, Psalms 80:17; he promised to strengthen him, and he did, Psalms 89:21; and so he is the strength of all his saints, even Jehovah, Father, Son, and Spirit; he is the strength of their hearts both in life and at death; he is the strength of their graces, who strengthens that which he has wrought for them, and in them; he strengthens them to do their duty, to bear the cross, and every affliction, and against every enemy of their souls; and this renders him very lovely and amiable to them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I will love thee, O Lord - This verse is not found in the song in 2 Samuel 22:0. It appears to have been added after the first composition of the psalm, either by David as expressive of his ardent love for the Lord in view of his merciful interpositions in his behalf, and on the most careful and most mature review of those mercies, or by the collector of the Psalms when they were adapted to purposes of public worship, as a proper commencement of the psalm - expressive of the feeling which the general tenor of the psalm was fitted to inspire. It is impossible now to determine by whom it was added; but no one can doubt that it is a proper commencement of a psalm that is designed to recount so many mercies. It is the feeling which all should have when they recall the goodness of God to them in their past lives.

My strength - The source of my strength, or from whom all my strength is derived. So Psalms 27:1, “The Lord is the strength of my life.” Psalms 28:8, “he is the saving strength of his anointed.” Compare Psalms 29:11; Psalms 46:1; Psalms 73:26; Psalms 81:1; Psalms 140:7.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

PSALM XVIII

David's address of thanks to Jehovah, 1-3.

A relation of sufferings undergone, and prayers made for

assistance, 4-6.

A magnificent description of Divine interposition in behalf

of the sufferer, 7-15;

and of the deliverance wrought for him, 16-19.

That this deliverance was in consideration of his

righteousness, 20-24;

and according to the tenor of God's equitable proceedings,

25-28.

To Jehovah is ascribed the glory of the victory, 29-36;

which is represented as complete by the destruction of all

his opponents, 37-42.

On these events the heathen submit, 43-45.

And for all these things God is glorified, 46-50.

NOTES ON PSALM XVIII

The title: "To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul."

Except the first clause, this title is taken from 2 Samuel 22:1. The reader is requested to turn to the notes on 2 Samuel 22:1, for some curious information on this Psalm, particularly what is extracted from Dr. Kennicott. This learned writer supposes the whole to be a song of the Messiah, and divides it into five parts, which he thus introduces: -

"The Messiah's sublime thanksgivings, composed by David when his wars were at an end, towards the conclusion of his life. And in this sacred song the goodness of God is celebrated, 1. For Messiah's resurrection from the dead, with the wonders attending that awful event, and soon following it. 2. For the punishment inflicted on the Jews; particularly by the destruction of Jerusalem. And, 3. For the obedience of the Gentile nations. See Romans 15:9; Hebrews 2:13; and Matthew 28:2-4; with Matthew 24:7; Matthew 24:29."

And that the title now prefixed to this hymn here and in 2 Samuel 22:1, describes only the time of its composition, seems evident; for who can ascribe to David himself as the subject, 2 Samuel 22:5-6; 2 Samuel 22:8-17; 2 Samuel 22:21-26; 2 Samuel 22:30; 2 Samuel 22:42; 2 Samuel 22:44, c.?

In Dr. Kennicott's remarks there is a new translation of the whole Psalm, p. 178, c.

The strong current of commentators and critics apply this Psalm to Christ and to oppose a whole host of both ancients and moderns would argue great self-confidence. In the main I am of the same mind and on this principle chiefly I shall proceed to its illustration; still however considering that there are many things in it which concern David, and him only. Drs. Chandler and Delaney have been very successful in their illustration of various passages in it; all the best critics have brought their strongest powers to bear on it; and most of the commentators have laboured it with great success; and Bishop Horne has applied the whole of it to Christ. My old Psalter speaks highly in its praise: "This Psalme contenes the sacrement of al chosyn men, the qwilk doand the law of God thurgh the seven fald grace of the Haly Gast fra al temptaciouns, and the pouste of dede and of the devel lesid: this sang thai syng til God; and thankes him and says, I sal luf the Lord, noght a day or twa, bot ever mare: my strength, thurgh quam I am stalworth in thoght."

Verse Psalms 18:1. I will love thee — Love always subsists on motive and reason. The verb רחם racham signifies to love with all the tender feelings of nature. "From my inmost bowels will I love thee, O Lord!" Why should he love Jehovah? Not merely because he was infinitely great and good, possessed of all possible perfections, but because he was good to him: and he here enumerates some of the many blessings he received from him.

My strength. —

1. Thou who hast given me power over my adversaries, and hast enabled me to avoid evil and do good.