Bible Commentaries
Psalms 1

Verse 1

TITLE, Psalms. See App-63 and the Structures on pp. 720, 721. Compare Luke 20:42 , Luke 24:44 , Acts 1:20 .

BLESSED = How Happy. The first Psalm begins thus and Psalm 2 ends thus. So does the last Psalm of Book I: Psalms 41:1 ; Psalms 41:13 ). Figure of speech Antiptosis ( App-6 ). Compare Jeremiah 17:7 , Jeremiah 17:8 . See App-63 . for the Beatitudes in the Psalms.

man. Hebrew ' ish . Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6 , for all of both sexes.

walketh, &c: i.e. who never did walk . . . stand . . . sit. Figure of speech Anabasis , three triplets: walketh counsel ungodly = continue in. standeth way sinners = carry out. sitteth seat scornful = settle down.

ungodly = lawless. Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 .

sinners. Hebrew. chata'.

scornful = scoffers. Hebrew. luz.

Verse 2

the law = instruction: i.e. the whole Pentateuch which contains it.

meditate: i.e. continually and habitually.

Verse 3

be = become, or prove. Figure of speech Simile. App-6 . Like a tree. The first of two comparisons. See Psalms 1:4 .

planted: i.e. in a garden. Not a "tree of the field".

rivers = divisions irrigating a garden. Hebrew. palgey-mayim. See note on Proverbs 21:1 .

prosper. Compare Genesis 39:3 , Genesis 39:23 .

Verse 4

are not so, &c. = not so the ungodly.

like the chaff. The other comparison. See Psalms 1:3 . Compare Psalms 35:5 .

wind. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

Verse 5

stand = rise. No part in first resurrection. Revelation 20:5 , Revelation 20:6 . Compare Psalms 49:14 .

congregation = assembly.

righteous = justified.

Verse 6

For. Effect latent in first clause: cause latent in second clause.

knoweth = approveth, or acknowledged. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause). Compare Nahum 1:7 . 2 Timothy 2:19 .

perish = come to naught.