Bible Commentaries
Psalms 12

Verse 1

To the chief Musician. See App-64 .

upon Sheminith = the Sheminith. See App-65 .

Title. A Psalm. See App-65 .

Help = Save.

godly man = "gracious [man]".

ceaseth = is no more. Compare Isaiah 57:1 .Micah 7:2 .

faithful. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , put for faithful men.

children of men = sons of men. (Hebrew ' adam . App-14 .)

Verse 2

They speak. Man's words contrasted with Jehovah's words. Compare Psalms 12:6 , and see Structure above.

double = deceitful. Hebrew "a heart and a heart". Compare 1 Chronicles 12:33 .

Verse 3

The tongue, &c. Quoted in James 3:5 .

Verse 4

With our tongue will we prevail = Thanks to our tongue, we will prevail.

Verse 5

poor = wretched. Hebrew ' ain . See note on Proverbs 6:11 .

saith the LORD = let Jehovah say.

from him that puffeth at him = let him [the oppressed] despise it [the oppression],

him = it: i.e. the oppression.

Verse 6

words = the spoken words, sayings, or utterances. Compare Psalms 119:38 .

silver tried: i.e. pure silver.

furnace = crucible. Put a full stop after this word.

of = to, or pertaining to (referring to the "words"). The letter lamed is the sign of the Dative case, not the Genitive.

earth. Hebrew. 'erez (the earth), not 'adamah (the ground): i.e. "words for, or pertaining to the earth", but purified seven times: i.e. with spiritual perfection (see App-10 ). Some are used with a higher meaning; some in a different sense. Psalms 12:6 is an alternation.

Purified. The verb is singular, agreeing with silver. The words of Jehovah are pure words. As silver tried in a furnace: [Words] pertaining to the earth: Purified seven times.

Verse 7

them: i.e. the godly. Plural reference to "the faithful" of Psalms 12:1 .

them = him: refers to the man of grace (Psalms 12:1 ).

Verse 8

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

men: i.e. the sons of Adam, as in Psalms 12:1 .

To the chief Musician. See App-64 .

Title. A Psalm. See App-65 .