Bible Commentaries
Psalms 141

Verse 1

Title. A Psalm of David. See Title of 140.

LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 2

incense. Compare Exodus 30:7 . Revelation 8:3 , Revelation 8:4 .

sacrifice = gift offering. App-43 .

Verse 3

Set a watch = Set a guard. Hebrew. shamrah. Same word as "keep", Psalms 141:9 Occurs only here.

Keep = keep in safety. Not the same word as in Psalms 141:9 .

Verse 4

evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .

wicked. Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 .

men. Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 .

iniquity. Hebrew. 'avert. App-44 .

eat: i.e. partake of, or have fellowship with.

dainties = pleasant things. Compare Psalms 141:6 .

Verse 5

the righteous = a righteous one.

an excellent oil = oil for the head. This verse is said to be "extremely obscure" and "corrupt to a degree". The Figure of speech Metalepsis ( App-6 ) makes all clear; "head", being first used for hair , and then for the whole person by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part). Hebrew = "as oil on the hair, I will not refuse it". Note the alternation of lines in this verse.

yet. Same root as "withal" in Psalms 141:10 .

Verse 6

When. Not in Hebrew text.

judges = rulers. Compare 2 Kings 9:33 .

in stony places = as by a rock; or, over a rock. Hebrew by the hands of a rock.

They: i.e. the people.

words = sayings. Hebrew. 'imrah. App-73 .

sweet. Cognate with "dainties", Psalms 141:4 .

Verse 7

Our bones. Septuagint (Vatican B, and Alex. A by second hand), Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiop. read "their bones"

the grave's. Hebrew Sheol's. App-35 . Note the word "bones" in this connection.

cutteth = sliceth, as in 1 Samuel 30:12 .Song of Solomon 4:3 ; Song of Solomon 6:7 (elsewhere rendered "piece" or "pieces"). Never means "ploweth", as in Revised Version.

cleaveth. As in Ecclesiastes 10:9 . Zechariah 14:4 (compare Genesis 22:3 . 1 Samuel 6:14 ).

Verse 8

GOD the Lord. Hebrew. Jehovah. Adonai. App-4 .

is my trust = have I sought refuge. Hebrew. hasah. App-69 .

my soul = me (emphatic). Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 9

Keep. Same root as "watch"in Psalms 141:3 . (Hebrew. shamreni.)

snares. Authorized Version, 1611, read "snares" (singular) Since 1769, "snares" (plural) Hebrew text is singular.

gins = traps. Short for "engine" = an ingenious contrivance. "

Verse 10

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

withal = Same as "yet", Psalms 141:5 .

escape = pass on [in safety].