Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, December 21st, 2024
the Third Week of Advent
Attention!
Take your personal ministry to the Next Level by helping StudyLight build churches and supporting pastors in Uganda.
Click here to join the effort!

Bible Commentaries
Psalms 144

Bullinger's Companion Bible NotesBullinger's Companion Notes

Verse 1

Title, of David = by David. The Septuagint adds "concerning Goliath." This may be because Psalms 8:0 , which relates to David and Goliath, has the same words in Psalms 8:4 as in Psalms 144:3 . In any case, Psalms 144:0 is peculiarly appropriate to David's victory (1 Samuel 17:0 ). Not a "compilation" of "fragments" of some "lost Psalms", but a perfect whole with a perfect design, as shown by the Structure.

Blessed. Figure of Speech Benedictio ( App-6 .). Not Beatitudo as in Psalms 144:15 .

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

strength = rock, or fortress. Compare Deuteronomy 32:4 . 1Sa 2:2 ; 2 Samuel 22:47 . 2 Samuel 18:2 , 2 Samuel 18:31 , 2Sa 18:46 ; 2 Samuel 19:14 ; 2Sa 28:1 ; 2Sa 62:2 , 2Sa 62:6 .

to war . . . to fight. Not merely generally, but specially in the case of Goliath (1 Samuel 17:0 ). See Title.

Verse 2

goodness = lovingkindness. The Syriac reads "refuge".

deliverer = liberator. Hebrew. paLatin Not the same word as in verses: Psalms 144:7 , Psalms 144:10 , Psalms 144:11 . See notes below.

trust = flee for refuge. Hebrew. hasah. App-69 .

my People: A special reading called Sevir (see App-34 ), and some other codices, with Aram, rind Syriac, read "peoples". Compare Psalms 18:47 .

under me. In some codices there is a marginal note: "under Him"; and this is read the text, in some codices.

Verse 3

what . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . Compare Psalms 8:4 .

man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

Greek. This word is read in some codices, with one early printed edition.

man. Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .

Verse 4

Man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

Verse 6

Cast forth = Flash. Hebrew lighten lightnings. Figure of speech Polyptoton ( App-6 ). See note on Genesis 26:28 .

arrows. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .

Verse 7

Send = Put forth.

hand. Hebrew text reads "hands" (plural); but some codices, with one early printed edition, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "hand" (singular), which Authorized Version and Revised Version followed.

Rid = snatch. Hebrew. pazah ; same word as in Psalms 144:11 , and "delivereth", Psalms 144:10 .

deliver = pluck, or rescue. Hebrew. naz al; same word as in Psalms 144:11 , not the same as in verses: Psalms 144:2 , Psalms 144:10 .

strange. Always means foreign, in Hebrew, as in early English.

strange children = aliens. Hebrew = sons of the foreigner.

Verse 8

speaketh. Compare Psalms 144:11 ; and note the words they speak in verses: Psalms 144:12-15 .

Verse 9

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 10

delivereth = snatcheth; same word as "rid", verses: Psalms 7:11 .

David . . . sword; with special reference to Goliath ' s sword in 1 Samuel 17:50 , 1 Samuel 17:51 .

Verse 12

That = Who. Hebrew. 'asher . Supply the Ellipsis thus: "Who [say] our sons are, &c. "All the words in italic type in verses: Psalms 144:12-15 - maybe omitted, or the Present Tense may be supplied throughout. The verb "say" or "saying" is very frequently to be thus understood. See note on Psalms 109:5 .

may be. Supply "Are" and omit "That".

Verse 13

sheep = flocks.

streets = open fields. Hebrew that which is outside the house.

Verse 14

strong to labour = well laden.

no breaking in = no invasion.

nor going out = no captivity.

Verse 15

Happy. See App-63 . in such a case: i.e. holding the false view that happiness consists in outward prosperity. Compare Psalms 4:6 , Psalms 4:7 , and Psalms 146:3 and Psalms 146:5 .

Yea. Supply the Ellipsis ( App-6 ), not as in Authorized Version and Revised Version, but [Yea, rather], or [Nay]. The last member (Yea, happy is that People, whose God

is the Lord.) being David ' s own words; denying the vain and false words of the aliens (Psalms 144:8 and Psalms 144:12-15 ), and declaring the truth as to that in which real happiness consists. See note on Psalms 4:6 , Psalms 4:7 .

Bibliographical Information
Bullinger, Ethelbert William. "Commentary on Psalms 144". "Bullinger's Companion bible Notes". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bul/psalms-144.html. 1909-1922.
 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile