Bible Commentaries
Psalms 17

Verse 1

Title. Prayer. Hebrew. Tephillah. One of five Psalms so called (17; 86; 90; 102; 142). See App-63 . It is a prayer of Messiah, the true David; in view of Psalms 16:6-11 , Compare Psalms 17:15 .

Hear . . . attend . . . Give ear. Figure of speech Anabasis . App-6 .

right = righteousness. Compare Psalms 17:15 , and Structure.

LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah.

ear. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . Compare verses: Psalms 17:2 , eyes; 7, hand; 8, wings; 15, face.

feigned = guileless.

Verse 2

Let my sentence, &c. = From thy presence my judgment will come: Thine eyes will discern upright ones.

Verse 3

find nothing. None but Christ could say this. See John 14:30 .

Verse 4

men. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

kept me from = I have marked.

the destroyer = the oppressor, or violent one. Only here in the Psalms.

Verse 5

paths = tracks, or ruts.

Verse 6

hear = answer. See Structure, above.

Verse 7

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

Verse 8

as. Figure of speech Simile. App-6 .

apple. . . eye . . . wings. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.

Hide = Thou wilt hide.

Verse 9

the wicked = the lawless ones.

my deadly enemies = the foes of my soul Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 11

steps = ways, or goings, as in Psalms 17:5 .

Verse 13

Disappoint = anticipate.

my soul = me myself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

the wicked = a lawless one. Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 .

sword. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .

Verse 14

men. Hebrew. methim. App-14 .

hand. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . See note on "ear", Psalms 17:1 .

world. Hebrew. heled. The world as being transitory. See longer note on Psalms 49:1 .

hid. Figure of speech Antimereia ( App-6 ). Act. Part, put for Noun. Hebrew thy hid = thy hidden, or secret thing.

They are = Let them be.

full = satisfied with. Compare Psalms 17:15 .

children = sons.

Verse 15

I will behold Thy face. See note on Exodus 23:15 ; Exodus 34:20 .

face. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . Compare Psalms 17:1 , and see note on Exodus 23:15 ; Exodus 34:20 .

satisfied = full, as in Psalms 17:14 .

when I awake = when I awake from the sleep of death in resurrection. This prayer is in view of Psalms 16:9-11 . Resurrection of the body is the true inheritance.

Thy likeness = Thine appearing, or a vision of Thee. Compare 1 John 3:2 .

To the chief Musician. See App-64 .