Bible Commentaries
Psalms 3

Verse 1

Title. A Psalm. See App-65 .

when. The first psalm with an historical title. See App-63 and App-64 . Compare 2 Samuel, chapters 15-18.

how . . . ! Figure of speech Exclamatio ( App-6 ), for emphasis.

increased = multiplied.

Many = what multitudes.

Verse 2

Many. Figure of speech Anaphora.

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

help = salvation, or deliverance.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Selah. Connecting the contrast between "man" (as a creature) who knows God (Elohim) only as Creator, with the speaker (David), who knew Jehovah as his Covenant God. See App-4 and Psalms 66:11 .

Verse 3

art a shield. Figure of speech Metaphor ( App-6 ); "shield" put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for defence.

for m e = about me.

mine head. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6 , put for whole person.

Verse 4

cried = shall cry.

heard = will answer.

holy hill. See note on Psalms 2:6 .

Selah. Connecting the peace which comes from prayer, as in Philippians 1:4 , Philippians 1:6 . See App-66 .

Verse 5

slept = have slept. At Mahanaim (2 Samuel 17:27-29 ).

sustained = was sustaining.

Verse 7

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

Verse 8

Salvation = deliverance, same word as "help", Psalms 3:2 .

Thy blessing is = Thy blessing hast been, and wilt be: i.e. whatever may happen to me. In this spirit he sends back the Ark (2 Samuel 15:25 .

Selah. Connecting Psalms 3:0 with Psalms 4:0 , which has the same subject. See App-66 .

To the chief Musician. See App-64 .

Neginoth = smitings; from nagan, to strike, as on strings. See App-65 . Here the reference is to the smitings with words in Psalms 3:0 , as in Lamentations 3:63 (compare Job 30:9 . Lamentations 3:14 ). Compare the other Neginoth Psalms: Psalms 3:2 ; Psalms 5:6 ; Psalms 53:1 ; Psalms 54:3 ; Psalms 60:1 , Psalms 60:11 , Psalms 60:12 ; Psalms 66:10-12 ; Psalms 75:4-6 (Compare Psalms 77:7 , Isaiah 38:20 , and Habakkuk 3:19 ).