Bible Commentaries
Psalms 40

Verse 1

To the chief Musician. See App-64 .

Title. A Psalm. Hebrew. Mizmor. App-65 .

of David = by David, and relating to the true David.

I waited patiently. Hebrew in waiting I waited. Figure of speech Polyptoton, App-6 .

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

inclined = hath inclined.

heard = hath heard.

Verse 2

brought = hath brought.

rock. Hebrew. sela'. See notes on Psalms 18:1 , Psalms 18:2 .

Verse 3

a new song. See note on Psalms 33:3 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 . I

see . . . and fear. Figure of speech Paronomasia. App-6 . Hebrew. yir'u . . . v"yira'u = peer and fear.

trust = confide Hebrew. batah. App-69 .

Verse 4

Blessed = Happy. See App-63 .

man = strong man. Hebrew. geber. App-14 .

Verse 5

hast done = didst.

thoughts. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .

If I would = Fain would I.

numbered: or rehearsed.

Verse 6

Sacrifice. Hebrew. zabach. App-43 . Quoted in Hebrews 10:5-9 .

offering. Hebrew. minchah. App-43 . Compare Hebrews 10:5-7 . Note the four great offerings here, and separately: Psalms 40:6 = any sacrifice; -6-, the meal offering; -6-, burnt offering; -6, sin offering (compare Psalms 22:0 ); and inPs. 69 =the trespass offering.

opened = digged. Kal Pret. of karah, = opening by digging, or boring. Note the occurrences: Genesis 50:5 . Num 24:18 . 2 Chronicles 16:14 (margin) Psalms 7:15 (margin); Psalms 40:6 ; Psalms 57:6 ; Psalms 119:85 .Jeremiah 18:22 , Jeremiah 18:22 , referring to the opening of the ear to hear; for which, in Isaiah 50:5 (compare Isaiah 48:8 ), another word ( pathah ) is used with the meaning of opening (as of a door). Note the obedience, which is the point emphasized by the alternation in Psalms 40:6 . | Sacrifice and offering. Not desired. | Mine ears hast Thou digged. (Pos.) | Burnt-offering and sin-offering. Not required. | Lo, I come to do. (Pos.) Obedience is the great truth here conveyed; and, on the same grounds as in 1 Samuel 15:22 .Jeremiah 7:22 , Jeremiah 7:23 .Hebrews 10:5 , is not a quotation of this verse: it is what Messiah "said" when He came into the world to perform what Psalms 40:6 prophesied , when He had become Incarnate, and could say "I am come". He must change the word "ears" for the "body", in which that obedience was to be accomplished, and He had a right to change the words, and thus adapt them. It is not a question of quotation, or of the Septuagint versus the Hebrew text. Note the heaping up of these expressions to emphasize the obedience, and observe the alternation of positive and negative in verses: Psalms 40:9 , Psalms 40:10 .

hast = didst.

Verse 7

Then said I: i.e. at Incarnation, when He "came into the world" (Hebrews 10:5 ).

volume of the book = scroll, that is to say, the book. Genitive of Apposition, and Figure of speech Pleonasm ( App-6 ) = the book of the law ( App-47 ).

it is written = it is prescribed. Compare 2 Kings 22:13 .

of me = for me. Joseph and Mary should have remembered what was "written" (Luke 2:49 ).

Verse 8

delight. Note the double delight (Isaiah 42:1 .Matthew 3:17; Matthew 3:17 ).

will = good pleasure.

within = in the midst.

heart = bowels: i.e. my inward parts.

Verse 9

preached = declared as glad tidings = euaggelizo in N.T.

congregation = assembly, or convocation.

Verse 10

have not hid = did not hide.

salvation = or deliverance.

have not concealed = did not conceal.

from = in.

Verse 11

Withhold not Thou = Thou wilt not withhold.

Verse 12

evils = calamities. Hebrew. ra'a' . App-44 .

iniquities. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for their punishment. Hebrew. 'aven. App-44 . Laid on Him as the substituted sacrifice.

am not able = was not able.

are more = were more.

heart. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for courage.

faileth me = failed me.

Verse 14

soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 15

Aha, aha. Figure of speech Epizeuxis. App-6 . Compare Psalms 35:21 ; Psalms 70:3 .

Verse 16

Let. Some codices, with seven early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "And let". Compare Psalms 35:27 ; Psalms 70:4 .

Verse 17

poor = afflicted. Hebrew. 'anah.

the LORD *. The primitive text read "Jehovah", but altered by the Sopherim to "Adonai". See App-32 . Some codices, with seven early printed editions, read "may Jehovah".

thinketh = will think. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for all that the thoughts can devise, plan, or order.