Bible Commentaries
Psalms 61

Verse 1

Neginah = smitings. App-65 .

Title. of David: i.e. relating to David and to the true David.

Verse 2

the earth: or, the land.

that is higher than I = which will prove higher.

Verse 3

shelter = refuge.

Verse 4

tabernacle. Hebrew. 'ohel, tent ( App-40 .), i.e. David's tent on Mount Zion. The Psalm probably refers to Absalom's rebellion.

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

covert = secret place.

wings. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia . App-6 .

Selah. Connecting the confidence with the only true ground of it. This is the central member of the Psalm. See the Structure above.

Verse 5

fear = revere.

Thy name = Thee. See note on Psalms 20:1 .

Verse 6

many generations = from generation to generation.

Verse 7

abide = remain [enthroned].

prepare = number, or appoint, as in Jonah 1:17 .

mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.

Verse 8

To the chief Musician. See App-64 .

to = for.

Jeduthun. A precentor appointed by David, by name Ethan (see App-65 ), afterward called Jeduthun = confession (1 Chronicles 15:17-19 ; 1 Chronicles 16:41 ; 1 Chronicles 25:1-6 ). Other Jeduthun Psalms are Psalms 38:0 and Psalms 76:0 ; in all three "vows" find a place.