Bible Commentaries
Psalms 69

Verse 1

Title. A Psalm. No Hebrew for this.

of David. Relating to the true David, Israel's Redeemer. Psalms 22:0 is Christ as the sin offering; Psalms 40:0 as the whole burnt offering ; and this, Psalms 69:0 as the trespass offering. Verse prefers to John 15:25 ; verses: Psalms 69:14-20 refer to Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-45 ); Psalms 69:21 to the Cross (Matthew 27:34 , Matthew 27:48 . John 19:29 ); verses: Psalms 69:22-28 to Romans 11:9 , Romans 11:10 ; Rom 69:25 to Judas (Acts 1:20 ).

God. Hebrew. Elohim.

waters. Put by Figure of speech Hypocatastasis ( App-6 ) for great troubles.

come in unto my soul: i.e. threaten my life.

my soul = me (emphatic). Hebrew. nephesh, App-13 .

Verse 2

sink = have sunk.

mire. See note on waters, Psalms 69:1 .

Verse 4

hate me without a cause. Compare Psalms 35:19 . Quoted in John 15:25 .

mighty. The Syriac, by supplying the letter Ayin, reads "stronger than my bones", thus completing the alternation of this verse.

Then. Ginsburg suggests "I" (emphatic) instead of "Then".

Verse 5

sins. Hebrew. 'asham. App-44 .

Verse 6

Lord GOD. Hebrew Adonai Jehovah. App-4 . .

God of Israel. See note on Isaiah 29:23 .

Verse 8

a stranger. Compare John 1:11 .

children = sons.

Verse 9

the zeal, &c. Quoted as fulfilled in John 2:17 .

the reproaches. Quoted in Romans 15:3 .

Verse 10

I wept, and chastened my soul. The Septuagint reads "I humbled my soul".

Verse 11

sackcloth. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for mourning attire.

proverb. Compare John 8:48 . Matthew 27:63 .

Verse 12

the song = the mocking song.

Verse 13

LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

in an acceptable time: i.e. at the time Thou pleasest.

multitude = abundance, or plenitude.

mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.

Hear = answer.

lovingkindness = grace.

Verse 18

redeem. Hebrew. ga'al. See Ex. note on Psalms 6:6 .

Verse 20

some. Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg, read "one".

Verse 21

They gave. Fulfilled in Matthew 27:34 , Matthew 27:48 . Mark 15:23 , Mark 15:36 . Luke 23:36 . John 19:28-30 .

gave = put. See note on Matthew 27:34 .

gall. = something bitter, probably the poppy. Hebrew. r ' osh . In Deuteronomy 29:18 ; Deuteronomy 32:33 , it is rendered "venom"; in Job 20:16 , "poison"; in Hosea 10:4 , "hemlock".

for = into.

meat = choice food. Occurs only here. A kindred form in 2Sa 13:5 , 2 Samuel 13:7 , 2 Samuel 13:10 .

Verse 22

Let, &c. Imprecation. Suitable for a dispensation of Law and Judgment; not for this Day of Grace. See Romans 11:9 , Romans 11:10 .

Verse 25

Let, &c. Quoted in Acts 1:20 .

habitation = palace: a place surrounded by a wall. Occurs only here in Psalms.

Verse 26

those whom Thou hast wounded = Thy wounded ones.

Verse 27

Add. Referring to the reading in Psalms 69:26 .

iniquity. Hebrew ' avah . App-44 . Put here by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), for the punishment deserved by it.

Verse 28

the living = life. See note on Leviticus 18:5 .

Verse 29

poor = afflicted. Hebrew ' ani . See note on Proverbs 6:11 . Not the same word as in Psalms 69:33 . Constantly used of Christ in the Psalms. Compare Psalms 22:24 (afflicted); Psalms 34:6 , Psalms 35:10 ; Psalms 40:17 ; Psalms 70:5 ; Psalms 109:16 , Psalms 109:22 .

Let. Omit.

Verse 30

praise. The sufferings never mentioned without praise. Compare Psalms 22:0 .Isaiah 53:0 , &c.

name : i. e. God Himself. Compare Psalms 20:1 .

of. Genitive of Apposition. App-17 .

with a song. Hebrew. beshir. Figure of speech Paronomasia with mishshor, an ox, in Psalms 69:31 .

Verse 31

better. Praise is the truest sacrifice.

an ox. See note on "song" (Psalms 69:30 ).

horns. Showing full age; not under three years (Genesis 15:9 ).

and. So some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate; but not in current printed Hebrew text.

hoofs = divided hoof, showing it to be ceremonially clean (Leviticus 11:3 ).

Verse 32

and be glad = they rejoice.

heart. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), for the whole being.

shall live: i.e. live again in resurrection. See note on Leviticus 18:5 .

God. In Authorized Version, 1611, this was printed "good". First printed "God" in ed. 1617.

Verse 33

poor = helpless. Hebrew ' ebyon. See note on Proverbs 6:11 .

Verse 34

heaven and earth. See note on Genesis 14:19 .

Verse 35

Zion. See App-68 .

will build. This is prophecy; for David was "a prophet" (Acts 2:30 ).

dwell, &c. Not merely dwell and possess, but inherit and hand down.

have it in possession = inherit it. Note the Introversion.

Verse 36

To the chief Musician. See App-64 .