Bible Commentaries
Psalms 7

Verse 1

do I = have I.

put my trust = flee for refuge. Hebrew. hasa. See App-69 .

persecute = pursue me. Refers probably to Saul.

Verse 2

he: i.e. Cush.

tear. Hebrew. taraph. Refers to living prey.

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

while there is none to deliver. Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg, read "and there be no deliverer to rescue". Better, no sign of a rescuer. Compare Lamentations 5:8 .

Verse 3

iniquity. Hebrew. 'aval. App-44 . not the same as Psalms 7:14 .

in my hands. Hands put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for what is done by them.

Verse 4

evil. Hebrew. raa'. App-44 .

delivered = rescued. Aramaean and Syriac read "oppressed".

enemy = adversary. Hebrew. zarar .

Verse 5

enemy = foe. Hebrew. 'oyeb.

persecute . . . take . . . tread. Figure of speech Anabasis. App-6 .

it = me.

Selah. Connecting the treading down of Psalms 7:5 with the rising up of Jehovah. See App-66 .

Verse 7

people = peoples.

compass Thee about = gather round Thee: i.e. to hear Thy judgment.

Verse 9

wickedness . . . wicked = lawlessness . . . lawless. Hebrew. rasha . App-44 .

Verse 10

defence = shield. See note on "shield", Psa 6:12 .

upright. Plural.

Verse 11

righteous. Plural.

GOD. Hebrew El. App-4 .

Verse 12

He: i.e. God.

His sword . . . bow. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.

Verse 13

ordaineth = will ordain.

Verse 14

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos, App-6 .

travaileth . . . conceived . . . brought forth. Figure of speech Anabasis. App-6 .

travaileth = will travail.

iniquity. Hebrew 'aven App-44 . i, not same word as Psalms 7:3 .

mischief. Hebrew. 'amal. App-44 .

Verse 16

pate = head; especially the smooth skull. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6 , for the whole person, for emphasis. From "plate" = the smooth top of the head (Skeat).

Verse 17

MOST HIGH. Hebrew. Elyon. See App-4 . First occurrence in Psalms. The first of thirty-six occurrences in O.T. is Genesis 14:18 .

To the chief Musician. See App-64 .

upon Gittith = relating to the Feast of Tabernacles (for which it was suited), because it commemorated safe dwelling after deliverance. See App-66 .