Bible Commentaries
Psalms 71

Verse 1

LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

do I put my trust = have I fled for refuge. Hebrew. hasah . App-69 .

confusion = shame.

Verse 2

ear. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .

Verse 3

strong habitation = rock of habitation. Hebrew. zur , a fortified place. Some codices, with six early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "a rock of refuge".

whereunto I may continually resort, &c. Septuagint reads "a place of security to save me".

rock. Hebrew. sela '. See note on Psalms 18:1 , Psalms 18:2 .Exodus 17:6 . Deuteronomy 32:13 .

Verse 4

Deliver = Cause me to escape.

the wicked = lawless one. Hebrew. rash a'. App-44 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 5

hope. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the object of hope.

Lord GOD. Hebrew Adonai Jehovah. App-4 .

trust = confidence. Hebrew. batah. App-69 .

Verse 6

from the womb. Compare Jeremiah 1:5 . Some have supposed that this Psalm was written by Jeremiah. See note on Psalms 71:22 . But even then it points to Christ.

Verse 7

I am = I have become.

art. Supply the Ellipsis , "hast been".

Verse 10

my soul = me (emphatic). Hebrew. nephesh.

Verse 15

the numbers. Compare Psalms 40:5 .

Verse 16

strength = strengths. Plural of majesty = great strength.

Verse 18

Now also = Yea also.

when I am old and grayheaded = to old age and gray hairs.

Thy strength = Thine arm; "arm" being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the wonders wrought by it.

every one that is to come. A special reading called. Sevir ( App-34 ) reads "all who are to come".

Verse 19

who is like unto Thee. This is the cry of all God's saints. See note on Exodus 15:11 .

Verse 20

quicken me again = make me alive again.

bring me up again: i.e. in resurrection.

Verse 22

with = with the aid of.

sing = sing praise.

Holy One of Israel. Occurs only three times in the Psalms (here, Psalms 78:41 ; Psalms 89:18 ). In Isaiah we find it thirty times. In Jeremiah twice ( Psa 50:29 ; Psalms 51:5 ). See note on Psalms 78:41 .

Verse 23

redeemed. Hebrew. padah. See note on Exodus 13:13 with Exodus 6:6 .