Bible Commentaries

Verses 1-10

This is the first of the Penitential Psalms, the others being Psalms 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143. It is the prayer of a sufferer whose experience is like that of Job. He is prostrated by severe illness, and is even in danger of death, while the mockery of his enemies makes his trouble the harder to bear. He entreats earnestly that God may deliver him (Psalms 6:1-7), and rises to a sudden confidence that his prayer has been heard and that his enemies will be put to shame (Psalms 6:8-10).

Title.—On Neginoth upon Sheminith] RV ’on stringed instruments, set to the Sheminith (lower octave).’

1. Rebuke.. chasten] the two aspects of affliction—the one being for punishment and the other for discipline; the one proceeding from displeasure and the other from love.

2. Weak] RV ’withered away’: see Psalms 102:11. My bones] the innermost framework of my body. Vexed] used here of physical pain, and in the next v. of mental anguish: cp. Psalms 2:5.

3. My soul.. also] The bodily pain has produced distress of spirit. There is an echo of these words in John 12:27. O Lord, how long?] The broken sentence is more expressive than if it had been completed: see Psalms 90:13.

5. The grave] RV ’Sheol,’ the shadowy abode of the dead. In the OT. time there was no clear expectation of immortality in the sense of a happy future life.

6. All the night] RV ’every night.’

7. Mine eye is consumed] The sunken eye is a sure token of bodily anguish or mental distress.

10. Read, ’All mine enemies shall be ashamed.. they shall turn back, they shall be ashamed suddenly.’