Psalms 140

Psalms 140:1

To the chief Musician. See App-64.

Title. A Psalm. Hebrew. mizmor. See App-65.

of David = by David.

LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

the evil = an evil man. Hebrew. ra’a’. App-44. man. Hebrew. ’adam. App-14.

man. Hebrew ’ish. App-14.

Psalms 140:2

Which = Who.

mischiefs. Not the same word as in Psalms 140:9, but the same word as “evil” in Psalms 140:1.

Psalms 140:3

tongues. Singular. See note on Psalms 140:11. Quoted in Romans 3:13.

Selah. Connecting the evil with the prayer to be delivered; thus marking the Structure (App-66)

Psalms 140:4

wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha’. App-41.

Psalms 140:5

by the wayside. See Job 18:10.

Psalms 140:6

GOD. Hebrew El App-4.

Psalms 140:7

GOD the Lord. Hebrew. Jehovah.Adonai. App-4. (2).

of. Genitive of character = my saving strength. covered = screened or protected. Not the same word as in Psalms 140:9.

Psalms 140:8

wicked. Hebrew. rasha’. Singular. App-44. The same word as in Psalms 140:4.

wicked device = devices or plots. Occurs only here.

Psalms 140:9

those that compass me about = one word in Hebrew.

mischief = labour, toil Hebrew. ’amal. App-44.

cover = overwhelm. Not the same word as in Psalms 140:7.

Psalms 140:10

burning coals. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy(of Adjunct), App-6, for cruel words and hard speeches which wound the heart as fire wounds the body. Compare Proverbs 16:27; Proverbs 26:23.

that they, &c. = let them not, &c.

Psalms 140:11

evil speaker. Hebrew a man of tongue; not “a man of lips” (= talkative. Job 11:2), but with an evil motive = a slanderer. Compare Psalms 140:3.

Evil shall hunt = Let evil hunt.

Psalms 140:12

the afflicted = a poor one.

the poor = helpless ones.

Psalms 140:13

name. See note on Psalms 20:1.

dwell in Thy presence. Compare Psalms 11:7; Psalms 16:11.