Psalms 17

Psalms 17:1

Title. Prayer. Hebrew. Tephillah. One of five Psalms so called (17; 86; 90; 102; 142). See App-63. It is a prayer of Messiah, the true David; in view of Psa 16:6-11, Compare Psalms 17:15.

Hear . . . attend . . . Give ear. Figure of speech Anabasis. App-6.

right = righteousness. Compare Psalms 17:15, and Structure.

LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah.

ear. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6. Compare verses: Psalms 17:2, eyes; 7, hand; 8, wings; 15, face.

feigned = guileless.

Psalms 17:2

Let my sentence, &c. = From thy presence my judgment will come: Thine eyes will discern upright ones.

Psalms 17:3

find nothing. None but Christ could say this. See John 14:30.

Psalms 17:4

men. Hebrew. ’adam. App-14.

kept me from = I have marked.

the destroyer = the oppressor, or violent one. Only here in the Psalms.

Psalms 17:5

paths = tracks, or ruts.

Psalms 17:6

hear = answer. See Structure, above.

Psalms 17:7

put their trust = flee for refuge. Hebrew. hasah. App-69.

Psalms 17:8

as. Figure of speech Simile. App-6.

apple. . . eye . . . wings. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.

Hide = Thou wilt hide.

Psalms 17:9

the wicked = the lawless ones.

my deadly enemies = the foes of my soul Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

Psalms 17:11

steps = ways, or goings, as in Psalms 17:5.

Psalms 17:13

Disappoint = anticipate.

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

the wicked = a lawless one. Hebrew. rasha’. App-44.

sword. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6.

Psalms 17:14

men. Hebrew. methim. App-14.

hand. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6. See note on “ear”, Psalms 17:1.

world. Hebrew. heled. The world as being transitory. See longer note on Psalms 49:1.

hid. Figure of speech Antimereia (App-6). Act. Part, put for Noun. Hebrew thy hid = thy hidden, or secret thing.

They are = Let them be.

full = satisfied with. Compare Psalms 17:15.

children = sons.

Psalms 17:15

I will behold Thy face. See note on Exodus 23:15; Exodus 34:20.

face. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6. Compare Psalms 17:1, and see note on Exodus 23:15; Exodus 34:20.

satisfied = full, as in Psalms 17:14.

when I awake = when I awake from the sleep of death in resurrection. This prayer is in view of Psa 16:9-11. Resurrection of the body is the true inheritance.

Thy likeness = Thine appearing, or a vision of Thee. Compare 1 John 3:2.

To the chief Musician. See App-64.