Michtam. (golden psalm). This word occurs in the titles of six psalms, Psa 16:1; Psa 56:1; Psa 57:1; Psa 58:1; Psa_ 59:1; Psa 60:1, all of which are ascribed to David.
The marginal reading of our Authorized Version is "a golden psalm," while, in the Geneva version, it is described as "a certain tune." From the position which it occupies in the title, we may infer that michtam is a term applied to these psalms, to denote their musical character, but beyond this everything is obscure.
In the titles of some of David’s psalms: Psalm 16; Psalm 56-60. Not "golden" as margin, but a "secret," conducting us into the depths of the divine life, "the secret of Jehovah" which is "with them that fear Him" (Psa 25:14); from Hebrew "
This word occurs in the headings of Psalms 16; 56 - 60. Its meaning is uncertain. The margin of the A.V. reads ’a golden psalm.’ Gesenius and others suppose the word michtam to be equivalent to miktab, which in Isa 38:9 is translated ’writing,’ hence a ’poem, psalm, song.’ The LXX translates it ’a writing of David.’
MICHTAM.—See Psalms, p. 772a.