Psalm 58:1, Psalm 58:2 NIV

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 58:1-11

Psalms 58:0 Corrupt judgesIn Psalms 10-17 the psalmist considered the problem of the poor and innocent being trampled underfoot by people of power and wealth. (See notes on these psalms, including the special note that follows Psalms 10:0.) In Psalms 58:0 the psalmist deals more specifically with those who make such a situation possible, the corrupt judges. Evil in thoughts and actions, they are deaf to any pleas for justice (1-5). The psalmist appeals to God to break their power and destroy... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 58:1

Title. Michtam. See App-65 . Do ye indeed . . . ? Figure of Speech. Erotesis. App-6 . Render: "Are ye indeed silent [when] ye should speak righteousness? When ye should judge with equity, O ye sons of men?" O congregation: or, O faction. Hebrew. 'elem. Occurs only here and in the subscription of Psalms 55:0 = silent. So human judges are dumb when they ought to speak, and deaf when they ought to hear (Psalms 58:4 ). men. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Psalms 58:1

PSALM 58PRAYER FOR THE PUNISHMENT OF THE WICKEDSUPERSCRIPTION: FOR THE CHIEF MUSICIAN; SET TO ALTASHETH.A PSALM OF DAVID. MICHTAM.The title selected here is that which appears in the American Standard Version. Again we find no convincing evidence capable of denying that the psalm is truly one of those written by David.This is another of the so-called imprecatory psalms. It expresses a seven-fold curse upon evil men and mentions the rejoicing of the righteous that such a judgment will actually... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Psalms 58:1

Psalms 58:0. David, reproving wicked judges, describeth the nature of the wicked, and devoteth them to God's judgments, whereat the righteous shall rejoice. To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of David. Title. תשׁחת אל al tashcheth.— Bishop Patrick observes, that the order of time, in placing this, the former, and the following psalms, is inverted; for the occasion of the 59th was first. Then, upon Saul's missing David, he supposes him to have called his council together; when they, to... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Psalms 58:1

1. O congregation—literally, "Oh, dumb"; the word used is never translated "congregation." "Are ye dumb? ye should speak righteousness," may be the translation. In any case, the writer remonstrates with them, perhaps a council, who were assembled to try his cause, and bound to give a right decision. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 58:1

The psalmist introduced his condemnation of certain unjust judges with two questions. He questioned the integrity of these men.The Hebrew word elohim (lit. strong ones) sometimes refers to rulers in the Old Testament. Of course, it usually refers to God, the strongest of all beings. Sometimes it refers to false gods, i.e., idols. Here, as elsewhere, powerful human beings are in view (cf. Psalms 82:1; Psalms 82:6). The context suggests that they were judges in Israel. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 58:1-5

1. The marks of crooked judges 58:1-5 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 58:1-11

Psalms 58In this prophetic lament psalm, David called on God to judge corrupt judges so the righteous would continue to trust in the Lord. [Note: See Day, pp. 169-73.] This is also an imprecatory psalm. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 58:1-11

This Ps. denounces the wickedness of unjust and oppressive judges, and prays, in a series of powerful metaphors, for their destruction, in order that righteousness may be vindicated, and God exalted as the supreme Judge. It is uncertain whether the injustice complained of is exercised by Israelites or by foreigners, and so the Ps. has been variously placed before and after the exile. In any case it cannot be regarded as David’s. For its subject it should be compared with Psalms 82.Title.—See on... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 58:1

(1) Congregation.—This rendering comes of a mistaken derivation of the Hebrew word êlem, which offers some difficulty. As pointed, it must mean silence (comp. Psalms 56:0 title, the only other place it occurs); and some, regardless of sense, would render, “do ye truly in silence speak righteousness.” Of the many conjectures on the passage, we may choose between reading elim (short for elîm = gods), and here, as in Exodus 21:6; Exodus 22:8; Psalms 82:6, applied to the judges) and ulam (with the... read more

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 58:1-11

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 58:1

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Psalms 58:1

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Psalms 58:1

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Psalms 58:1

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 58:1

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 58:1-5

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 58:1-11

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 58:1-11

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 58:1

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