Psalm 64:4-10 ESV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:5

They commune of laying snares - They lay snares to entrap those whom they cannot slay by open attack or private ambush. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:6

They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search - The word חפש chaphash , which is used three times, as a noun and a verb, in this sentence, signifies to strip off the clothes. "They investigate iniquities; they perfectly investigate an investigation." Most energetically translated by the old Psalter: Thai ransaked wickednesses: thai failled ransakand in ransaking. To ransack signifies to search every corner, to examine things part by part, to turn over every leaf, to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:7

But God shall shoot at them with an arrow - They endeavor to trace me out, that they may shoot me; but God will shoot at them. This, if the Psalm refer to the times of David, seems to be prophetic of Saul's death. The archers pressed upon him, and sorely wounded him with their arrows. 1 Samuel 31:3 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:8

Their own tongue to fall upon them-selves - All the plottings, counsels, and curses, they have formed against me, shall come upon themselves. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:9

And all men shall fear - They endeavored to hide their mischief; but God shall so punish them that all shall see it, and shall acknowledge in their chastisement the just judgment of God. The wicked, in consequence, shall fear, and, read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:10

The righteous shall be glad - They shall see that God does not abandon his followers to the malice of bad men. The rod of the wicked may come into the herttage of the just; but there it shall not rest. Calmet thinks that this is a prediction of the destruction of the Chaldeans, in consequence of which the Jewish people became highly respected by all the surrounding nations. But it may be applied more generally to the enmity of the wicked against the righteous, and how God counterworks their... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:5

Verse 5 5They assure themselves in an evil work. He proceeds to complain of the perverse determination with which they pursued their wickedness, and of their combinations amongst themselves; remarking, at the same time, upon the confidence with which they stirred one another up to the most daring acts of iniquity. In this there can be little doubt that they were encouraged by the present state of weakness to which David was reduced in his circumstances, taking occasion, when they found him in... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:7

Verse 7 7And God shall shoot an arrow at them The Psalmist now congratulates himself in the confident persuasion that his prayers have not been without effect, but already answered. Though there was no appearance of God’s approaching judgment, he declares that it would suddenly be executed; and in this he affords a remarkable proof of his faith. He saw the wicked hardening themselves in their prosperity, and presuming upon impunity from the divine connivance and forbearance; but instead of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:8

Verse 8 8And they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves Pursuing the same subject, he remarks, that the poison concocted in their secret counsels, and which they revealed with their tongues, would prove to have a deadly effect upon themselves. The sentiment is the same with that expressed elsewhere by another figure, when they are said to be caught in their own snares, and to fall into the pit which they have digged themselves, (Psalms 57:6.) It is just that Heaven should make the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:9

Verse 9 9And all men shall see, and shall declare the work of God. He insists more fully upon the good effects which would result from the judgment executed in leading such as had formerly overlooked a Divine Providence altogether, to catch a spirit of inquiry from the singularity of the spectacle; and acquaint themselves with, and speak one to another of a subject hitherto entirely new to them. He intimates, that the knowledge of what God had so signally wrought would extend far and wide — for... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:9

Group of Brands