Psalm 19

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 19:3

There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard - Margin, Without these their voice is heard. Hebrew, “without their voice heard.” The idea in the margin, which is adopted by Prof. Alexander, is, that when the heavens give expression to the majesty and glory of God, it is not by words - by the use of language such as is employed among men. That is, there is a silent but real testimony to the power and glory of their great Author. The same idea is adopted substantially by DeWette.... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 19:4

Their line - That is, of the heavens. The word used here - קו qav - means properly a cord, or line:(a) a measuring line, Ezekiel 47:3; Job 38:5; Isaiah 44:13; and then(b) a cord or string as of a lyre or other instrument of music; and hence, a sound.So it is rendered here by the Septuagint, φθόγγος phthongos. By Symmachus, ἦχος ēchos. By the Vulgate, sonus. DeWette renders it Klang, sound. Prof. Alexander dogmatically says that this is “entirely at variance with the Hebrew usage.” That this... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 19:5

Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber - That is, when he rises in the morning. He rises from the darkness of the night, and comes forth as the bridegroom comes out of the chamber where he has slept. The allusion is to the bright, and joyful, and cheerful aspect of the rising sun. The image of the bridegroom is employed because we associate with a bridegroom the idea of hilarity, cheerfulness, joy. The essential image is that the sun seems to rise from a night of repose, as man does... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 19:6

His going forth - The psalmist now describes that race which he has to run, as borne over the entire circuit of the heavens, from one end of it to another - sweeping the whole space across the firmament.Is from the end of the heaven - From one end of the heaven; that is, from the East, where he starts.And his circuit - The word used here - תקופה teqûphâh - means properly a coming about, or a return, as of the seasons, or of the year. It is found only in Exodus 34:22, “At the year’s end;” 1... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 19:7

The law of the Lord - Margin, doctrine. The word used here - תורה tôrâh - is that which is commonly employed in the Old Testament with reference to the law of God, and is usually rendered “law.” The word properly means “instruction,” “precept,” from a verb signifying “to teach.” It is then used with reference to instruction or teaching in regard to conduct, and is thus applied to all that God has communicated to guide mankind. It does not here, nor does it commonly, refer exclusively to the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 19:8

The statutes of the Lord - The word here rendered statutes properly means mandates, precepts - rules given to anyone to guide him, Psalms 103:18; Psalms 111:7. It refers to the laws of God considered as appointed, or as the result of divine authority. The verb from which this word is derived (Hiphil) means to set over, to give the oversight, to appoint. Hence, the idea of laws, or statutes, as the result of such an appointment, or such an authority.Are right - Are equal, just, proper. They are... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 19:9

The fear of the Lord - The word rendered fear in this place - יראה yir'âh - means properly fear, terror, Jonah 1:10; then, reverence, or holy fear, Psalms 2:11; Psalms 5:7; and hence, reverence toward God, piety, religion - in which sense it is often used. Compare Proverbs 1:7; Job 28:28; Isaiah 11:2. Hence, by metonymy, it means the precepts of piety or religion. It is used evidently in this sense here, as referring to revelation, or to revealed truth, in the sense that it promotes proper... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 19:10

More to be desired are they than gold - That is, his law; or, as in the preceding verse, his judgments. They are more valuable than gold; they are of such a nature that the soul should more desire to be in possession of them than to be in possession of gold, and should value them more. The psalmist here and in the following verses describes his estimate of the worth of revealed truth as he perceived it. In the previous verses he had shown its value in the abstract; he here speaks of his own... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 19:11

Moreover by them is thy servant warned - The word used here - זהר zâhar - means, properly, to be bright, to shine; then, to cause to shine, to make light; and then, to admonish, to instruct, to warn. The essential idea here is, to throw light on a subject, so as to show it clearly; that is, to make the duty plain, and the consequences plain. Compare Leviticus 15:31; Ezekiel 3:18; Ezekiel 33:7. The word is rendered admonished in Ecclesiastes 4:13; Ecclesiastes 12:12; warn, and warned, in Psalms... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 19:12

Who can understand his errors? - The word rendered errors is derived from a verb which means to wander, to go astray; then, to do wrong, to transgress. It refers here to wanderings, or departures from the law of God, and the question seems to have been asked in view of the purity, the strictness, and the extent of the law of God. In view of a law so pure, so holy, so strict in its demands, and so extended in its requirements - asserting jurisdiction over the thoughts, the words, and the whole... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 19:3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 19:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 19:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 19:6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 19:7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 19:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 19:9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 19:10

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 19:11

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 19:12

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