Psalm 140:1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 140:1-7

In this, as in other things, David was a type of Christ, that he suffered before he reigned, was humbled before he was exalted, and that as there were many who loved and valued him, and sought to do him honour, so there were many who hated and envied him, and sought to do him mischief, as appears by these verses, where, I. He gives a character of his enemies, and paints them out in their own colours, as dangerous men, whom he had reason to be afraid of, but wicked men, whom he had no reason to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 140:1

Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man ,.... Either Saul; so Theodoret; or rather Doeg, according to R. Obadiah: but Jarchi interprets it of Esau; by whom he means Edom, or Rome, or rather the Christians in general. Were his sense confined to the Papists, he might be thought to be much in the right; for this is applicable enough to the man of sin, and his followers: for it may be understood collectively of a body of evil men; all men are evil by nature, their hearts, thoughts, words, works,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 140:1

From the evil man - Saul, who was full of envy, jealousy, and cruelty against David, to whom both himself and his kingdom were under the highest obligations, endeavored by every means to destroy him. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 140:1

Verse 1 To the chief Musician, etc. I cannot bring myself to restrict this Psalm to Doeg, as the great body of interpreters do, for the context will clearly show that it speaks of Saul, and of the counselors who ceased not to inflame the king — himself sufficiently incensed against the life of one who was a saint of God. Being as he was a figure of Christ, we need not wonder that the agents of the devil directed so much of their rage against him. And this is the reason why he animadverts so... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 140:1

Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man . The prayer is not directed against an individual, but against David's enemies generally. They are "evil" or "wicked" men, and especially "men of violence" (see the next clause, and comp. Psalms 140:4 ). Preserve me from the violent man ; literally, from the man of violences . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 140:1-13

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 140:1-13

In danger. The position of the psalmist is that of a man in danger. His enemies are strong and cunning; they are bent on his destruction, and spare no pains to accomplish his ruin. At such a time the godly man has one resource which never fails him. The psalm speaks to us of— I. THE PERILS WHICH SURROUND US . These are twofold. 1. That of violence . ( Psalms 140:4 , Psalms 140:11 .) Not the violence of the sword and the spear, but that of fierce, forcible... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 140:1-13

Our adversary and our Defense. Some there are who unhesitatingly and strongly condemn this psalm: they say it moves only on the low plane of bodily needs; it never mounts up to holy, spiritual desire at all. Further, it is wholly personal, not to say selfish; it is all for "me," no one else, throughout the psalm; also, it is aflame with the "burning coals" of fierce revenge, and is, at the same time, saturated with self-righteousness. Such are the charges brought against this psalm, and a... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 140:1

Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man - That is, evidently from some particular man who was endeavoring to injure him; some personal enemy. All the circumstances mentioned agree well with the supposition that Saul is intended.Preserve me from the violent man - Margin, as in Hebrew, “man of violences.” That is, one who has committed violence so often, who has so frequently done wrong, that this may be considered a characteristic of the man. This would apply well to the repeated acts of Saul in... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 140:1-3

Psalms 140:1-3. Deliver me from the evil man Either Saul, or Doeg, or some other malicious enemy, or rather enemies; the word man being taken collectively for men, as appears from the next verse. Continually, are they gathered, &c. To execute those bloody enterprises which they have devised. They have sharpened their tongues, &c. Their malicious hearts have excited their tongues to utter vile slanders against me, using words as sharp and piercing as the sting of a serpent. ... read more

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