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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 17:8-15

We may observe, in these verses, I. What David prays for. Being compassed about with enemies that sought his life, he prays to God to preserve him safely through all their attempts against him, to the crown to which he was anointed. This prayer is both a prediction of the preservation of Christ through all the hardships and difficulties of his humiliation, to the glories and joys of his exalted state, and a pattern to Christians to commit the keeping of their souls to God, trusting him to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 17:8

Keep me as the apple of the eye ,.... Which is weak and tender, and is hurt and put to pain, and made uneasy by every little thing that annoys it, and than which nothing is more dear to a man, or he is more careful of preserving from being hurt; and fitly represents the weak estate and condition of God's people, his affection for them, and tender care of them; who as he has provided tunics for the eye, and guarded it with eyebrows, so he has taken care for the safety of his dear children, ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 17:8

Keep me as the apple of the eye - Or, as the black of the daughter of eye. Take as much care to preserve me now by Divine influence, as thou hast to preserve my eye by thy good providence. Thou hast entrenched it deeply in the skull; hast ramparted it with the forehead and cheek-bones; defended it by the eyebrow, eyelids, and eyelashes; and placed it in that situation where the hands can best protect it. Hide me under the shadow of thy wings - This is a metaphor taken from the hen and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 17:8

Verse 8 The two similitudes which David has subjoined in the following verse, respecting the apple of the eye, and the little birds which the mother keeps under her wings, (363) are introduced for illustrating the same subject. God, to express the great care which he has of his own people, compares himself to a hen and other fowls, which spread out their wings to cherish and cover their young, and declares them to be no less dear to him than the apple of the eye, which is the tenderest part of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 17:1-15

The metrical arrangement is somewhat doubtful. Perhaps the best division is that of Dr. Kay, who makes the poem one of four stanzas—the first of five verses ( Psalms 17:1-5 ); the second of four ( Psalms 17:6-9 ); the third of three ( Psalms 17:10-12 ); and the fourth also of three ( Psalms 17:13-15 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 17:1-15

The saint's appeal from the wrongs of earth to the Righteous One on the throne. The title of our homily on this psalm is in some respects similar to that on the seventh psalm. There, however, the psalm is an appeal to the great Vindicator of one unjustly accused; here, it is the appeal of one beset with persecutors to the great Judge of all. Whenever or by whomsoever the words of this psalm were penned, it may not be easy to say. The probability is that it is one of David's. £ If so,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 17:1-15

The righteousness of God's dealing. It is a common saying that "the pillow is a good counsellor;" and there is much truth in this. In the quietness and retirement of night we are able to collect our thoughts and to commune with our own hearts, as to the past, the present, and the future. And if we do this in the spirit of the psalmist, realizing God's presence and relying upon him for counsel and guidance, it will be well. Whether this psalm was written at night or not, we cannot tell; but... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 17:6-15

Confidence in God. From the first to the fifth verse the prayer bases his confidence in God on four pleas. 1 . He prays for the righteous cause. 2 . In a righteous spirit. 3 . On the ground of a righteous character. 4 . On the ground of righteous conduct. Now we come to other grounds upon which he urges God to save him. I. THE COMPASSION OF GOD for THOSE WHO URGENTLY CRY TO HIM . ( Psalms 17:6 , Psalms 17:7 .) He calls, because God... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 17:8

Keep me as the apple of the eye (comp. Deuteronomy 32:10 , where the same simile is used). Here, however, the expression employed is still more tender and more practical: "Keep me," says David," as the apple, daughter of the eye. " Hide me under the shadow of thy wings . This seems also to be a reminiscence of Deuteronomy, where, after the mention of the "apple of the eye," the water continues, As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young spreadeth abroad her wings,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 17:8

Keep me as the apple of the eye - Preserve me; guard me; defend me, as one defends that which is to him most precious and valuable. In the original there is a remarkable strength of expression, and at the same time a remarkable confusion of gender in the language. The literal translation would be, “Keep me as the little man - the daughter of the eye.” The word “apple” applied to the eye means the pupil, the little aperture in the middle of the eye, through which the rays of light pass to form... read more

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