Psalm 34:18-20 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 34:11-22

David, in this latter part of the psalm, undertakes to teach children. Though a man of war, and anointed to be king, he did not think it below him; though now he had his head so full of cares and his hands of business, yet he could find heart and time to give good counsel to young people, from his own experience. It does not appear that he had now any children of his own, at least any that were grown up to a capacity of being taught; but, by divine inspiration, he instructs the children of his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 34:18

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart ,.... Who are pressed and bore down with afflictions, by the sorrow of heart under which their spirits are broken, Proverbs 15:13 ; or with a sense of sin, and sorrow for it, for which their hearts smite them, and they are wounded by it, and broken with it: to these the Lord is "nigh"; not in a general way only, as he is to all men, being God omnipresent, but in a special manner; he comes and manifests himself to them in a gracious... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 34:19

Many are the afflictions of the righteous ,.... This may be understood of some one particular righteous person, since the singular number is here made use of; whereas the plural is always used before, when the righteous are made mention of; and the Lord Jesus Christ may be designed, who is eminently and emphatically "the righteous"; he is righteous both as God and man, and as Mediator, in the discharge of every branch of his office; and his afflictions were many, which he endured from men,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 34:20

He keepeth all his bones; not one of them is broken. This is literally true of Christ, in whom the type of the passover lamb had its accomplishment, and this passage also; see Exodus 12:46 ; and seems better to agree with him than with any of his members, since the bones of many of them have been broken by one accident or another; and especially many of the martyrs of Jesus have had all their bones broken upon the rack or wheel; wherefore, to understand these words of them might tend to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:18

A broken heart - לב נשברי nishberey Web , the heart broken to shivers. A contrite spirit - רוח דכאי dakkeey ruach , "the beaten-out spirit." In both words the hammer is necessarily implied; in breaking to pieces the ore first, and then plating out the metal when it has been separated from the ore. This will call to the reader's remembrance Jeremiah 23:29 ; : "Is not my word like as a fire, saith the Lord? And like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" The breaking to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:19

Many are the afflictions of the righteous - No commander would do justice to a brave and skillful soldier, by refusing him opporbunities to put his skill and bravery to proof by combating with the adversary; or by preventing him from taking the post of danger when necessity required it. The righteous are God's soldiers. He suffers them to be tried, and sometimes to enter into the hottest of the battle and in their victory the power and influence of the grace of God is shown, as well as their... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:20

He keepeth all his bones - He takes care of his life; and if he have scars, they are honorable ones. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:18

Verse 18 18.Jehovah is nigh to those who are broken of heart. David here exemplifies and extends still more the preceding doctrine, that God is the deliverer of his people, even when they are brought very low, and when they are, as it were, half-dead. It is a very severe trial, when the grace of God is delayed, and all experience of it so far withdrawn, as that our spirits begin to fail; nay more, to say that God is nigh to the faithful, even when their hearts faint and fall them, and they are... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:19

Verse 19 19.Many are the afflictions of the righteous. The Psalmist here anticipates the thought which often arises in the mind, “How can it be that God has a care about the righteous, who are continually harassed with so many calamities and trials? for what purpose does the protection of God serve, unless those who are peaceably inclined enjoy peace and repose? and what is more unreasonable, than that those who cause trouble to no one should themselves be tormented and afflicted in all variety... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 34:11-22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 34:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 34:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 34:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:20

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:18

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 34:1-22

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