Psalm 52:1 KJV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 52:1-5

The title is a brief account of the story which the psalm refers to. David now, at length, saw it necessary to quit the court, and shift for his own safety, for fear of Saul, who had once and again attempted to murder him. Being unprovided wit harms and victuals, he, by a wile, got Ahimelech the priest to furnish him with both. Doeg an Edomite happened to be there, and he went and informed Saul against Ahimelech, representing him as confederate with a traitor, upon which accusation Saul... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 52:1

Why boastest thou thyself in mischief ?.... Or "in evil" F23 ברעה "in malo", Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Gejerus. ; in that which is sinful; to glory in riches, wisdom, and strength, which are not in themselves evil, is wrong; and to rejoice in such boastings, all such rejoicing is evil; to be a doer of mischief, or sin, is bad; to make a sport of it, worse; but to glory in it, and boast of it when done, is worse still: to be boasters of evil things, is the character of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 52:1

Why boastest thou thyself - It is thought that Doeg boasted of his loyalty to Saul in making the above discovery; but the information was aggravated by circumstances of falsehood that tended greatly to inflame and irritate the mind of Saul. Exaggeration and lying are common to all informers. O mighty man? - This character scarcely comports with Doeg, who was only chief of the herdsmen of Saul, 1 Samuel 21:7 ; but I grant this is not decisive evidence that the Psalm may not have Doeg in... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 52:1

Verse 1 1.Why boastest thou of thy wickedness? The success which crowned the treachery of Doeg must have tended considerably to stagger David’s faith; and he seems to have adopted the strain of holy defiance with which the psalm commences, in order to arm himself more effectually against this temptation. He begins by charging Doeg with an aggravation of his guilt, in boasting of the power which he had acquired by an act of consummate villany. This power may have been sufficiently considerable... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 52:1

Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? Doeg was "the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul" ( 1 Samuel 21:7 ), or, according to another passage ( 1 Samuel 22:9 ), "set over the servants of Saul." The position would be a high one, and would imply the possession of much physical strength. A sense of tyranny or extreme arrogance seems to attach to the word translated "mighty one" ( gibber ); see Genesis 6:4 ; Genesis 10:8 . The word translated "mischief"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 52:1-9

Metrically, the psalm seems to consist of three strophes, extending respectively to four, three, and two verses. In the first strophe Doeg's wickedness is set forth ( 1 Samuel 21:1-4 ); in the second ( 1 Samuel 21:5-7 ), he is threatened with God's vengeance; in the third ( 1 Samuel 21:8 , 1 Samuel 21:9 ), David thanks God for the vengeance which he has executed, and declares his intention always to trust in him. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 52:1-9

A betrayer. The "mighty man" might have been Doeg or some other who had gained notoriety as a betrayer. I. THE ODIOUSNESS OF HIS CHARACTER . It is marked by deceitfulness. Craft and lying are the tools of the betrayer. He cannot get on without them, and he waxes expert in their use. He may pretend friendship, but malice is in his heart. Even if he speaks truth, it is not in love, but in hate. "Whispering tongues can poison truth," Beat on mischief, he does not think of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 52:1-9

"This psalm is A stern upbraiding addressed to the man who, unscrupulous in the exercise of his power, and proud of his wealth, finds his delight in all the arts of the practised liar." I. THE ARROGANCE OF A WICKED MAN IN WORLDLY POWER . 1 . He boasts of the evil which he does. He is not ashamed of his wickedness. 2 . He is bent upon ever new forms of mischief. Works deceitfully, and not openly, and his tongue, as the instrument of his mind, is ever... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 52:1

Why boastest thou thyself in Mischief? - Why dost thou “exult” in that which is wrong? Why dost thou find pleasure in evil rather than in good? Why dost thou seek to triumph in the injury done to others? The reference is to one who prided himself on schemes and projects which tended to injure others; or who congratulated himself on the success which attended his efforts to wrong other people.O mighty man - DeWette and Luther render this, “tyrant.” The original word would be properly applied to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 52:1

Psalms 52:1. Why boastest thou thyself &c. As if thou hadst done a great exploit, which none else durst undertake; and thereby established the crown upon Saul’s head, and thyself in his favour; and frustrated all David’s designs, by striking a terror into all his friends, by this sad example; O mighty man? He speaks ironically. O valiant captain! O glorious action! To kill a few weak and unarmed persons in the king’s presence, and under the protection of his guards. Surely thy name... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 52:1-5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 52:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 52:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 52:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 52:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 52:1-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 52:1-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 52:1-9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 52:1

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 52:1

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