Psalm 8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 8

This psalm is a solemn meditation on, and admiration of, the glory and greatness of God, of which we are all concerned to think highly and honourably. It begins and ends with the same acknowledgment of the transcendent excellency of God's name. It is proposed for proof (Ps. 8:1) that God's name is excellent in all the earth, and then it is repeated as proved (with a ?quod erat demonstrandum??which was to be demonstrated) in the Ps. 8:9. For the proof of God's glory the psalmist gives instances... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 8:1-2

The psalmist here sets himself to give to God the glory due to his name. Dr. Hammond grounds a conjecture upon the title of this psalm concerning the occasion of penning it. It is said to be upon Gittith, which is generally taken for the tune, or musical instrument, with which this psalm was to be sung; but he renders it upon the Gittite, that is, Goliath the Gittite, whom he vanquished and slew (1 Sam. 17:1-58); that enemy was stilled by him who was, in comparison, but a babe and a suckling.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 8:3-9

David here goes on to magnify the honour of God by recounting the honours he has put upon man, especially the man Christ Jesus. The condescensions of the divine grace call for our praises as much as the elevations of the divine glory. How God has condescended in favour to man the psalmist here observes with wonder and thankfulness, and recommends it to our thoughts. See here, I. What it is that leads him to admire the condescending favour of God to man; it is his consideration of the lustre... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 8

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 8 To the chief Musician upon Gittith, a Psalm of David . Some think this psalm was composed when the ark was brought to the house of Obededom the Gittite; and that it was delivered to him and his sons, as others were to Asaph, to Jeduthun, to the sons of Korah, &c.; F12 Aben Ezra in loc. . But against this lies a strong objection, that Obededom and his sons were porters, and not singers, 1 Chronicles 26:4 ; and for the same reason "gittith" cannot be the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 8:1

O Lord our God ,.... Jehovah, the one God, who is Lord of all angels and men, and in an especial manner Lord and King of saints; how excellent is thy name in all the earth ! by the "name" of God is not meant any particular name of his, by which he is called; but either himself, his nature and perfections; or rather that by which he is made known, and particularly his Gospel; see John 17:6 ; this is excellent in its nature, it being good news, and glad tidings of good things, which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 8:2

Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings ,.... Not literally such, though the Jewish writers F5 Aben Ezra & R. Moses in ibid. Kimchi, Obadiah Gaon, & Ben Melech in loc. generally so understand it; as do some Christian interpreters, who explain it of the wonderful formation, nourishment, and growth of infants; and of the marvellous care of God in providing the breast for them; in filling it with milk, and teaching them to suck; which, being observed by men, occasion praise to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 8:3

When I consider thy heavens ,.... Where God dwells, and which he has made; the airy and starry heavens, which are to be seen with the bodily eye; and the heaven of heavens, which is to be beheld and considered by faith: the work of thy fingers ; being curiously wrought by his power, and garnished by his Spirit: for the finger of God is the Spirit of God; see Matthew 12:28 ; compared with Luke 11:20 ; the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained , or "prepared" F8 כוננת ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 8:4

What is man, that thou art mindful of him ?.... That is, the psalmist, while he was considering the greatness and glory of the celestial bodies, thought this within himself, and so expressed it; which is to be understood, not of man in general, nor of Adam in a state of innocence; he could not be called "Enosh", the word here used, which signifies a frail, weak, sickly mortal man; nor could he with any propriety be said to be the son of man, as in the following clause: nor of fallen man, or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 8:5

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels ,.... Than Elohim, "than God", as this word usually signifies: and could it be interpreted of man, as made by God, it might be thought to refer to the creation of him in the image and likeness of God; but as it must be understood of the human nature of Christ, it may regard the wonderful union of it to the Son of God, on account of which it is called by the same name, Luke 1:35 ; and so made but a little lower than God, being next unto... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 8:6

Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands ,.... All power in heaven and in earth being given to him: when he was raised from the dead, and when he ascended on high, and was set down at the right hand of God, he was made or declared Lord and Christ; Lord of the hosts of heaven, of all the angels there, King of saints, King of kings, and Lord of lords. All things in heaven and earth, which God has made, are put into his hands, to subserve his cause and glory, and for the... read more

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