Psalm 32:1-3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 32:1-6

This psalm is entitled Maschil, which some take to be only the name of the tune to which it was set and was to be sung. But others think it is significant; our margin reads it, A psalm of David giving instruction, and there is nothing in which we have more need of instruction than in the nature of true blessedness, wherein it consists and the way that leads to it?what we must do that we may be happy. There are several things in which these verses instruct us. In general, we are here taught... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 32:1

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven ,.... Or "lifted up" F13 Verbum נשא "elevavit quaudoque idem est ac condonavit", Gejerus; נשוי "ablata est", Piscator, Cocceius. ; bore and carried away: sin is a transgression of the law; the guilt of it charged upon the conscience of a sinner is a heavy burden, too heavy for him to bear, and the punishment of it is intolerable: forgiveness is a removal of sin, guilt, and punishment. Sin was first taken off, and transferred from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 32:2

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity ,.... Or "does not think of it" F14 יחשב "cogitat", Piscator; "cogitando reputavit", Gejerus; so Ainsworth. ; with respect unto men, at least to the harm of them; his thoughts are thoughts of peace, and not of evil; their sins and iniquities he remembers no more; he does not charge them with them, he does not reckon them, or place them to their account, having imputed them to his Son; see 2 Corinthians 5:19 . The Apostle... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 32:3

When I kept silence ,.... Was unthoughtful of sin, unconcerned about it, and made no acknowledgment and confession of it to God, being quite senseless and stupid; the Targum adds, "from the words of the law"; which seems to point at sin as the cause of what follows; my bones waxed old; through my roaring all the day long ; not under a sense of sin, but under some severe affliction, and through impatience in it; not considering that sin lay at the bottom, and was the occasion of it; and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 32:1

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven - In this and the following verse four evils are mentioned: Transgression, פשע peshwa . Sin, חטאה chataah . Iniquity, עון avon . Guile, רמיה remiyah . The first signifies the passing over a boundary, doing what is prohibited. The second signifies the missing of a mark, not doing what was commanded; but is often taken to express sinfulness, or sin in the future, producing transgression in the life. The third signifies... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 32:3

When I kept silence - Before I humbled myself, and confessed my sin, my soul was under the deepest horror. "I roared all the day long;" and felt the hand of God heavy upon my soul. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 32:1

Verse 1 1.Blessed are they whose iniquity is forgiven. This exclamation springs from the fervent affection of the Psalmist’s heart as well as from serious consideration. Since almost the whole world turning away their thoughts from God’s judgment, bring upon themselves a fatal forgetfulness, and intoxicate themselves with deceitful pleasures; David, as if he had been stricken with the fear of God’s wrath, that he might betake himself to Divine mercy, awakens others also to the same exercise, by... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 32:2

Verse 2 2.In whose spirit there is no guile. In this clause the Psalmist distinguishes believers both from hypocrites and from senseless despisers of God, neither of whom care for this happiness, nor can they attain to the enjoyment of it. The wicked are, indeed, conscious to themselves of their guilt, but still they delight in their wickedness; harden themselves in their impudence, and laugh at threatenings; or, at least, they indulge themselves in deceitful flatteries, that they may not be... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 32:3

Verse 3 3.When I kept silence, my bones wasted away. Here David confirms, by his own experience, the doctrine which he had laid down; namely, that when humbled under the hand of God, he felt that nothing was so miserable as to be deprived of his favor: by which he intimates, that this truth cannot be rightly understood until God has tried us with a feeling of his anger. Nor does he speak of a mere ordinary trial, but declares that he was entirely subdued with the extremest rigour. And... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 32:1

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, and whose sin is covered. There are three aspects under which sin is viewed in Holy Scripture: 1 . As an offence against God's Law. This is "transgression"— ἀνομία . 2 . As an offence against the eternal and immutable rule of right. This is "sin"— ἁμαρτία . 3 . As an internal depravation and defilement of the sinner's soul. This is "iniquity "— ἀδικία (comp. Exodus 34:7 ). Each aspect of sin has its own especial... read more

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