Psalm 8:3-9 NIV

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 8:3

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 8:7

All sheep and oxen ,.... The tame creatures, which are useful for food and clothing: yea, and the beasts of the field ; the wild beasts, which he can make use of to destroy and devour his enemies, and whom he can restrain from harming his own people, Jeremiah 15:8 . read more

John Gill

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

The fowl of the air ,.... These he rained about the tents of the Israelites for their relief, Psalm 78:27 , and can command them to feed his people, as the ravens did Elijah, 1 Kings 17:4 ; or to destroy his enemies, Jeremiah 15:3 ; see Psalm 50:10 ; and the fish of the sea : instances of Christ's power over them, and of their being at his command, and for his service, may be seen in Matthew 17:27 ; and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas : some F11 Aben... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 8:9

O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth ! The psalm ends with the same words with which it begins; which shows that the sense of this, with which the psalmist was affected, continued with him, and doubtless increased, after such a confirmation of it, by the instances he was led to take notice of. See Gill on Psalm 8:1 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 8:3

When I Consider thy heavens - אראה כי ki ereh ; Because I will see. He had often seen the heavens with astonishment, and he purposes to make them frequent subjects of contemplation; and he could not behold them without being affected with the skill, contrivance, and power, manifested in their formation. The work of thy fingers - What a view does this give of the majesty of God! The earth is nearly eight thousand English miles in diameter: but to form an adequate conception of its... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 8:4

What is man - אנוש מה mah enosh , what is wretched, miserable man; man in his fallen state, full of infirmity, ignorance, and sin? That thou art mindful of him? - That thou settest thy heart upon him, keepest him continually in thy merciful view. And the son of man - אדם ובן uben Adam , and the son of Adam, the first great rebel; the fallen child of a fallen parent. See the note on Job 7:17 . Some think eminent men are here intended. What is man in common; what the most... read more

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

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

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 8:7

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 8:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 8:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 8:4

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