Psalms 31:20(v2)In the shelter of your presence you will hide them from the plotting of man. You will keep them secretly in a dwelling away from the strife…
Psalms 59:2(v2)Deliver me from the workers of iniquity. Save me from the bloodthirsty men.
Psalms 143:9(v2)Deliver me, Yahweh, from my enemies. I flee to you to hide me.
Psalms 27:5(v2)For in the day of trouble, he will keep me secretly in his pavilion. In the secret place of his tabernacle, he will hide me. He will lift…
Psalms 109:2-3(v2)for they have opened the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of deceit against me. They have spoken to me with a lying tongue. They have also…
Show all 51 cross-references
Jeremiah 11:19(v2)But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the slaughter. I didn’t know that they had devised plans against me, saying, “Let’s destroy the…
Psalms 3:1(v2)Yahweh, how my adversaries have increased! Many are those who rise up against me.
Psalms 140:5(v5)The proud have hidden a snare for me, they have spread the cords of a net by the path. They have set traps for me.
Isaiah 32:2(v2)A man shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the storm, as streams of water in a dry place, as the shade of a large…
Jeremiah 18:23(v2)Yet, Yahweh, you know all their counsel against me to kill me. Don’t forgive their iniquity. Don’t blot out their sin from your sight, Let…
Psalms 2:2(v2)The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against Yahweh, and against his Anointed, saying,
Psalms 10:11(v5)He says in his heart, “God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it.”
Psalms 56:6(v2)They conspire and lurk, watching my steps. They are eager to take my life.
Psalms 57:4(v3)My soul is among lions. I lie among those who are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a…
Psalms 58:7(v3)Let them vanish like water that flows away. When they draw the bow, let their arrows be made blunt.
Jeremiah 9:3(v3)“They bend their tongue, as their bow, for falsehood. They have grown strong in the land, but not for truth; for they proceed from evil to…
Acts 25:3(v2)asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem; plotting to kill him on the way.
James 3:6-8(v3)And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course…
Psalms 11:2(vv3–4)For, behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrows on the strings, that they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
Matthew 26:3-4(vv2, 5)Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called…
Genesis 4:6(v2)Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen?
2 Samuel 17:2-4(v2)I will come on him while he is weary and exhausted, and will make him afraid. All the people who are with him will flee. I will strike the…
Job 22:13(v5)You say, ‘What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?
Psalms 55:19(v4)God, who is enthroned forever, will hear and answer them. They never change, who don’t fear God.
Proverbs 12:18(v3)There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals.
Isaiah 54:17(v3)No weapon that is formed against you will prevail; and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the…
Ezekiel 8:12(v5)Then he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in his rooms of imagery?…
Acts 23:14-15(v2)They came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great curse to taste nothing until we have killed…
1 Peter 2:22-23(v4)who didn’t sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth.” When he was cursed, he didn’t curse back. When he suffered, he didn’t threaten,…
1 Samuel 23:22-23(v2)Please go make yet more sure, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who has seen him there; for I have been told that he is…
Psalms 10:8-9(v4)He lies in wait near the villages. From ambushes, he murders the innocent. His eyes are secretly set against the helpless. He lurks in…
Psalms 59:7(v5)Behold, they spew with their mouth. Swords are in their lips, “For”, they say, “who hears us?”
Psalms 94:7(v5)They say, “Yah will not see, neither will Jacob’s God consider.”
Luke 23:18-23(v2)But they all cried out together, saying, “Away with this man! Release to us Barabbas!”— one who was thrown into prison for a certain revolt…
Exodus 15:9(v5)The enemy said, ‘I will pursue. I will overtake. I will divide the plunder. My desire will be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword. My…
Numbers 22:6(v5)Please come now therefore, and curse this people for me; for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall prevail, that we may strike them,…
1 Samuel 18:11(v4)and Saul threw the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” David escaped from his presence twice.
1 Samuel 19:10(v4)Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he stuck the spear into the wall.…
1 Samuel 23:19-23(v5)Then the Ziphites came up to Saul to Gibeah, saying, “Doesn’t David hide himself with us in the strongholds in the woods, in the hill of…
2 Samuel 15:14(v4)David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise! Let’s flee; or else none of us will escape from Absalom. Hurry to…
Nehemiah 4:11(v4)Our adversaries said, “They will not know or see, until we come in among them and kill them, and cause the work to cease.”
Psalms 59:3-4(v4)For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul. The mighty gather themselves together against me, not for my disobedience, nor for my sin,…
Psalms 64:7(v4)But God will shoot at them. They will be suddenly struck down with an arrow.
Psalms 124:7(v5)Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare. The snare is broken, and we have escaped.
Proverbs 1:11-14(v5)If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lay in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause. Let’s swallow them up alive…
Isaiah 41:6(v5)Everyone helps his neighbor. They say to their brothers, “Be strong!”
Habakkuk 3:14(v4)You pierced the heads of his warriors with their own spears. They came as a whirlwind to scatter me, gloating as if to devour the wretched…
John 19:6(v4)When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take him…
Proverbs 30:14(v3)There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and their jaws like knives, to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among…
Matthew 23:15(v5)Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you…
Revelation 11:10(v5)Those who dwell on the earth rejoice over them, and they will be glad. They will give gifts to one another, because these two prophets…
51 distinct cross-references across this passage (53 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (17 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
John Calvin1540 · Public DomainOn vv3, 53 For they have whetted their tongue like a…
3 For they have whetted their tongue like a sword His enemies, in their rage, aimed at nothing less than his life, and yet what he complains of, more than all beside, is the poison with which their words were imbued. It is probable that he refers to the calumnious reports which he knew to be falsely spread to his discredit, and with a view of damaging his reputation with the people. Their tongues he likens to swords; their bitter and venomous words to arrows. And when he adds, that, they shoot against the upright and innocent, he is to be considered as contrasting his integrity with their unprincipled conduct. It inspired him with confidence in his religious addresses, to know that he could exonerate his own conscience from guilt, and that he was the object of undeserved attack by worthless and abandoned men. In mentioning that they shoot secretly and suddenly, he refers to the craft which characterised them. They were not only eagerly bent upon mischief, and intent in watching their opportunities, but so expert and quick in their movements, as to smite their victim before he could suspect danger. When we hear that David, who was a man in every respect so much more holy and upright in his conduct than ourselves, suffered from groundless aspersions upon his character, we have no reason to be surprised that we should be exposed to a similar trial. This comfort, at least, we always have, that we can betake ourselves to God, and obtain his defense of the upright cause. He takes particular notice of another circumstance, that they shot their empoisoned arrows from their lips without fear, or shame. This self-secure spirit argued a degree of abandoned presumption, in so far as they could persist in obstinately pursuing the conduct in which they had been repeatedly detected, and renew their desperate attempts, to the disregard of all fear of God or worldly shame.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators1599 · Public DomainOn vv2–5That is, from their secret malice.
That is, from their secret malice.
To wit, their outward violence.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp1656 · Public DomainOn vv2–5Psa 64:2 Hide me from the secret counsel of…
Psa 64:2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:
Ver. 2. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked] Or, from the mystery of evil doers, from the Church malignant, that mystery of iniquity. See the contrary, Psa 111:1.
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From the insurrection, &c.] Heb. from their tumult, their hurricum, their open force, as well as from their secret fraud. Let thy protection equal their projects, who turn every stone to undo me.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole1685 · Public DomainOn vv2–5From the secret counsel, i.e. from the ill effects…
From the secret counsel, i.e. from the ill effects of their plots against me.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill1763 · Public DomainOn vv2–5Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked,....…
Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked,.... The word used denotes both the place where wicked men meet together for consultation; see Gen 49:6; and the counsel itself they there take; from the bad effects of which the psalmist desired to be hid and preserved. So Saul and his courtiers secretly took counsel against David, and the Jews against Christ, and that very privily and secretly; see Mat 26:3;
from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity; their noise, rage, and tumult; see Psa 2:1. The former phrase denotes their secret machinations and designs, and this their open violence; and the persons that entered into such measures are no other than evildoers and workers of iniquity; though they might be under a profession of religion, as David's enemies, and the Jews, who were Christ's enemies, were, Mat 7:22; and who are further described in the next verses.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke1810 · Public DomainOn vv2–5Verse 2. Hide me from the secret counsel] They…
Verse 2. Hide me from the secret counsel] They plotted his destruction, and then formed insurrections in order to accomplish it.
Workers of iniquity] Those who made sin their labour, their daily employment; it was their occupation and trade. It is supposed that by this title the Babylonians are intended. See Ps 6:3; Ps 14:4; Ps 36:12; Ps 53:4; Ps 59:2.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson1811 · Public DomainOn v5Psa 64:5-6. They encourage themselves — Hebrew, יחזקו, jechazeku,…
Psa 64:5-6. They encourage themselves — Hebrew, יחזקו, jechazeku, they strengthen, or fortify themselves, by firm resolutions, by assured confidence of success, by uniting their counsels and forces together, and by mutual encouragements and exhortations. They say, Who shall see them — Their snares are so secretly laid, that they think David cannot discern, nor therefore avoid them. They search out iniquities — They study diligently and constantly to find out either matter which they may lay to my charge, or new ways and means of doing mischief. They accomplish a diligent search — They have long and accurately searched, till at last they have ripened and perfected their thoughts, and contrived a very cunning and deep plot. Or, they say, We have accomplished our accurate search. By long searching we have at last found what we desired. And the heart is deep — Deep as hell, desperately wicked, who can know it? By their unaccountable wickedness, they show themselves to be, both in subtlety and malignity, the genuine offspring of the old serpent.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes1834 · Public DomainOn vv2–5Hide me - Or, more literally, thou wilt hide…
Hide me - Or, more literally, thou wilt hide me. There is both an implied prayer that this might be done, and a confident belief that it would be done. The idea is, Protect me; guard me; make me safe - as one is who is hidden or concealed so that his enemies cannot find him.
From the secret counsel - The word used here - סוד sôd - means properly couch, cushion; and then, a divan, a circle of friends sitting together on couches for familiar conversation, or for counsel. See Psa 25:14, note; Psa 55:14, note; compare Job 15:8; Job 29:4. Here the reference is to the consultations of his enemies for the purpose of doing him wrong. Of course, as they took this counsel together, he could not know it, and the word secret is not improperly applied to it. The idea here is, that although he did not know what that counsel or purpose was, or what was the result of their consultations, yet God knew, and he could guard him against it.
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Of the wicked - Not the wicked in general, but his particular foes who were endeavoring to destroy him. Luther renders this, “from the assembling of the wicked.”
From the insurrection - The word used here - רגשׁה rigshâh - means properly a “noisy crowd, a multitude.” The allusion is to such a crowd, such a disorderly and violent rabble, as constituted a mob. He was in danger not only from the secret purposes of the more calm and thoughtful of his enemies who were plotting against him, but from the excited passions of the multitude, and thus his life was in double danger. If he escaped the one, he had no security that he would escape the other. So the Redeemer was exposed to a double danger. There was the danger arising from the secret plottings of the Scribes and Pharisees assembled in council, and there was also the danger arising from the infuriated passions of the multitude. The former calmly laid the plan for putting him to death by a judicial trial; the others took up stones to stone him, or cried, “Crucify him, crucify him!” The word insurrection here does not well express the idea. The word tumult would better represent the meaning of the original.
Of the workers of iniquity - That is, of those who were arrayed against him.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown1871 · Public DomainOn vv2–5insurrection--literally, "uproar," noisy assaults, as well as their secret…
insurrection--literally, "uproar," noisy assaults, as well as their secret counsels.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon1874 · Public DomainOn vv2–52. Secret counsel—Conspiracy, dark plotting.
2. Secret counsel—Conspiracy, dark plotting.
Insurrection—The word signifies a tumultuous assembly, a rushing together of the masses, as Psa_2:1; a noisy crowd, Psa_55:14. The secret counsel of Saul and the leaders of the nation gave birth to open demonstrations on the part of the people, both which are here deprecated.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges1878 · Public DomainOn vv2–52. Thou wilt hide me from the secret council…
2. Thou wilt hide me from the secret council of evil doers,
From the tumultuous throng of workers of iniquity.
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i.e. from secret machinations and open attack. The cognate verbs are used together in Psa_2:1-2 (tumultuously assemble, R.V. marg.; take counsel). Cp. Psa_31:13. The same words occur in Psa_55:14, but in a good sense.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers1878 · Public DomainOn vv2–5(2) Secret counsel . . . insurrection—Better, secret league…
(2) Secret counsel . . . insurrection—Better, secret league (sôd) . . . noisy gathering (rigshah). For sôd see Psa_25:14, and for rigshah see Note to Psa_2:2.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary1880 · Public DomainOn vv2–5Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked;…
Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity. The first danger is from secret plots, which David knows to be going on against his authority. (2Sa_15:1-12) The second, and greater danger, will be from open insurrection. (2Sa_17:1-14)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Charles H. Spurgeon1885 · Public DomainOn vv2–5Ver. 2. Hide me from the secret counsel of…
Ver. 2. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked. From their hidden snares hide me. Circumvent their counsel; let their secrets be met by thy secret providence, their counsels of malice by thy counsels of love.
From the insurrection of the workers of iniquity. When their secret counsels break forth into clamorous tumults, be thou still my preserver. When they think evil, let thy divine thoughts defeat them; and when they do evil, let thy powerful justice overthrow them: in both cases, let me be out of reach of their cruel hand, and even out of sight of their evil eye. It is a good thing to conquer malicious foes, but a better thing still to be screened from all conflict with them, by being hidden from the strife. The Lord knows how to give his people peace, and when he wills to make quiet, he is more than a match for all disturbers, and can defeat alike their deep laid plots and their overt hostilities.
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None.
Ver. 2. (first clause). Applied to Satan.
I. The danger considered.
1. The enemy, wicked, mighty, malicious, experienced.
2. His counsel. He tempts cunningly, and with deliberation.
3. The secrecy of it. He may be exciting others against me, or sowing evil in myself. II. The deliverance implored. Hide me.
1. Keep me from being tempted.
2. Keep me from evil when tempted.
3. Bring me out of it all unharmed.
4. Meanwhile, let me be in thy secret place. III. The consolation of faith.
1. God does preserve praying ones.
2. Our enemy is his enemy.
3. He has preserved us.
4. We are his own.
5. His honour is involved.
Psalms 64:3*
Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
The Biblical Illustrator1887 · Public DomainOn v5They say, Who shall see them?
Psa_64:5
They say, Who shall see them?
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Omniscience ignored
I. It is a fact that this notion has great influence upon the conduct of man. They like to cherish such notion, finding it convenient. Because they sometimes escape the eye of man, they think it possible to escape the eye of God. The sinner persuades himself that he has gained his end, escaped observation and avoided the punishment.
II. It is a fact that this notion is utterly untruthful and delusive. If God exist, this must be so. The spirituality of His nature makers possible His onmipresence and omniscience.
III. God has often exposed this delusion, and the time is fixed for the complete demonstration.
1. Character is often seen through by man.
2. Retribution often follows mens deeds here and now.
3. The future state will show that God saw all. (Homiletic Magazine.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0On vv3, 5They have sharpened their tongues like swords
They have sharpened their tongues like swords
The writer speaks of his enemies' tongues as if they were as sharp as swords. Here "tongues" represents the harsh words that the enemies speak. AT: "The harsh things that they say hurt me like a sharp sword" (See: Simile and Metonymy)
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arrows, bitter words
The writer speaks of his enemies' bitter words as if they were arrows being shot at him. AT: "bitter words which pierce me like arrows" (See: Metaphor)
GEBible — Godless Engineer's Bible App
John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On vv3, 5 3 For they have whetted their tongue like a…
3 For they have whetted their tongue like a sword His enemies, in their rage, aimed at nothing less than his life, and yet what he complains of, more than all beside, is the poison with which their words were imbued. It is probable that he refers to the calumnious reports which he knew to be falsely spread to his discredit, and with a view of damaging his reputation with the people. Their tongues he likens to swords; their bitter and venomous words to arrows. And when he adds, that, they shoot against the upright and innocent, he is to be considered as contrasting his integrity with their unprincipled conduct. It inspired him with confidence in his religious addresses, to know that he could exonerate his own conscience from guilt, and that he was the object of undeserved attack by worthless and abandoned men. In mentioning that they shoot secretly and suddenly, he refers to the craft which characterised them. They were not only eagerly bent upon mischief, and intent in watching their opportunities, but so expert and quick in their movements, as to smite their victim before he could suspect danger. When we hear that David, who was a man in every respect so much more holy and upright in his conduct than ourselves, suffered from groundless aspersions upon his character, we have no reason to be surprised that we should be exposed to a similar trial. This comfort, at least, we always have, that we can betake ourselves to God, and obtain his defense of the upright cause. He takes particular notice of another circumstance, that they shot their empoisoned arrows from their lips without fear, or shame. This self-secure spirit argued a degree of abandoned presumption, in so far as they could persist in obstinately pursuing the conduct in which they had been repeatedly detected, and renew their desperate attempts, to the disregard of all fear of God or worldly shame.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv2–5 That is, from their secret malice.
That is, from their secret malice.
To wit, their outward violence.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv2–5 Psa 64:2 Hide me from the secret counsel of…
Psa 64:2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:
Ver. 2. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked] Or, from the mystery of evil doers, from the Church malignant, that mystery of iniquity. See the contrary, Psa 111:1.
Read full note →
From the insurrection, &c.] Heb. from their tumult, their hurricum, their open force, as well as from their secret fraud. Let thy protection equal their projects, who turn every stone to undo me.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv2–5 From the secret counsel, i.e. from the ill effects…
From the secret counsel, i.e. from the ill effects of their plots against me.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv2–5 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked,....…
Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked,.... The word used denotes both the place where wicked men meet together for consultation; see Gen 49:6; and the counsel itself they there take; from the bad effects of which the psalmist desired to be hid and preserved. So Saul and his courtiers secretly took counsel against David, and the Jews against Christ, and that very privily and secretly; see Mat 26:3;
from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity; their noise, rage, and tumult; see Psa 2:1. The former phrase denotes their secret machinations and designs, and this their open violence; and the persons that entered into such measures are no other than evildoers and workers of iniquity; though they might be under a profession of religion, as David's enemies, and the Jews, who were Christ's enemies, were, Mat 7:22; and who are further described in the next verses.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv2–5 Verse 2. Hide me from the secret counsel] They…
Verse 2. Hide me from the secret counsel] They plotted his destruction, and then formed insurrections in order to accomplish it.
Workers of iniquity] Those who made sin their labour, their daily employment; it was their occupation and trade. It is supposed that by this title the Babylonians are intended. See Ps 6:3; Ps 14:4; Ps 36:12; Ps 53:4; Ps 59:2.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v5 Psa 64:5-6. They encourage themselves — Hebrew, יחזקו, jechazeku,…
Psa 64:5-6. They encourage themselves — Hebrew, יחזקו, jechazeku, they strengthen, or fortify themselves, by firm resolutions, by assured confidence of success, by uniting their counsels and forces together, and by mutual encouragements and exhortations. They say, Who shall see them — Their snares are so secretly laid, that they think David cannot discern, nor therefore avoid them. They search out iniquities — They study diligently and constantly to find out either matter which they may lay to my charge, or new ways and means of doing mischief. They accomplish a diligent search — They have long and accurately searched, till at last they have ripened and perfected their thoughts, and contrived a very cunning and deep plot. Or, they say, We have accomplished our accurate search. By long searching we have at last found what we desired. And the heart is deep — Deep as hell, desperately wicked, who can know it? By their unaccountable wickedness, they show themselves to be, both in subtlety and malignity, the genuine offspring of the old serpent.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv2–5 Hide me - Or, more literally, thou wilt hide…
Hide me - Or, more literally, thou wilt hide me. There is both an implied prayer that this might be done, and a confident belief that it would be done. The idea is, Protect me; guard me; make me safe - as one is who is hidden or concealed so that his enemies cannot find him.
From the secret counsel - The word used here - סוד sôd - means properly couch, cushion; and then, a divan, a circle of friends sitting together on couches for familiar conversation, or for counsel. See Psa 25:14, note; Psa 55:14, note; compare Job 15:8; Job 29:4. Here the reference is to the consultations of his enemies for the purpose of doing him wrong. Of course, as they took this counsel together, he could not know it, and the word secret is not improperly applied to it. The idea here is, that although he did not know what that counsel or purpose was, or what was the result of their consultations, yet God knew, and he could guard him against it.
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Of the wicked - Not the wicked in general, but his particular foes who were endeavoring to destroy him. Luther renders this, “from the assembling of the wicked.”
From the insurrection - The word used here - רגשׁה rigshâh - means properly a “noisy crowd, a multitude.” The allusion is to such a crowd, such a disorderly and violent rabble, as constituted a mob. He was in danger not only from the secret purposes of the more calm and thoughtful of his enemies who were plotting against him, but from the excited passions of the multitude, and thus his life was in double danger. If he escaped the one, he had no security that he would escape the other. So the Redeemer was exposed to a double danger. There was the danger arising from the secret plottings of the Scribes and Pharisees assembled in council, and there was also the danger arising from the infuriated passions of the multitude. The former calmly laid the plan for putting him to death by a judicial trial; the others took up stones to stone him, or cried, “Crucify him, crucify him!” The word insurrection here does not well express the idea. The word tumult would better represent the meaning of the original.
Of the workers of iniquity - That is, of those who were arrayed against him.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv2–5 insurrection--literally, "uproar," noisy assaults, as well as their secret…
insurrection--literally, "uproar," noisy assaults, as well as their secret counsels.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv2–5 2. Secret counsel—Conspiracy, dark plotting.
2. Secret counsel—Conspiracy, dark plotting.
Insurrection—The word signifies a tumultuous assembly, a rushing together of the masses, as Psa_2:1; a noisy crowd, Psa_55:14. The secret counsel of Saul and the leaders of the nation gave birth to open demonstrations on the part of the people, both which are here deprecated.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv2–5 2. Thou wilt hide me from the secret council…
2. Thou wilt hide me from the secret council of evil doers,
From the tumultuous throng of workers of iniquity.
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i.e. from secret machinations and open attack. The cognate verbs are used together in Psa_2:1-2 (tumultuously assemble, R.V. marg.; take counsel). Cp. Psa_31:13. The same words occur in Psa_55:14, but in a good sense.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv2–5 (2) Secret counsel . . . insurrection—Better, secret league…
(2) Secret counsel . . . insurrection—Better, secret league (sôd) . . . noisy gathering (rigshah). For sôd see Psa_25:14, and for rigshah see Note to Psa_2:2.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv2–5 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked;…
Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity. The first danger is from secret plots, which David knows to be going on against his authority. (2Sa_15:1-12) The second, and greater danger, will be from open insurrection. (2Sa_17:1-14)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Charles H. Spurgeon 1885 · Public Domain On vv2–5 Ver. 2. Hide me from the secret counsel of…
Ver. 2. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked. From their hidden snares hide me. Circumvent their counsel; let their secrets be met by thy secret providence, their counsels of malice by thy counsels of love.
From the insurrection of the workers of iniquity. When their secret counsels break forth into clamorous tumults, be thou still my preserver. When they think evil, let thy divine thoughts defeat them; and when they do evil, let thy powerful justice overthrow them: in both cases, let me be out of reach of their cruel hand, and even out of sight of their evil eye. It is a good thing to conquer malicious foes, but a better thing still to be screened from all conflict with them, by being hidden from the strife. The Lord knows how to give his people peace, and when he wills to make quiet, he is more than a match for all disturbers, and can defeat alike their deep laid plots and their overt hostilities.
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None.
Ver. 2. (first clause). Applied to Satan.
I. The danger considered.
1. The enemy, wicked, mighty, malicious, experienced.
2. His counsel. He tempts cunningly, and with deliberation.
3. The secrecy of it. He may be exciting others against me, or sowing evil in myself. II. The deliverance implored. Hide me.
1. Keep me from being tempted.
2. Keep me from evil when tempted.
3. Bring me out of it all unharmed.
4. Meanwhile, let me be in thy secret place. III. The consolation of faith.
1. God does preserve praying ones.
2. Our enemy is his enemy.
3. He has preserved us.
4. We are his own.
5. His honour is involved.
Psalms 64:3*
Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v5 They say, Who shall see them?
Psa_64:5
They say, Who shall see them?
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Omniscience ignored
I. It is a fact that this notion has great influence upon the conduct of man. They like to cherish such notion, finding it convenient. Because they sometimes escape the eye of man, they think it possible to escape the eye of God. The sinner persuades himself that he has gained his end, escaped observation and avoided the punishment.
II. It is a fact that this notion is utterly untruthful and delusive. If God exist, this must be so. The spirituality of His nature makers possible His onmipresence and omniscience.
III. God has often exposed this delusion, and the time is fixed for the complete demonstration.
1. Character is often seen through by man.
2. Retribution often follows mens deeds here and now.
3. The future state will show that God saw all. (Homiletic Magazine.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv3, 5 They have sharpened their tongues like swords
They have sharpened their tongues like swords
The writer speaks of his enemies' tongues as if they were as sharp as swords. Here "tongues" represents the harsh words that the enemies speak. AT: "The harsh things that they say hurt me like a sharp sword" (See: Simile and Metonymy)
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arrows, bitter words
The writer speaks of his enemies' bitter words as if they were arrows being shot at him. AT: "bitter words which pierce me like arrows" (See: Metaphor)
translationWords
sword
bow and arrow
innocent
fear
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v3 64:3 their tongues . . . bitter words: Liars…
64:3 their tongues . . . bitter words: Liars use their speech to kill. This description might also refer to practicing magic.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.