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Joseph Benson’s Bible Commentary

Psalms 57:4

My soul is among lions I live in the midst of a generation of fierce and bloody men; I lie That is, I have my abode; among them that are set on fire Namely, of, or from hell, James 3:6, who are mere firebrands and incendiaries, that are continually breathing out their wrath and threatenings. Even the sons of men Whereby he explains what he meant by lions, and tells us that they were beasts in the shape of men; whose teeth With which they gnash upon me, and with which they would, as it were, tear me to pieces, or eat me up; are spears and arrows Fitted for mischiefs and murders; and their tongue With which they wound my reputation, and load me with their curses, is a sharp sword To cut and give deadly wounds.

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See also Psalms 57:4 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Psalms 57:4. _MY SOUL_ IS _AMONG LIONS_] לבאם _bethoch lebaim_. I agree with Dr. _Kennicott_ that this should be translated, "My soul dwells in _parched places_," from לאב _laab_, he thirsted. A...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    MY SOUL IS AMONG LIONS - That is, among people who resemble lions; men, fierce, savage, ferocious. AND I LIE EVEN AMONG THEM THAT ARE SET ON FIRE - We have a term of similar import in common use now,...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    Psalms 57 Perfect Trust in God _ 1. Sheltered until the trouble is past (Psalms 57:1)_ 2. Deliverance and praise (Psalms 57:6) The inscription is Al-taschith, which means “destroy not”; it is the...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    LVII. HERE TWO PSS. ARE UNITED: A containing Psalms 57:1, B, Psalms 57:7. PSALMS 57:1. The Ps. is closely allied to the preceding, also a michtam Ps. (p. 373). The author flees to God's protection ag...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    MEN. Hebrew. _'adam._ App-14....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Beset by fierce and cruel enemies, the Psalmist throws himself upon God's protection, with the confident assurance of speedy help....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    A difficult verse, the text of which is perhaps corrupt. Adhering to the punctuation (in the modern sense) of the Massoretic accents, we may render with R.V., My soul is among lions; I lie among the...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PSALMS 57 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE A Reminiscence of David's Early Troubles when Pursued by Saul, Subsequently Adapted to Brighter Times. ANALYSIS Stanza I., Psalms 57:1-5, Prayer for Deliverance from Out...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _MY SOUL IS AMONG LIONS: AND I LIE EVEN AMONG THEM THAT ARE SET ON FIRE, EVEN THE SONS OF MEN, WHOSE TEETH ARE SPEARS AND ARROWS, AND THEIR TONGUE A SHARP SWORD._ My soul is among lions; and I lie ev...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    57:4 men, (h-21) _ Adam_ ....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    PSALMS 42:72 _GORDON CHURCHYARD_ Words in boxes are from the Bible. Words marked with a *star are described in the word list at the end. The translated Bible text has yet to go through Advanced Che...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THEM THAT ARE SET ON FIRE. — Rather, _greedy ones_ (literally, _lickers_) in apposition to _lions._ The verse expresses the insecurity of the poet, who, his dwelling being in the midst of foes, must g...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    _[Psalms 57:5]_ נַפְשִׁ֤י ׀ בְּ תֹ֥וךְ לְבָאִם֮ אֶשְׁכְּבָ֪ה...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Psalms 57:1 THIS psalm resembles the preceding in the singer's circumstances of peril and in his bold faith. It has also points of contact in the cry, "Be gracious," and in the remarkable expression f...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    “IN THE SHADOW OF THY WINGS” Psalms 57:1 This is one of the choicest psalms. It dates from Adullam or Engedi. It consists of two sections, each of which ends with the same refrain, Psalms 57:5; Psal...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Yet again the theme is the same, but the triumph of trust is even more conspicuous. Compare the opening here with that of the previous song. The cry is the same, but the reason is different. There it...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    My soul [is] among lions: [and] I lie [even among] them that are set on fire, [even] the sons of men, whose teeth [are] (e) spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. (e) He means their sland...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Womb. Born in sin. (Haydock) --- They have followed the same course through life, being always bent on wickedness. (Calmet)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    I beg the Reader to mark this verse, as throwing a light upon this whole Psalm, in proof that it is particularly thus said by the spirit of prophecy in relation to Christ. And if the Reader will turn...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    4._My soul is among lions. _He again insists upon the cruelty of his enemies as a plea to prevail with God for his speedier interposition. He compares them to lions, speaks of them as inflamed with fu...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Psalms 57 looks more at the evil and the feet being kept, leaning on the word. This psalm, while crying to God in the same spirit and circumstances, and under the same title, is more the expression of...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    MY SOUL [IS] AMONG LIONS,.... Not literally understood; though such there might be in the wildernesses where he sometimes was; but figuratively, men comparable to lions, for their stoutness, courage,...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    My soul [is] among lions: [and] I lie [even among] them that are set on fire, [even] the sons of men, whose teeth [are] spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. Ver. 4. _My soul is among li...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    My soul is among lions, surrounded by them on all sides, AND I LIE EVEN AMONG THEM THAT ARE SET ON FIRE, those greedy with desire for murder, the fact that he is ready to lie down to sleep in the mids...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE TRUE CONFIDENCE OF FAITH. To the chief musician, Al-taschith, to be chanted according to the melody "Destroy not," which also referred to the critical circumstances connected with the event which...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-6 All David's dependence is upon God. The most eminent believers need often repeat the publican's prayer, "God be merciful to me a sinner." But if our souls trust in the Lord, this may assure us, i...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    I live in the midst of a generation of fierce and bloody men; which both in Scripture and other authors are oft called lions. I LIE, I have my abode and conversation, even among (which particle is eas...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Psalms 57:4 soul H5315 among H8432 lions H3833 lie H7901 (H8799) sons H1121 men H120 fire H3857 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    A DESCRIPTION OF HIS ENEMIES AND THEIR FATE (PSALMS 57:4). David describes the kind of people whom he is up against, and their desire to trap him, but is confident that, although he feels beset by th...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtaim of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. This is one of the «Destroy not» Psalms; for that is the meaning of the title, Altaschith, which is used here...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Psalms 57:1. _Be merciful unto me, O God_ He begins with the same note as in the last Psalm; it is a note that cannot be too often on the believer's tongue: «Be merciful unto me, O God,» Psalms 57:1...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    1. _Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast._ The heading of this Psal...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: David in faith pleads God's mercy in his calamities. CHARACTERS: God, David. CONCLUSION: God's glory should be nearer our hearts than any interests of our own. Whatever God performs concer...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    This was anciently called the _golden_ psalm, for it is the touchstone of illustration with regard to the cares of providence. While David was in the cave of Adullam, in the wilderness of Engedi, hidi...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _My soul is among lions._ AMONG LIONS Some of you cannot say this, and you ought to be very thankful that you cannot. You live under very favourable circumstances. But there are many that are far les...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Be merciful unto me, O God._ SPIRITUAL EXPERIMENTALISM I. A blessed religious exercise. 1. Praying. “Be merciful unto me,” etc. An epitome of all true prayer. Mercy is what we need; to remove our...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PSALM PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 57:1. This is another individual lament, based on an event in David’s life (probably 1 Samuel 22:1, but possibly...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    INTRODUCTION _Superscription_.—“To the Chief Musician.” The chief musician was the director of the music in public worship. And the Psalms which were addressed to him were intended for use in the Temp...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION This psalm—the "twin psalm" with the last—has also an elaborate "title," which runs thus: "To the precentor (or chief musician): destroy not; David's; Michtam; when he fled from Saul; in th...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Psa 57:1-11. To the chief musician, and that Altaschith is "destroying not." It is a prayer of David when he fled from Saul and was hiding in the cave. So Saul is looking for David; he is hiding in th...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Daniel 6:22; James 3:6; John 4:10; John 4:11; Judges 9:20;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Lions — Fierce and bloody men. I lie — I have my abode. On fire — From hell. Who are mere fire — brands, breathing out wrath and threatenings, and incensing Saul against me....

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