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Selected Verse: Psalms 143:3 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ps 143:3 |
King James |
For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
The exciting reason for his prayer--his afflictions--led to confession as just made: he now makes the complaint.
as those that have been long dead--deprived of life's comforts (compare Psa 40:15; Psa 88:3-6). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
For the enemy hath persecuted my soul - Has persecuted me; has sought my life.
He hath smitten my life down to the ground - He has, as it were, trampled me down to the earth. The word rendered "smitten" means to break in pieces, to beat small, to crush. See Psa 72:4; Psa 89:10; Job 6:9. His very life seemed to be crushed out as one that is trodden down to the ground.
He hath made me to dwell in darkness - He has made my life like that of one who dwells in darkness; he has made it a life of sorrow, so that I have no comfort - no light.
As those that have been long dead - A similar expression occurs in Lam 3:6 : "He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old." The same Hebrew words are used. The word rendered "long" means, age, duration, eternity: Psa 139:24. The idea here is, that his condition was like that of those who had been long in their graves; who had long since ceased to see any light; whose abode was utter and absolute gloom. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| For - This is not a reason of what he last said, but an argument to enforce his petition delivered, Psa 143:1. Soul - My life; nothing less will satisfy him. Dead - I am in as hopeless a condition in the eye of man, as those that have lain long in the grave. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| He hath made me to dwell in darkness - Literally, in dark places. This may be understood of David's taking refuge in caves and dens of the earth, to escape from his persecuting son; yea, even to take refuge in the tombs, or repositories of the dead. |
3 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.
4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:
5 Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.
6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.
15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
6 He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.
9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
10 Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.
4 He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
1 A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.