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Selected Verse: Psalms 31:12 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ps 31:12	Strong Concordance	I am forgotten [07911] as a dead man [04191] out of mind [03820]: I am like a broken [06] vessel [03627].
	King James	I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
he is forgotten as one dead, and contemned as a useless broken vessel.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

he is forgotten as one dead, and contemned as a useless broken vessel.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind - Like the man who is dead, and who has passed away from the recollection of mankind. Compare Psa 88:4-5. The Hebrew is, "as a dead man from the heart;" that is, from the memory or recollection of men, so as to be no more remembered; no more regarded. The expression is nearly the same in meaning as our common English proverb: "out of sight, out of mind." The allusion is to the fact that a man who is dead is soon forgotten. He is missed at first by a few friends, while the rest of the world knows little about him, or cares little for him. He is no longer seen where he has been accustomed to be seen, at the place of business, in the social circle, in the scenes of amusement, in the streets, or in public assemblies. For a short period a vacancy is created which attracts attention and causes regret. But the world moves on. Another comes to fill his place, and soon his absence ceases to be a subject of remark, or a cause of regret; the world says little about him, and soon he altogether ceases to be remembered. At no distant time the rude board with his name written on it, or the marble sculptured with all the skill of art, falls down. The passing traveler casts an eye upon the "name" of him who slept his last sleep there, and neither knows nor cares who he was. "The gay will laugh When thou art gone, the solemn brood of care Plod on, and each one as before will chase His favorite phantom" - Bryant "On my grassy grave The men of future times will careless tread, And read my name upon the sculptured stone; Nor will the sound, familiar to their ears, Recall my vanish'd memory." - Henry Kirke White It is sad to reflect that this is to be our lot; but so it is. It would cast a most gloomy shade over life if this was to be the end of man, and if he passed from existence as soon as he passes from the recollection of the living. The idea of the psalmist here is, that, in the circumstances to which he referred, he had been forgotten by mankind, and he uses the most striking image which could be employed to convey that idea. I am like a broken vessel - Margin, as in Hebrew, "like a vessel that perisheth." That is, like a vessel made of clay - a piece of pottery - that is easily broken and rendered worthless. This is a favorite comparison with Jeremiah. See Jer 22:28; Jer 48:38; Lam 4:2. Compare also Psa 2:9; Isa 30:14; Hos 8:8.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind - Like the man who is dead, and who has passed away from the recollection of mankind. Compare Psa 88:4-5. The Hebrew is, "as a dead man from the heart;" that is, from the memory or recollection of men, so as to be no more remembered; no more regarded. The expression is nearly the same in meaning as our common English proverb: "out of sight, out of mind." The allusion is to the fact that a man who is dead is soon forgotten. He is missed at first by a few friends, while the rest of the world knows little about him, or cares little for him. He is no longer seen where he has been accustomed to be seen, at the place of business, in the social circle, in the scenes of amusement, in the streets, or in public assemblies. For a short period a vacancy is created which attracts attention and causes regret. But the world moves on. Another comes to fill his place, and soon his absence ceases to be a subject of remark, or a cause of regret; the world says little about him, and soon he altogether ceases to be remembered. At no distant time the rude board with his name written on it, or the marble sculptured with all the skill of art, falls down. The passing traveler casts an eye upon the "name" of him who slept his last sleep there, and neither knows nor cares who he was.

"The gay will laugh

When thou art gone, the solemn brood of care

Plod on, and each one as before will chase

His favorite phantom"

- Bryant

"On my grassy grave

The men of future times will careless tread,

And read my name upon the sculptured stone;

Nor will the sound, familiar to their ears,

Recall my vanish'd memory."

- Henry Kirke White

It is sad to reflect that this is to be our lot; but so it is. It would cast a most gloomy shade over life if this was to be the end of man, and if he passed from existence as soon as he passes from the recollection of the living. The idea of the psalmist here is, that, in the circumstances to which he referred, he had been forgotten by mankind, and he uses the most striking image which could be employed to convey that idea.

I am like a broken vessel - Margin, as in Hebrew, "like a vessel that perisheth." That is, like a vessel made of clay - a piece of pottery - that is easily broken and rendered worthless. This is a favorite comparison with Jeremiah. See Jer 22:28; Jer 48:38; Lam 4:2. Compare also Psa 2:9; Isa 30:14; Hos 8:8.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
A broken vessel - Which is irreparable, and useless, and therefore despised by all.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
I am forgotten as a dead man - I am considered as a person adjudged to death. I am like a broken vessel-like a thing totally useless.

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⁸ Israel [03478] is swallowed up [01104]: now shall they be among the Gentiles [01471] as a vessel [03627] wherein is no pleasure [02656].

¹⁴ And he shall break [07665] it as the breaking [07667] of the potters [03335] ' vessel [05035] that is broken in pieces [03807]; he shall not spare [02550]: so that there shall not be found [04672] in the bursting [04386] of it a sherd [02789] to take [02846] fire [0784] from the hearth [03344], or to take [02834] water [04325] withal out of the pit [01360].

⁹ Thou shalt break [07489] them with a rod [07626] of iron [01270]; thou shalt dash them in pieces [05310] like a potter's [03335] vessel [03627].

² The precious [03368] sons [01121] of Zion [06726], comparable [05537] to fine gold [06337], how are they esteemed [02803] as earthen [02789] pitchers [05035], the work [04639] of the hands [03027] of the potter [03335] !

³⁸ There shall be lamentation [04553] generally upon all the housetops [01406] of Moab [04124], and in the streets [07339] thereof: for I have broken [07665] Moab [04124] like a vessel [03627] wherein is no pleasure [02656], saith [05002] the LORD [03068].

²⁸ Is this man [0376] Coniah [03659] a despised [0959] broken [05310] idol [06089]? is he a vessel [03627] wherein is no pleasure [02656]? wherefore are they cast out [07993], he and his seed [02233], and are cast [02904] into a land [0776] which they know [03045] not?

⁴ I am counted [02803] with them that go down [03381] into the pit [0953]: I am as a man [01397] that hath no strength [0353]:
⁵ Free [02670] among the dead [04191], like the slain [02491] that lie [07901] in the grave [06913], whom thou rememberest [02142] no more: and they are cut off [01504] from thy hand [03027].