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Selected Verse: Psalms 43:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ps 43:1	Strong Concordance	Judge [08199] me, O God [0430], and plead [07378] my cause [07379] against an ungodly [03808] [02623] nation [01471]: O deliver [06403] me from the deceitful [04820] and unjust [05766] man [0376].
	King James	Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.

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]
Excepting the recurrence of the refrain, there is no good reason to suppose this a part of the preceding, though the scope is the same. It has always been placed separate. (Psa 43:1-5) Judge--or, "vindicate" (Psa 10:18). plead, &c.-- (Psa 35:1). ungodly--neither in character or condition objects of God's favor (compare Psa 4:3).

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

Excepting the recurrence of the refrain, there is no good reason to suppose this a part of the preceding, though the scope is the same. It has always been placed separate. (Psa 43:1-5)

Judge--or, "vindicate" (Psa 10:18).

plead, &c.-- (Psa 35:1).

ungodly--neither in character or condition objects of God's favor (compare Psa 4:3).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Judge me, O God - This does not mean, Pronounce sentence upon me; but, Undertake my cause; interpose in my behalf; do justice in the case. He regarded his own cause as right; he felt that he was greatly wronged by the treatment which he received from people, and he asks to have it shown that he was not guilty of what his enemies charged on him; that he was an upright man, and a friend of God. See Psa 7:8, note; Psa 26:1, note. And plead my cause - See the notes at Psa 35:1. "Against an ungodly nation." Margin, unmerciful. Literally, "from a nation not merciful," or not; religious. The idea is, that the nation or people referred to manifested none of the spirit of religion in their conduct toward him; that he was treated with severity and injustice. This entire description would agree well with the state of things in the time of the rebellion of Absalom, when David was driven from his home and his throne: 2 Sam. 15, following. O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man - Margin, as in Hebrew, from a man of deceit and iniquity. This would apply well to the case and character of Absalom, or perhaps more directly and properly to the character and counsel of Ahithophel, among the leading conspirators in the rebellion of Absalom, to whose counsels much of the rebellion was owing: Sa2 15:31; compare Sa2 16:23; Sa2 17:14, Sa2 17:23.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The Elohimic Judica (the introit of the so-called Cross or Passion Sunday which opens the celebritas Passionis), with which the supplicatory and plaintive first strophe of the Psalm begins, calls to mind the Jehovic Judica in Psa 7:9; Psa 26:1; Psa 35:1, Psa 35:24 : judge me, i.e., decide my cause (lxx κρῖνόν με, Symmachus κρῖνόν μοι). ריבה has the tone upon the ultima before the ריבי which begins with the half-guttural ר, as is also the case in Psa 74:22; Psa 119:154. The second prayer runs: vindica me a gente impia; מן standing for contra in consequence of a constr. praegnans. לא־חסיד is here equivalent to one practising no חסד towards men, that is to say, one totally wanting in that חסד, by which God's חסד is to be imitated and repaid by man in his conduct towards his fellow-men. There is some uncertainty whether by אישׁ one chief enemy, the leader of all the rest, is intended to be mentioned side by side with the unloving nation, or whether the special manner of his enemies is thus merely individualised. עולה means roguish, mischievous conduct, utterly devoid of all sense of right. In Psa 43:2 the poet establishes his petition by a twofold Why. He loves God and longs after Him, but in the mirror of his present condition he seems to himself like one cast off by Him. This contradiction between his own consciousness and the inference which he is obliged to draw from his afflicted state cannot remain unsolved. אלהי מעזּי, God of my fortress, is equivalent to who is my fortress. Instead of אלך we here have the form אתהלּך, of the slow deliberate gait of one who is lost in his own thoughts and feelings. The sting of his pain is his distance from the sanctuary of his God. In connection with Psa 43:3 one is reminded of Psa 57:4 and Exo 15:13, quite as much as of Psa 42:9. "Light and truth" is equivalent to mercy and truth. What is intended is the light of mercy or loving-kindness which is coupled with the truth of fidelity to the promises; the light, in which the will or purpose of love, which is God's most especial nature, becomes outwardly manifest. The poet wishes to be guided by these two angels of God; he desires that he may be brought (according tot he Chethb of the Babylonian text יבואוני, "let come upon me;" but the אל which follows does not suit this form) to the place where his God dwells and reveals Himself. "Tabernacles" is, as in Psa 84:2; Psa 46:5, an amplificative designation of the tent, magnificent in itself and raised to special honour by Him who dwells therein.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The Elohimic Judica (the introit of the so-called Cross or Passion Sunday which opens the celebritas Passionis), with which the supplicatory and plaintive first strophe of the Psalm begins, calls to mind the Jehovic Judica in Psa 7:9; Psa 26:1; Psa 35:1, Psa 35:24 : judge me, i.e., decide my cause (lxx κρῖνόν με, Symmachus κρῖνόν μοι). ריבה has the tone upon the ultima before the ריבי which begins with the half-guttural ר, as is also the case in Psa 74:22; Psa 119:154. The second prayer runs: vindica me a gente impia; מן standing for contra in consequence of a constr. praegnans. לא־חסיד is here equivalent to one practising no חסד towards men, that is to say, one totally wanting in that חסד, by which God's חסד is to be imitated and repaid by man in his conduct towards his fellow-men. There is some uncertainty whether by אישׁ one chief enemy, the leader of all the rest, is intended to be mentioned side by side with the unloving nation, or whether the special manner of his enemies is thus merely individualised. עולה means roguish, mischievous conduct, utterly devoid of all sense of right. In Psa 43:2 the poet establishes his petition by a twofold Why. He loves God and longs after Him, but in the mirror of his present condition he seems to himself like one cast off by Him. This contradiction between his own consciousness and the inference which he is obliged to draw from his afflicted state cannot remain unsolved. אלהי מעזּי, God of my fortress, is equivalent to who is my fortress. Instead of אלך we here have the form אתהלּך, of the slow deliberate gait of one who is lost in his own thoughts and feelings. The sting of his pain is his distance from the sanctuary of his God. In connection with Psa 43:3 one is reminded of Psa 57:4 and Exo 15:13, quite as much as of Psa 42:9. "Light and truth" is equivalent to mercy and truth. What is intended is the light of mercy or loving-kindness which is coupled with the truth of fidelity to the promises; the light, in which the will or purpose of love, which is God's most especial nature, becomes outwardly manifest. The poet wishes to be guided by these two angels of God; he desires that he may be brought (according tot he Chethb of the Babylonian text יבואוני, "let come upon me;" but the אל which follows does not suit this form) to the place where his God dwells and reveals Himself. "Tabernacles" is, as in Psa 84:2; Psa 46:5, an amplificative designation of the tent, magnificent in itself and raised to special honour by Him who dwells therein.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Nation - So he calls the company of his enemies for their great numbers. Man - Probably Achitophel or Absalom.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Judge me, O God, and plead my cause - ריבה ריבי ribah ribi, a forensic term, properly enough translated, plead my cause, be my counsellor and advocate. Ungodly nation - The Babylonians; the impious, perfidious, wicked, and deceitful Babylonians. The deceitful and unjust man - Nebuchadnezzar.

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³ But know [03045] that the LORD [03068] hath set apart [06395] him that is godly [02623] for himself: the LORD [03068] will hear [08085] when I call [07121] unto him.

¹ A Psalm of David [01732]. Plead [07378] my cause, O LORD [03068], with them that strive [03401] with me: fight [03898] against them that fight [03898] against me.

¹⁸ To judge [08199] the fatherless [03490] and the oppressed [01790], that the man [0582] of the earth [0776] may no more [03254] oppress [06206].

¹ Judge [08199] me, O God [0430], and plead [07378] my cause [07379] against an ungodly [03808] [02623] nation [01471]: O deliver [06403] me from the deceitful [04820] and unjust [05766] man [0376].
² For thou art the God [0430] of my strength [04581]: why dost thou cast me off [02186]? why go [01980] I mourning [06937] because of the oppression [03906] of the enemy [0341]?
³ O send out [07971] thy light [0216] and thy truth [0571]: let them lead [05148] me; let them bring [0935] me unto thy holy [06944] hill [02022], and to thy tabernacles [04908].
⁴ Then will I go [0935] unto the altar [04196] of God [0430], unto God [0410] my exceeding [08057] joy [01524]: yea, upon the harp [03658] will I praise [03034] thee, O God [0430] my God [0430].
⁵ Why art thou cast down [07817], O my soul [05315]? and why art thou disquieted [01993] within me? hope [03176] in God [0430]: for I shall yet praise [03034] him, who is the health [03444] of my countenance [06440], and my God [0430].

²³ And when Ahithophel [0302] saw [07200] that his counsel [06098] was not followed [06213], he saddled [02280] his ass [02543], and arose [06965], and gat him home [03212] to his house [01004], to his city [05892], and put his household [01004] in order [06680], and hanged [02614] himself, and died [04191], and was buried [06912] in the sepulchre [06913] of his father [01].

¹⁴ And Absalom [053] and all the men [0376] of Israel [03478] said [0559], The counsel [06098] of Hushai [02365] the Archite [0757] is better [02896] than the counsel [06098] of Ahithophel [0302]. For the LORD [03068] had appointed [06680] to defeat [06565] the good [02896] counsel [06098] of Ahithophel [0302], to the intent [05668] that the LORD [03068] might bring [0935] evil [07451] upon Absalom [053].

²³ And the counsel [06098] of Ahithophel [0302], which he counselled [03289] in those days [03117], was as if a man [0376] had enquired [07592] at the oracle [01697] of God [0430]: so was all the counsel [06098] of Ahithophel [0302] both with David [01732] and with Absalom [053].

³¹ And one told [05046] David [01732], saying [0559], Ahithophel [0302] is among the conspirators [07194] with Absalom [053]. And David [01732] said [0559], O LORD [03068], I pray thee, turn the counsel [06098] of Ahithophel [0302] into foolishness [05528].

¹ A Psalm of David [01732]. Plead [07378] my cause, O LORD [03068], with them that strive [03401] with me: fight [03898] against them that fight [03898] against me.

¹ A Psalm of David [01732]. Judge [08199] me, O LORD [03068]; for I have walked [01980] in mine integrity [08537]: I have trusted [0982] also in the LORD [03068]; therefore I shall not slide [04571].

⁸ The LORD [03068] shall judge [01777] the people [05971]: judge [08199] me, O LORD [03068], according to my righteousness [06664], and according to mine integrity [08537] that is in me.

⁵ God [0430] is in the midst [07130] of her; she shall not be moved [04131]: God [0430] shall help [05826] her, and that right [06437] early [01242].

² My soul [05315] longeth [03700], yea, even fainteth [03615] for the courts [02691] of the LORD [03068]: my heart [03820] and my flesh [01320] crieth out [07442] for the living [02416] God [0410].

⁹ I will say [0559] unto God [0410] my rock [05553], Why hast thou forgotten [07911] me? why go [03212] I mourning [06937] because of the oppression [03906] of the enemy [0341]?

¹³ Thou in thy mercy [02617] hast led forth [05148] the people [05971] which [02098] thou hast redeemed [01350]: thou hast guided [05095] them in thy strength [05797] unto thy holy [06944] habitation [05116].

⁴ My soul [05315] is among [08432] lions [03833]: and I lie [07901] even among them that are set on fire [03857], even the sons [01121] of men [0120], whose teeth [08127] are spears [02595] and arrows [02671], and their tongue [03956] a sharp [02299] sword [02719].

³ O send out [07971] thy light [0216] and thy truth [0571]: let them lead [05148] me; let them bring [0935] me unto thy holy [06944] hill [02022], and to thy tabernacles [04908].

² For thou art the God [0430] of my strength [04581]: why dost thou cast me off [02186]? why go [01980] I mourning [06937] because of the oppression [03906] of the enemy [0341]?

¹⁵⁴ Plead [07378] my cause [07379], and deliver [01350] me: quicken [02421] me according to thy word [0565].

²² Arise [06965], O God [0430], plead [07378] thine own cause [07379]: remember [02142] how the foolish man [05036] reproacheth [02781] thee daily [03117].

²⁴ Judge [08199] me, O LORD [03068] my God [0430], according to thy righteousness [06664]; and let them not rejoice [08055] over me.

¹ A Psalm of David [01732]. Plead [07378] my cause, O LORD [03068], with them that strive [03401] with me: fight [03898] against them that fight [03898] against me.

⁹ Oh let the wickedness [07451] of the wicked [07563] come to an end [01584]; but establish [03559] the just [06662]: for the righteous [06662] God [0430] trieth [0974] the hearts [03826] and reins [03629].