Bible Commentaries
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes
Psalms 41
To the chief Musician. See App-64.
Title. A Psalm = Mizmor. See App-65.
of David = by David, and relating to the true David.
Blessed. See App-63.
the poor = weak, or feeble. Hebrew. dal. Not the same as Psalms 40:17.
will deliver = may the LORD deliver . . . preserve.
in time of trouble = in the evil day.
keep him alive = revive, so as to live again; hence, to give life to: here, in resurrection. Hebrew. Piel conjugation, to give life, quicken. Compare Psalms 119:25, Psalms 119:37, &c. Deuteronomy 32:39. Job 33:4. Hence, to preserve seed (Genesis 19:32, Genesis 19:34); to repair, in the sense of restoring what was lost (1 Chronicles 11:8, Nehemiah 4:2. Hosea 6:2; Hosea 14:7. Hosea 85:6).
will = soul. Hebrew. nephesh.
be merciful = be gracious, or show favour.
my soul = me.
I have sinned. Christ could say this of those whose sins He was bearing, which were laid upon Him. sinned. Hebrew. chata. App-44.
he come: i.e. the traitor; then Ahithophel, afterward Judas (see Psalms 41:9).
speaketh. Note the lying lips, the evil heart, the wicked slander.
An evil disease = a thing of Belial. Compare Psalms 101:3. Deuteronomy 13:13; Deuteronomy 15:9. Judges 19:22. 1 Samuel 2:12. See 2 Samuel 16:7.
mine own familiar friend: i.e. the one whom I was in the habit of saluting as my friend.
whom I trusted. These words not quoted by Christ (John 13:18), for He knew what was in man (John 2:24, John 2:25).
trusted = confided. Hebrew. batah. App-69.
which did eat, &c. Quoted in John 13:18.
bread. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6. for all kinds" of food.
favourest = delightest, or hast pleasure in. Compare Matthew 3:17; Matthew 12:18; Matthew 17:5. Isaiah 42:1.
triumph = shout with triumph.
Blessed, &c. Hebrew. barak, not "ashrei, as in Psalms 41:1 and the Beatitudes (App-63). This Doxology concludes the first book of Psalms, also the second book (Psalms 72:18-20). They were the words of David when he brought up the Ark (1 Chronicles 16:36), also in 1 Kings 1:47, 1 Kings 1:48, when this group (37-41) was written; also in 1 Chronicles 29:10. They are taken up again in Luke 1:68-70.
to everlasting: i.e. to the age to come.
Amen = Truth. Figure of speech Epizeuxis (App-6), for solemn emphasis.
To the chief Musician. See App-64.
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