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Commentary Critical and Explanatory

Psalms 40:12

For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.

For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me - the aggregate of both the sins of the whole world and their penal consequences (Isaiah 53:4; Mark 15:28; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Not only was He "compassed" on all sides with countless "evils," but the mass of "iniquities" was laid upon His head.

So that I am not able to look up - mine eye-sight fails me through anguish (Psalms 38:10; Job 16:16). In the parallelism, the first of this verse's four clauses answers to the third, and the second to the fourth.

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See also Psalms 40:12 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Psalms 40:12. _INNUMERABLE EVILS HAVE COMPASSED ME ABOUT_] This part does not comport with the preceding; and either argues a former experience, or must be considered a part of another Psalm, w...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    FOR INNUMERABLE EVILS HAVE COMPASSED ME ABOUT - Have surrounded me, or have beset me on every side. The evils here referred to, understood as being those which came upon the Messiah, were sorrows that...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    Psalms 40 Christ the Obedient One and the Fruit of His Work _ 1. The path of the Obedient One (Psalms 40:1)_ 2. His prayer and His comfort (Psalms 40:13)...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    XL. A. PSALMS 40:1. A THANKSGIVING FOR DELIVERANCE. The Psalmist believes that his own gratitude will give confidence to others. God, he says, takes no special delight in sacrificial worship. It is gr...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    EVILS. calamities. Hebrew. _ra'a'_. App-44. INIQUITIES. Put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Cause), App-6, for their punishment. Hebrew. _'aven._ App-44. Laid on Him as the substituted sacrifice....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    This verse is somewhat loosely attached to Psalms 40:11 by _for_. The rendering of Psalms 40:11 as a prayer makes the connexion appear closer and more natural than it is. _evils_ Afflictions (Psalms 3...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The scene is changed. The sky is overclouded. Supplication for speedy help in time of danger takes the place of joyous thanksgiving....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PSALMS 40 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE Three Stirring Reminiscences of King David's History. ANALYSIS Part I., Significant Memorials of David's Coronation. Stanza I., Psalms 40:1-3, A highly Figurative Descri...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    40:12 iniquities (l-9) Or 'my punishments.' Genesis 19:15 . see; (m-19) Or 'look at them.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    This Ps. falls into two well-marked divisions, which many think to have been originally separate Pss. In Psalms 40:1 the writer recalls with thankfulness how God has heard his prayers and delivered hi...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Psalms 1:41 _GORDON CHURCHYARD_ Words in boxes are from the Bible. The notes explain some of the words with a *star by them. Tap the * before a word to show an explanation. The translated Bible tex...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    _[Psalms 40:13]_ כִּ֤י אָפְפ֥וּ ־עָלַ֨י ׀ רָעֹ֡ות עַד...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Psalms 40:1 THE closing verses of this psalm reappear with slight changes as an independent whole in Psalms 70:1. The question arises whether that is a fragment or this a conglomerate. Modern opinion...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    A CRY FOR DELIVERANCE Psalms 40:11 To the end of life we shall continually need God's _lovingkindness,_ to deal mercifully with our failures and sins, and His _truth,_ that is, His faithfulness. The...

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

    Again we find in this psalm the perfect structure found in Psalms 27:1. Praise prepares for prayer. The experience has mounted higher than in the preceding song (39). The singer still suffers diction,...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart (k) faileth me....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Over me. Thus the divinity of Christ was proved, since he rose victorious, in spite of his enemies. (Calmet)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Some have thought that these are the words of David king of Israel, speaking in his own person, and seeking for mercy in Christ. But certainly there is no authority for the supposition. No one can thi...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    Psalms 38 _ Proper Psalm for Ash Wednesday_ (_Morning_). PSALMS 38-40 = _ Day 8_ (_Morning_)....

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    12._For innumerable evils have compassed me on all sides _This phrase, in the original, denotes more than can be expressed in an English translation; for he says, עלי _alay, upon me, _meaning by this,...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS PSALMS 40 AND 41. In Psalms 40 then Christ is seen, not only in His passage through the sorrows which beset His way, if He took up the cause of the disobedient and guil...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    FOR INNUMERABLE EVILS HAVE COMPASSED ME ABOUT,.... Like floods of water all around him; see Psalms 18:4; these are the evils of punishment inflicted on him, as the surety and Saviour of his people; su...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. Ver...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Withhold not thy tender mercies_, &c. This prayer is uttered by David, either, 1st, In the person of Christ, to whom it may agree; or, rather, 2d, In his own person. For having been transported by th...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    For innumerable evils have compassed me about, attacking Him on all sides like countless hordes of bitter enemies; MINE INIQUITIES HAVE TAKEN HOLD UPON ME, having overtaken him like a victorious army,...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    PROPHECY OF CHRIST'S SUFFERING AND PROPHETIC OFFICE. To the chief musician, for performance in liturgical services, a psalm of David, the Messiah Himself speaking through his mouth and pen. Cf Hebrew...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    FAILETH: _ Heb._ forsaketh...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    11-17 The best saints see themselves undone, unless continually preserved by the grace of God. But see the frightful view the psalmist had of sin. This made the discovery of a Redeemer so welcome. In...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    MINE INIQUITIES; either, 1. The punishment of mine iniquities, as GENESIS 4:13 1 SAMUEL 28:10 PSALMS 31:10. Or, 2. The iniquities themselves. This phrase cannot be understood of Christ. For although...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Psalms 40:12 innumerable H4557 evils H7451 surrounded H661 (H8804) iniquities H5771 overtaken H5381 (H8689) able H3201

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    HAVING ESTABLISHED HIS GRATITUDE AND LOYALTY AND THE FAITHFULNESS OF HIS TESTIMONY WITH REGARD TO GOD, HE NOW SEEKS GOD'S AID IN HELPING HIM WITH REGARD TO HIS OWN SINFULNESS AND PRAYS ALSO FOR ASSIST...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Psalms 40:5 So then there are two series of things which cannot be numbered God's mercies and man's sin. I. If we keep these two things close together in cur contemplations, they suggest for us very...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    These are the words of David: they are the words of all God's tried and believing people; but above all they are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ himself. So complete is the union between Christ and...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    If our hearts are in trouble, as his was who wrote this Psalm, may we be able to act as wisely and as well as he did, and so obtain a like deliverance! Psalms 40:1. _I waited patiently for the LORD;...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. If I were to read this Psalm all through as referring to Christ, and to Christ only, I should be correct in so doing; but still, there is such a unity between...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: God's salvation extolled and prayer for deliverance. CHARACTERS: God, David. CONCLUSION: Those who seek God in all their perplexities shall rejoice and be glad in Him, for He will not only...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    This psalm of David is a consequence of the preseding. It is an ode of thanksgiving for liberation from the profound grief and sorrow under which he had groaned. Here he rises above the cloud, and as...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry._ WAITING FOR THE LORD There is a Divine law of waiting which has an essential connection with the larger law of giving....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Innumerable evils have compassed me about._ OUT OF THE DEPTHS I. A soul beset. 1. He is made to see the countless number of his sins. It is wonderful what a ray of light will do; the sun suddenly s...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PSALM PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 40:1. This psalm combines thanks for past mercies with a new request for God’s help. ⇐...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 40:11 Verse Psalms 40:11 alludes to Exodus 34:6. Previous experiences provide assurance that, i

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    INTRODUCTION _Superscription_: “To the Chief Musician, a Psalm of David.” The psalm is addressed to “the Chief Musician,” that he might set it to music for use in public worship. We have no means of...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION THE occasion of this psalm is some great deliverance which has been vouchsafed to the author of it, for which he desires to praise and thank God. Of this deliverance he speaks in Psalms 40:...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay, he set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings ...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Peter 3:18; Genesis 42:28; Hebrews 4:15; Isaiah 53:6; Luke 18:13;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Taken hold — Mens sins are figuratively said to take hold of them, as an officer takes hold of a man whom he arrests. To look — Unto God or men, with any comfort: I am ashamed and confounded....

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