Protection, susceptione. Hebrew ayeleth, hathuchar, or "for a speedy interposition," or succour. See ver. 2, 20, 25. --- St. Jerome, "the morning stag." (Haydock) --- Many of the titles are almost inexplicable, and this is one of the most puzzling; (Calmet) but is of no service to understanding the... [ Continue Reading ]
O God. Our Saviour repeated these words as they are in Hebrew, though the vulgar tongue was Syriac, (Calmet) or Greek mixed with the Abamean. (Paulus) --- Eli (or Eloi, St. Mark) lamma sabacthani. So he pronounced what the Jews would now read, Eli....lama (or lamach.; Tirinus) hazabtani; (Calmet) an... [ Continue Reading ]
Folly. My cry proceeds not from impotent rage, Luke iv. 28. (Eusebius, Agel.) (Menochius) --- I know that thou wilt grant my request. (Calmet) --- I shall not cry in vain. (Theodoret) --- It is not for my own folly that I suffer. (Geneb.) --- "Many cry and are not heard, yet it is for their advantag... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the, &c. Hebrew, "the Holy one inhabitest the praises of Israel," or "Thou holy, sancte, inhabitant, the praise," (St. Jerome) or, as the plural intimates, the source and object of all "the praises of Israel," (Haydock) and of the Church. (Worthington) --- This may be connected with the precedin... [ Continue Reading ]
_Confounded. He interests his Father, by calling to mind the ancient patriarchs, (Ecclesiasticus ii. 11.; Berthier) who obtained their requests. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
No man. Hebrew ish, "a great man," vir, (Montanus) so far from being treated as a nobleman, I am not even respected as one of the meanest of men, ( adam.) (Haydock) --- "Why not a man?" says St. Augustine, "because he is God. Why a worm? because a mortal, born of the flesh, without generation." The... [ Continue Reading ]
_All. This often denotes only the greatest number. (St. Jerome) --- For surely the blessed Virgin, and some others, must be excepted. (Haydock) --- But almost all joined in persecuting Christ, (Worthington) while his disciples left him. (Calmet) --- These two verses are quoted by the three first eva... [ Continue Reading ]
He hoped. Hebrew, "roll, or he (Calmet) rolled himself on the Lord." (Protestants marginal note) --- But the text is conformable to ours. "He trusted on," &c. St. Matthew xxvii. 43., He trusted in God, let him deliver him now if he will have him. Ci, which is here rendered quoniam, "since," (Haydock... [ Continue Reading ]
_Womb. David might say this as a figure of Christ, in consequence of the many favours which he had received. (Theodoret) (Calmet) --- But none could use these expressions with propriety, but Jesus Christ, who had no man for his father, and who had the perfect use of reason, so that he could call God... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cast. This custom is noticed, (Genesis xxx. 3.) and frequently in Homer. Thou art my only Father, (Calmet) as I am born miraculously, and have been hitherto protected. I now suffer death, but thou wilt raise me to life again, Psalm xv. 9. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Help. This Christ might say a little before he expired, foreseeing the distress of his Church, (Calmet) or he might use these words in his agony; (St. Jerome) as this agrees with the sequel. (Calmet) --- Almost all have abandoned me; and those who would, are not able to protect me. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Calves. The insolent Jews and soldiers. --- Bulls. The more inveterate enemies, the priests and Pharisees. (St. Augustine, &c.) --- Hebrew, "strong bulls of Basan," (Protestants) a fertile country east of the Jordan, where the finest cattle were found, Amos iv. 1. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM XXI. (DEUS DEUS MEUS.) Christ's passion: and the conversion of the Gentiles. _ As, is supplied by all the versions. (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Water, in the agony, or on the cross, fainting away, Josue vii. 5. --- Bones. In extreme pain, (Calmet) they have been dislocated. (Haydock) --- The bones signify the apostles, who were scattered through the world, to propagate the gospel. (St. Augustine) --- Heart. Which lives and dies first, is n... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jaws. So that he said, I thirst. (Berthier) (Worthington) --- He would answer Pilate nothing in his own vindication. --- Death. The region of blessed spirits, (St. Jerome) or into the grave, where other bodies turn to dust. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Dogs. The pagan soldiers, who were instigated by the Jews, (Matthew xv. 26.; Calmet) or the latter are here styled dogs, as they are by St. Paul, Philippians iii. 2. (St. Jerome) --- The evangelists could scarcely have explained the authors, and manner of our Saviour's death more particularly; so th... [ Continue Reading ]
_They. Hebrew, "I shall or may tell all my bones," (Calmet) they are so dislocated. (Haydock) --- Syriac, "my bones have howled," as in mourning. (Calmet) --- Upon me, out of contempt, (Eusebius) or to prevent my escape, (Origen) or deriding my naked condition. (Menochius) --- David experienced noth... [ Continue Reading ]
_Vesture, or inner garment, which was all of a piece. (Calmet) --- The soldiers perceived that it would be rendered unserviceable by cutting. (Haydock) --- "Heretics attempt to divide the Church, but in vain." (St. Jerome) --- Lots. This was verified above 100 years afterwards, in the person of Jesu... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy help. So some editions of the Septuagint read, but St. Jerome approves "my help," as it is in the Com. edition, conformably to the Hebrew, (Calmet) which seems more animated, though the sense is the same. (Berthier) --- The humanity here addresses the divine nature, to obtain a speedy resurrect... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dog. All my enemies are united to persecute me, in my desolate condition. Unicam meam, "my desolate one, " the soul, which is the only thing which ought to fix our attention; since if we lose it, all is lost. This only one, self, is often, however, the most dangerous enemy. (Berthier)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lowness. This sense appears to be preferable to the Hebrew, "hear me from," &c. (Calmet) --- Yet some who render the original literally have, "save me from the throat of the lion, and from the horns of the unicorns; thou hast heard me." This seems very striking, as Christ henceforth recounts the gl... [ Continue Reading ]
Brethren. So Christ styles his disciples, principally (Calmet) after his resurrection, Matthew xxviii. 10., John xx. 17., and Hebrews ii 11. St. Paul quotes this passage, which may convince us that this psalm relates to our Saviour alone; and he informs us, that we are brethren of Christ, because we... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fear. Thus the Gentile converts are designated, Acts x. 2, 35., and xiii. 16, 26._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Israel. This may be something more general, as all the holy nation went under this name. --- Supplication. Hebrew also, "the lowliness of the afflicted." (Berthier) --- When I. Hebrew, Chaldean, and Syriac, "he," (Calmet) Jesus, of whom the prophet speaks; (Berthier) though, according to the Vulgat... [ Continue Reading ]
Great Church; the Catholic Church, dispersed throughout the world, in which many adore God in spirit and truth. (St. Jerome) --- Here Jesus Christ praises his Father by the mouth of his priests and faithful, in whom the spirit works. Hebrew, "From thee shall proceed my praise," in the great Church.... [ Continue Reading ]
Poor. Hebrew hanavim, means also, "quiet and modest men," such as our Saviour calls poor in spirit, Matthew v. 3. These alone ought to partake of the holy sacraments. (Haydock) --- The psalmist may allude to the feasts prescribed by the law, (Deuteronomy xii. 7., and xxvi. 11.) and imitated in the l... [ Continue Reading ]
_Remember. Our Saviour says, Do this in remembrance of me. (Haydock) --- We must recollect what Christ has suffered and done for us, what was the condition of the world at his coming, and what the behaviour of his first disciples. These reflections will surely fill our breasts with love, admiration,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nations. God placed David on the throne. He caused both Jews and Gentiles to submit to Jesus Christ, Matthew xxviii. 18., and Romans iii. 29. (Theodoret)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fat ones. Many ancient psalters read, "the rich," which is the true sense. --- Adored. This may be take as a prediction. (Calmet) --- Hebrew is in the future, "they shall," &c. (Berthier) --- The rich of this world have no relish for the sacred nourishment. (Calmet) --- Those who understand, and co... [ Continue Reading ]
Shall. Hebrew, "and his soul he will not vivify," which give no distinct meaning. Some join it with the preceding, All shall adore....yet he will not restore him to life. The living alone shall be able to sound forth God's praises, as it is often observed, Psalm vi. 6., and Isaias xxxviii. 18. (Calm... [ Continue Reading ]
To, or by the Lord, who opened the mouths of the prophets to foretell the propagation of the Christian Church. (Calmet) --- Protestants, "It shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation: They shall come and shall declare," &c. (Haydock) --- Heavens is added by the Vulgate to shew that the apostle... [ Continue Reading ]