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Kretzmann's Popular Commentary

Psalms 141:5

Let the righteous smite me, even with severe rebukes, it shall be a kindness, that is, the correcting should be done with the proper degree of gentleness; and let him reprove me, it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head, his head would not refuse it, that is, far from resenting a fellow-Christian's reprimand, every believer will rather welcome it as aiding him in his course of sanctification; for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities, that is, the believer meets the malice of the enemies with prayer, their shameful practices with intercessions to the Lord.

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See also Psalms 141:5 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Psalms 141:5. _LET THE RIGHTEOUS SMITE ME_] This verse is extremely difficult in the original. The following translation, in which the _Syriac, Vulgate, Septuagint, AEthiopic_, and _Arabic_ nea...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    LET THE RIGHTEOUS SMITE ME - This verse is exceedingly difficult and obscure (compare the margin); and there have been almost as many different opinions in regard to its meaning as there have been com...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    PSALM 140-142 These three Psalms are Psalms of David. The third one in this series, 142 is another Maschil, the last Maschil Psalm, being a prayer when David was in the cave. In these Psalms the distr...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    CXLI. FOR LOYALTY TO GOD AND HIS SAINTS. Psalms 141:1 f. The Psalmist begs Yahweh to hear his prayer. He utters this prayer in his house, and in true prophetic spirit hopes that it will be as acceptab...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    THE RIGHTEOUS. a righteous one. AN EXCELLENT OIL. oil for the head. This verse is said to be "extremely obscure" and "corrupt to. degree". The Figure of speech _Metalepsis_ (App-6) makes all clear; ...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Prayer for grace to resist the temptation to sin in word and thought and deed....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Let the righteous smite me, it shall be kindness: And let him reprove me, it shall be as oil for the head; Let not my head refuse it: But still let my prayer be against their evil doings. From the...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    LET THE RIGHTEOUS, &C.— I. Mr. Peters is of opinion, that David in this verse manifestly alludes to his anointment and designation to the throne. He translates and explains it thus: _Let the just man...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PSALMS 141 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE A Temptation to Conspiracy Shunned. ANALYSIS Stanza I., Psalms 141:1-3, Prayer for Guarded Speech. Stanza II., Psalms 141:4-5, Danger from Proffered Hospitalities. St

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities. LET THE...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    141:5 kindness; (c-8) Or 'smite me in kindness.' refuse. (d-24) Or 'it is oil for the head; let not my head refuse it.' calamities. (e-35) Or 'is against their evil deeds.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    An evening prayer in time of trouble. The Psalmist prays that he may be strengthened to resist temptation, and so escape the fate of evil men....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    Correction from friends is desirable. AN EXCELLENT OIL, _which_ SHALL NOT BREAK MY HEAD] RV '_as_ oil upon the head; let not my head refuse it.' FOR YET, etc.] 'for still my prayer is against their wr...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Psalms 107:150 _GORDON CHURCHYARD_ AN EVENING *PRAYER PSALMS 141 Jesus said, "What will a man have if he buys the whole world but loses his own soul?" ...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    The difficulties of the psalm thicken here. Render, _Let a righteous man smite me, it is a kindness; and let him reprove me, it is oil for the head: my head shall not refuse it though it continue; yet...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    יֶֽהֶלְמֵֽנִי ־צַדִּ֨יק ׀ חֶ֡סֶד וְֽ יֹוכִיחֵ֗נִי שֶׁ֣מֶן...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Psalms 141:1 PART of this psalm is hopelessly obscure, and the connection is difficult throughout. It is a prayer of a harassed soul, tempted to slacken its hold on God, and therefore betaking itself...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

      HUMILITY Psalms 141:1-10 This is an evening psalm. Acceptable prayer is as the smoke of incense rising in the still air, Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:3-4. Each day we should ask to be delivered f...

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

    In this song the influence of the external troubles upon the inner life of the singer is revealed. Throughout it breathes the spirit of fear lest the soul should be seduced from the attitude of whole-...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Let the righteous smite me; [it shall be] a kindness: and let (e) him reprove me; [it shall be] an excellent oil, [which] shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also [shall be] in their calamities...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Hand. For succour, Psalm xv. 8. So was David situated at Engaddi, as our Saviour was, when he was abandoned by his disciples. (Calmet) --- None would appear to be acquainted with those in distress. ...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Some read this verse very differently froth our present translation. They render it thus: Reproach will bruise me that am righteous, and rebuke but that poisonous oil shall not break my head, that is,...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    5._Let the righteous smite me_, _etc_. While Satan tempts the wicked by his allurements, they, at the same time, deceive one another by flattery, which leads David to declare, that he would much rathe...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS PSALMS 140 THROUGH 144. The five following psalms go over ground which we have trodden over in detail: only they apply to a restored Israel, still in conflict, and not...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    LET THE RIGHTEOUS SMITE ME, [IT SHALL BE] A KINDNESS,.... Or, "smite me in kindness" a. In love; in a loving and friendly manner, which makes reproofs the more agreeable and effectual. Not the righteo...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Let the righteous smite me; [it shall be] a kindness: and let him reprove me; [it shall be] an excellent oil, [which] shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also [shall be] in their calamities. V...

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

    _Let the righteous smite me_ Namely, by reproofs. If at any time, through the frailty of nature, I should be inclined to yield to temptation, let me find, among my attendants or friends, some righteou...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    LET THE RIGHTEOUS SMITE ME, IT SHALL BE A KINDNESS, AND LET HIM REPROVE ME, IT SHALL BE AN EXCELLENT OIL, WHICH SHALL NOT BREAK MY HEAD: Or, let the righteous smite me kindly, and reprove me, let not...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    5-10 We should be ready to welcome the rebuke of our heavenly Father, and also the reproof of our brethren. It shall not break my head, if it may but help to break my heart: we must show that we take...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    SMITE ME, to wit, with his tongue by reproofs, as the next clause explains it, which are called _wounds_, PROVERBS 27:6. As I pray unto thee that thou wouldst keep me from sinful practices, so I beg i...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Psalms 141:5 righteous H6662 strike H1986 (H8799) kindness H2617 rebuke H3198 (H8686) excellent H7218 oil H8081 hea

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Psalms 141:1. _LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee._ You see how a child of God prays when he is in trouble. David says, «I cry unto thee,» and the...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Prayer for God's favorable acceptance and powerful assistance. CHARACTERS: God, David. CONCLUSION: Though the snares be placed by the enemy with ever so much subtlety, God can, and will, s...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    This psalm, like the last, is generally supposed to have been composed by David during his persecution by Saul, probably when he fled to Achish. The late Rev. Mr. Peters, a Cornish clergyman, has favo...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Let the righteous. .. reprove me._ THE REPROOF OF THE RIGHTEOUS I. The character of one who is qualified to give reproof. 1. One whose life is habitually consistent with his profession. 2. One wh...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Lord, I cry unto Thee._ AN INVOCATION FOR THE TRULY DESIRABLE IN HUMAN LIFE: - I. Divine attention to human aspirations (verses 1, 2). 1. For immediate attention. 2. For favourable attention. II...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PSALM PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 141:1. This is an individual lament, a prayer that God will protect the faithful person against all insincerity and compromise....

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 141:3 The singer may be tempted to avoid danger by joining the MEN WHO WORK INIQUITY; he asks God to help him avoid all such temptation. This prayer reveals great insight into how...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    INTRODUCTION “This Psalm presents,” says Perowne, “some peculiar difficulties of Interpretation, which, however, are due neither to the words employed nor to the grammatical construction, but to the e...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ALMOST wholly a psalm of supplication. David is again in danger, and needs a prompt deliverance (Psalms 141:1). This time the danger seems to be that he may fall away, and be absorbed into...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Psa 140:1-13, another psalm of David. Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man; Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war. T...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Samuel 25:31; 2 Chronicles 16:7; 2 Chronicles 25:16; 2 Samuel 12:7;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Smite — By reproofs. Break — Not hurt, but heal and greatly refresh me. Calamities — In the calamities of those righteous persons who reproved him. When they came into such calamities as those wherein...

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