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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Psalms 34:1-22

Psalm PSALM—NOTE ON Psalms 34:1. This psalm is an expression of thanksgiving for God’s protection and care for those who trust in him. The title connects the psalm to 1 Samuel 21:10, where David is saved from danger by pretending to be insane in the presence of King Achish of Gath. Probably the name Abimelech in the psalm is a title or alternate name for the king of Gath. David does not take credit for this narrow escape, nor does he deny the importance of the faithful using their wits in desperate situations.

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See also Psalms 34:1-22 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    PSALM XXXIV _David praises God, and exhorts others to do the same_, 1-3; _shows how he sought the Lord, and how he was found of him_, 4-6. _All are exhorted to taste and see the goodness of God; wi...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    I WILL BLESS THE LORD - I will praise him; I will be thankful for his mercies, and will always express my sense of his goodness. AT ALL TIMES - In every situation of life; in every event that occurs....

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    Psalms 34 The Perfect Praise of His Redeemed People _ 1. His praise for salvation (Psalms 34:1)_ 2. The instructions of the righteous (Psalms 34:11) 3. His redemption remembered ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    XXXIV. YAHWEH'S CARE FOR HIS OWN. An acrostic Ps., the letter Waw being omitted as in Psalms 25. Yahweh's care of the poor who fear Him. Psalms 34:5. Read with LXX, look to him, be radiant, your face...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    TITLE.. PSALM. App-65. of David. by, or relating to David. WHEN. Compare 1 Samuel 21:10; 1 Samuel 22:1. ABIMELECH. An appellative for the kings of Gath. This Abimelech was named Achish. This is an Ac...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _His praise_ Cp. Psalms 33:1....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Resolution of praise....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    _David praiseth God, and exhorteth others thereto by his experience. They are blessed that trust in God. He exhorteth to the fear of God. The privileges of the righteous._ _A Psalm_ of David, when he...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PSALMS 34 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE An Alphabetical Psalm of Praise and Instruction. ANALYSIS For convenience, this psalm may be regarded as resolving itself into three stanzas of seven verses each, follow...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES: HIS PRAISE SHALL CONTINUALLY BE IN MY MOUTH._ A thanksgiving of David for deliverance on the occasion of his 'changing his behaviour;' or, as Hengstenberg translat...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    34:1 (a-0) An acrostic Psalm, arranged as Psalms 25 . Abimelech, (b-11) Meaning, 'Father-king;' most probably the title of the Philistine kings....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    AT ALL TIMES.. CONTINUALLY] the utterance of a faith which can maintain gratitude in adversity as well as in prosperity....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    The reliability of this title (_A Psalm_ of David; when he feigned madness (RM) before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed) is doubtful, both because the Philistine king in question is call...

  • 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

    לְ דָוִ֗ד בְּ שַׁנֹּותֹ֣ו אֶת ־טַ֭עְמֹו לִ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Psalms 34:1 THE occasion of this psalm, according to the superscription, was that humiliating and questionable episode, when David pretended insanity to save his life from the ruler of Goliath's city...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    “MAGNIFY THE LORD WITH ME” Psalms 34:1 The event associated with this psalm is recorded in 1 Samuel 21:1. It was not a very creditable incident. David, however, realized the goodness of God, notwith...

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

    In this psalm praise is personal. After the chorus of the last we have a solo full of feeling. It tells of the goodness of Jehovah and that in order that others may know and be helped. The opening dec...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    "[A Psalm] of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed." I will bless the LORD (a) at all times: his praise [shall] continually [be] in my mouth. (a)...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    David. Some of the Greek copies add, "psalm," and "unto the end." It was composed during the persecutions of Saul, &c., and is applied by the Fathers to Jesus Christ, who quotes ver. 19, (John xv. 25....

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS The Psalmist is celebrating divine goodness through the whole of this Psalm, and from his experience calling upon the whole Church to engage in the same delightful employment. A Psalm of Da...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _BENEDICAM DOMINO_ ‘I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth,’ etc. Psalms 34:1 I. DAVID BEGINS BY SAYING, ‘I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES.’—This should b...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    Psalms 32 _ Proper Psalm for Ash Wednesday_ (_Morning_). PSALMS 32-34 = _ Day 6_ (_Evening_)....

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    1._I will bless Jehovah at all times. _(687) David here extols the greatness of God, promising to keep in remembrance during his whole life the goodness which he had bestowed upon him. God assists his...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Psalms 34. The sure government of God enables faith to bless at all times. He has proved His faithfulness to them that were in distress. The psalmist, Christ in spirit, calls on the remnant to praise,...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES,.... That is, ascribe blessing, give honour, praise, and glory to him, both as the God of nature and providence, for every temporal mercy; and that every day, and at...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Psalms 34:1 «[A Psalm] of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. » I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise [shall] continually [be] in my mo...

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

    _I will bless the Lord at all times_ I will never forget to bless God for this miraculous deliverance. _My soul shall make her boast_, &c. Shall glory in this, that I have so powerful and gracious a L...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THANKSGIVING AND INSTRUCTION OF ONE DELIVERED OUT OF GREAT TROUBLE. A psalm of David when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, this being the title of the Philistine rulers, Genesis 20:2, the nam...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    I will bless the Lord at all times, in every season, David's own cheerfulness being so notable because his troubles at that time were by no means at an end, since he was obliged to hide in the cave Ad...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-10 If we hope to spend eternity in praising God, it is fit that we should spend much of our time here in this work. He never said to any one, Seek ye me in vain. David's prayers helped to silence h...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    PSALM 34 A Psalm made upon that occasion, though not at that time. HIS BEHAVIOUR; or, _his habit_ or _posture_, or his _reason_, as this word is taken, 1 Samuel 25:33 Psalms 119:66 Proverbs 11:22

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Psalms 34:1 David H1732 pretended H8138 (H8763) madness H2940 before H6440 Abimelech H40 away H1644 (H8762) departed...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    1). WORDS IN PRAISE OF YHWH (1-3). Psalms 34:1 A ‘I will bless YHWH at all times, His praise will continually be in my mouth. B My soul will make her boast in YHWH, The meek will hear of it, and...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Psalms 34:1 I. David begins by saying, "I will bless the Lord at all times." This should be our resolution also. (1) There is a great power in praising. It leads one away from self-consciousness. (2)...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Psalms 34:1. _I will bless the LORD at all times:_ «At dark times, and bright times when I am alone, and when I am in company; when I feel like doing it and when I do not feel like doing it: ‘I will...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    «A psalm of David when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.» It was a very painful exhibition, and one in which David does not shine but in which, nevertheles...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Psalms 34:1 _I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth._ What a sweet resolve! Oh, that every one of us who knows the Lord would make that resolve, and keep it a...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    The title of this Psalm is, «A Psalm of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech (or, Achish); who drove him away, and he departed.» It relates to a sad scene in David's life when he had t...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Psalms 34:1. _I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth._ «Others may do what they please, and murmur, and complain, and be filled with dread and apprehension of...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: David thankfully records God's goodness and invites the praise of others. CHARACTERS: God, David. CONCLUSION: God's people who share His special favor should concur in His praises and magn...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Psalms 34:6. _This poor man cried._ David, a prince yesterday, was poor to-day; an exile among his enemies, and destitute of friends. Yesterday, Saul sought his life, and now the friends of Goliath as...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth._ A DEVOUT HYMN I. an exemplification of true praise. 1. It is thorough. (1) There is no praise without concentrati...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    INTRODUCTION “This psalm is assigned by the superscription to the occasion when David, persecuted by Saul, fled to the Philistines, and being brought before Achish was driven away by him as a madman ...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION THIS is the third of the alphabetical psalms, and appears to have a special connection with the second of them, Psalms 25:1. Like that psalm, it omits the _vav_, and has a second _pe _at th...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Psa 34:1-22 is a psalm of David when he, it says, "changed his behavior, before Abimelech." Actually, it is probably the case of when he had gone down and Abimelech or Achish the king who drove him aw...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Samuel 21:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:13;...

  • When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties, Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe, 1960

    Why does the subtitle of this Psalm have the name Abimelech when the name should be Achish? PROBLEM: The subtitle of Psalms 34 states, “A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who...

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