
Text -- Psalms 31:2 (NET)




Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics



collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
JFB -> Psa 31:2-4
JFB: Psa 31:2-4 - -- He seeks help in God's righteous government (Psa 5:8), and begs for an attentive hearing, and speedy and effectual aid. With no other help and no clai...
He seeks help in God's righteous government (Psa 5:8), and begs for an attentive hearing, and speedy and effectual aid. With no other help and no claim of merit, he relies solely on God's regard to His own perfections for a safe guidance and release from the snares of his enemies. On the terms "rock," &c., (compare Psa 17:2; Psa 18:2, Psa 18:50; Psa 20:6; Psa 23:3; Psa 25:21).
Clarke: Psa 31:2 - -- Bow down thine ear - Listen to my complaint. Put thy ear to my lips, that thou mayest hear all that my feebleness is capable of uttering. We general...
Bow down thine ear - Listen to my complaint. Put thy ear to my lips, that thou mayest hear all that my feebleness is capable of uttering. We generally put our ear near to the lips of the sick and dying, that we may hear what they say. To this the text appears to allude

Clarke: Psa 31:2 - -- Strong rock - Rocks, rocky places, or caves in the rocks, were often strong places in the land of Judea. To such natural fortifications allusions ar...
Strong rock - Rocks, rocky places, or caves in the rocks, were often strong places in the land of Judea. To such natural fortifications allusions are repeatedly made by the Hebrew poetic writers.
Calvin -> Psa 31:2
Calvin: Psa 31:2 - -- 2.incline thine ear unto me These words express with how much ardor David’s soul was stimulated to pray. He affects no splendid or ornate language,...
2.incline thine ear unto me These words express with how much ardor David’s soul was stimulated to pray. He affects no splendid or ornate language, as rhetoricians are wont to do; but only describes in suitable figures the vehemence of his desire. In praying that he may be delivered speedily there is shown the greatness of his danger, as if he had said, All will soon be over with my life, unless God make haste to help me. By the words, house of defense, fortress, and rock, he intimates, that, being unable to resist his enemies, his hope rests only on the protection of God.
TSK -> Psa 31:2
TSK: Psa 31:2 - -- Bow : Psa 71:2, Psa 86:1, Psa 130:2; Pro 22:17
deliver : Psa 40:17, Psa 69:17, Psa 79:1, Psa 102:2, Psa 143:7; Job 7:21; Luk 18:8
my strong rock : Heb...
Bow : Psa 71:2, Psa 86:1, Psa 130:2; Pro 22:17
deliver : Psa 40:17, Psa 69:17, Psa 79:1, Psa 102:2, Psa 143:7; Job 7:21; Luk 18:8
my strong rock : Heb. to me for a rock of strength, Psa 18:1, Psa 18:2, Psa 62:7, Psa 94:22; Deu 32:31; 2Sa 22:3
an house : Psa 71:3, Psa 90:1, Psa 91:9; Isa 33:16; Joh 6:56; 1Jo 4:12, 1Jo 4:15, 1Jo 4:16

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Psa 31:2
Barnes: Psa 31:2 - -- Bow down thine ear to me - As He does who inclines His ear toward one whom He is willing to hear, or whom He is desirous of hearing. See the no...
Bow down thine ear to me - As He does who inclines His ear toward one whom He is willing to hear, or whom He is desirous of hearing. See the notes at Psa 17:6.
Deliver me speedily - Without delay. Or, hasten to deliver me. It is right to pray to be delivered from all evil; equally right to pray to be delivered immediately.
Be thou my strong rock - Margin: "to me for a rock of strength."See Psa 18:1-2, note; Psa 18:46, note.
For an house of defense to save me - A fortified house; a house made safe and strong. It is equivalent to praying that he might have a secure abode or dwelling-place.
Poole -> Psa 31:2
Poole: Psa 31:2 - -- Deliver me speedily because of the greatness and urgency of my danger, which is even ready to swallow me up.
Deliver me speedily because of the greatness and urgency of my danger, which is even ready to swallow me up.
Haydock -> Psa 31:2
Haydock: Psa 31:2 - -- Spirit. Symmachus has "heart," or "mouth." (Calmet) ---
The latter is also in some copies of the Septuagint. (Eusebius) ---
The Roman and Alexan...
Spirit. Symmachus has "heart," or "mouth." (Calmet) ---
The latter is also in some copies of the Septuagint. (Eusebius) ---
The Roman and Alexandrian Septuagint have it, though Grabe substitutes spirit, (Haydock) which is recognised by St. Jerome (ad. Sun.), Hebrew, &c. Nothing is so contrary to true repentance as hypocrisy. (St. Augustine, &c.) (Calmet) ---
If we do not co-operate with God's grace, our sins will never be effaced, though, before remission, our works can only dispose us to receive pardon. "God (and meritorious) works follow." (St. Augustine) (Worthington)
Gill -> Psa 31:2
Gill: Psa 31:2 - -- Bow down thine ear to me,.... Which is said after the manner of men, who, when they give attention, and listen to anything, stoop, and incline the ear...
Bow down thine ear to me,.... Which is said after the manner of men, who, when they give attention, and listen to anything, stoop, and incline the ear; and this for God to do, as he sometimes does, is wonderful condescending grace!
deliver me speedily; which shows that he was in great danger, and his case required haste: the Lord does help right early, and is sometimes a present help in time of need, and delivers at once, as soon as the mercy is asked for;
be thou my strong rock: for shelter and security from enemies, as well as to build his everlasting salvation on, and to stand firmly upon, and out of danger;
for an house of defence to save me; both for an house to dwell in, Lord being the dwelling place of his people in all generations, and a strong habitation to which they may continually resort; and for protection and safety, their place of defence in him being the munition of rocks, a strong hold, and a strong tower from the enemy.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Psa 31:1-24
TSK Synopsis: Psa 31:1-24 - --1 David, shewing his confidence in God, craves his help.7 He rejoices in his mercy.9 He prays in his calamity.19 He praises God for his goodness.
Maclaren -> Psa 31:1-2
Maclaren: Psa 31:1-2 - --Be, For Thou Art'
Be Thou to me a strong Rock, an house of defence to save me. 3. For Thou art my Rock and my Fortress.'--Psalm 31:2-3 (R.V.).
IT sou...
MHCC -> Psa 31:1-8
MHCC: Psa 31:1-8 - --Faith and prayer must go together, for the prayer of faith is the prevailing prayer. David gave up his soul in a special manner to God. And with the w...
Matthew Henry -> Psa 31:1-8
Matthew Henry: Psa 31:1-8 - -- Faith and prayer must go together. He that believes, let his pray - I believe, therefore I have spoken: and he that prays, let him believe, for th...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Psa 31:1-8
Keil-Delitzsch: Psa 31:1-8 - --
(Heb.: 31:2-9) The poet begins with the prayer for deliverance, based upon the trust which Jahve, to whom he surrenders himself, cannot possibly di...
Constable -> Psa 31:1-24; Psa 31:2-7
Constable: Psa 31:1-24 - --Psalm 31
This psalm grew out of an experience in David's life in which his foes plotted to kill him. Tha...
