
Text -- Psalms 34:2 (NET)




Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics



collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Shall glory in this, that I have so powerful and so gracious a master.
JFB: Psa 34:1-4 - -- On the title compare 1Sa 21:13. Abimelech was the general name of the sovereign (Gen 20:2). After celebrating God's gracious dealings with him, the Ps...
On the title compare 1Sa 21:13. Abimelech was the general name of the sovereign (Gen 20:2). After celebrating God's gracious dealings with him, the Psalmist exhorts others to make trial of His providential care, instructing them how to secure it. He then contrasts God's care of His people and His punitive providence towards the wicked. (Psa. 34:1-22)
Even in distress, which excites supplication, there is always matter for praising and thanking God (compare Eph 5:20; Phi 4:6).
Clarke: Psa 34:2 - -- My soul shall make her boast - Shall set itself to praise the Lord - shall consider this its chief work
My soul shall make her boast - Shall set itself to praise the Lord - shall consider this its chief work

The humble -
Calvin -> Psa 34:2
Calvin: Psa 34:2 - -- 2.My soul shall make her boast in Jehovah The term soul in this place signifies not the vital spirit, but the seat of the affections; as if David h...
2.My soul shall make her boast in Jehovah The term soul in this place signifies not the vital spirit, but the seat of the affections; as if David had said, I shall always have ground of boasting with my whole heart in God alone, so that I shall never suffer myself to fall into forgetfulness of so great a deliverance. In the second clause he specifies this as the fruit of his thanksgiving, that the afflicted and miserable shall derive from it ground of hope. The Hebrew word
TSK -> Psa 34:2
TSK: Psa 34:2 - -- make : Psa 44:8, Psa 105:3; Isa 45:25; Jer 9:24; 1Co 1:31; 2Co 10:17
the humble : Psa 22:22-24, Psa 32:5, Psa 32:6, Psa 119:74, Psa 142:7; 1Ti 1:15, 1...

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Psa 34:2
Barnes: Psa 34:2 - -- My soul shall make her boast in the Lord - I myself will rejoice and exult in him. The word "boast"here refers to that on which a man would val...
My soul shall make her boast in the Lord - I myself will rejoice and exult in him. The word "boast"here refers to that on which a man would value himself; that which would be most prominent in his mind when he endeavored to call to remembrance what he could reflect on with most pleasure. The psalmist here says that when He did this, it would not be wealth or strength to which he would refer; it would not be his rank or position in society; it would not be what he had done, nor what he had gained, as pertaining to this life. His joy would spring from the fact that there was a God; that he was such a God, and that he could regard him as His God. This would be his chief distinction - that on which he would value himself most. Of all the things that we can possess in this world, the crowning distinction is, that we have a God, and that he is such a being as he is.
The humble shall hear thereof - The poor; the afflicted; those who are in the lower walks of life. They should hear that he put his trust in God, and they should find joy in being thus directed to God as their portion and their hope. The psalmist seems to have referred here to that class particularly, because:
(a) they would be more likely to appreciate this than those of more elevated rank, or than those who had never known affliction; and
(b) because this would be specially fitted to impart to them support and consolation, as derived from his own experience.
He had been in trouble. He had been encompassed with dangers. He had been mercifully protected and delivered. He was about to state how it had been done. He was sure that they who were in the circumstances in which he had been would welcome the truths which he was about to state, and would rejoice that there might be deliverance for them also, and that they too might find God a protector and a friend. Calamity, danger, poverty, trial, are often of eminent advantage in preparing the mind to appreciate the nature, and to prize the lessons of religion.
And be glad - Rejoice in the story of my deliverance, since it will lead them to see that they also may find deliverance in the day of trial.
Poole -> Psa 34:2
Poole: Psa 34:2 - -- My soul shall glory in this, that I have so powerful and so gracious a Lord and Master. The
humble or, the meek , i.e. the godly, oft called in Sc...
My soul shall glory in this, that I have so powerful and so gracious a Lord and Master. The
humble or, the meek , i.e. the godly, oft called in Scripture by that title; and particularly my friends and favourers in Israel, whom he thus calls in opposition to his proud and furious adversaries in Saul’ s court and camp.
Be glad both for their love to me and to the public good of Israel, which they know that I design and seek above all things; and for the comfort and benefit of my example to them in like straits and difficulties.
Haydock -> Psa 34:2
Haydock: Psa 34:2 - -- Arms. Hebrew magen, "buckler," of a smaller size (1 Kings xvii. 6, 7.) than the shield, ( tsinna ) which was used to cover the whole body. St. ...
Arms. Hebrew magen, "buckler," of a smaller size (1 Kings xvii. 6, 7.) than the shield, ( tsinna ) which was used to cover the whole body. St. Jerome renders the latter word by hastam, "the spear." (Calmet) ---
But this text speaks of defensive weapons.
Gill -> Psa 34:2
Gill: Psa 34:2 - -- My soul shall make her boast in the Lord,.... Not in men, nor in any outward enjoyment, nor in any works of righteousness, but in the Lord; "in the Wo...
My soul shall make her boast in the Lord,.... Not in men, nor in any outward enjoyment, nor in any works of righteousness, but in the Lord; "in the Word of the Lord", as the Targum; in the Lord Jesus Christ; in his wisdom, strength, riches, righteousness, redemption, and salvation; in interest in him, and communion with him: and this is not tongue but soul boasting; and not flashy and selfish, but solid, spiritual, and hearty; and with all the powers and faculties of the soul; see 1Co 1:29;
the humble shall hear thereof; either of the deliverance the psalmist had out of the hands of his enemies; or of his blessing and praising the Lord for the same, and making his boast in him as the God of his salvation; or of both: of these humble ones; see Gill on Psa 10:12;
and be glad; for such rejoice with them that rejoice, and are glad at heart that others share in the goodness and grace of God; and also because by such an instance of the divine power and kindness they are encouraged to hope that he will, in his own time, deliver them out of their afflictions and distresses also.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Psa 34:2 The two prefixed verbal forms in this verse are best taken as jussives, for the psalmist is calling his audience to worship (see v. 3).
Geneva Bible -> Psa 34:2
Geneva Bible: Psa 34:2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the ( b ) humble shall hear [thereof], and be glad.
( b ) They who are beaten down with the experience of t...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Psa 34:1-22
TSK Synopsis: Psa 34:1-22 - --1 David praises God, and exhorts others thereto by his experience.8 They are blessed that trust in God.11 He exhorts to the fear of God.15 The privile...
MHCC -> Psa 34:1-10
MHCC: Psa 34:1-10 - --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 ...
Matthew Henry -> Psa 34:1-10
Matthew Henry: Psa 34:1-10 - -- The title of this psalm tells us both who penned it and upon what occasion it was penned. David, being forced to flee from his country, which was ma...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Psa 34:1-3
Keil-Delitzsch: Psa 34:1-3 - --
(Heb.: 34:2-4) The poet begins with the praise of Jahve, and calls upon all the pious to unite with him in praising Him. The substantival clause P...
Constable -> Psa 34:1-22; Psa 34:1-9
Constable: Psa 34:1-22 - --Psalm 34
In this psalm David glorified God for delivering His people, and he reflected on the Lord's pro...
