Psalms 41:6

6 When anyone comes to see me, he says things he doesn't mean. At the same time, he thinks up lies to tell against me. Then he goes out and spreads those lies around.

Psalms 41:6 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 41:6

And if he come to see [me]
Meaning anyone of his enemies, when they came, as pretended, to pay him a friendly visit. A late learned writer F24 interprets this of Absalom, who visited his father when he had the smallpox, which he thinks, after mentioned, of which his enemies expected he would die, when Absalom pretended great concern for his life; though he, with others, were plotting against him, should he live, to destroy him;

he speaketh vanity;
lies and falsehoods, in an hypocritical manner, with a double heart; his mouth and his heart not agreeing together; see ( Matthew 22:16 ) ;

his heart gathereth iniquity to itself;
amasses to itself greater treasures of wickedness still, thought that itself is desperately wicked, and very wickedness: this is to be understood of the enemies of Christ observing his words and actions, and laying them up, with a wicked intention, against a proper time;

[when] he goeth abroad, he telleth [it];
as in the instances concerning giving tribute to Caesar, destroying the temple, and saying he was the son of God, ( Matthew 22:17 Matthew 22:18 ) ; compared with ( Luke 23:2 ) ( John 2:19 John 2:21 ) ; compared with ( Matthew 26:60 Matthew 26:61 ) ( John 5:17 John 5:18 ) , compared with ( John 19:5 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F24 Delaney's Life of King David, vol. 2. p. 157, 158.

Psalms 41:6 In-Context

4 I said, "Lord, show me your favor. Heal me. I have sinned against you."
5 My enemies are saying bad things about me. They say, "When will he die and be forgotten?"
6 When anyone comes to see me, he says things he doesn't mean. At the same time, he thinks up lies to tell against me. Then he goes out and spreads those lies around.
7 All of my enemies whisper to each other about me. They want something terrible to happen to me.
8 They say, "He is sick and will die very soon. He will never get up from his bed again."
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica.   All rights reserved worldwide.