Psalms 54:1-6

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. When the Ziphites had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?”

1 ^[a]^[b]Save me, O God, by your name; vindicate me by your might.

2 Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth.

3 Arrogant foes are attacking me; ruthless people are trying to kill me— people without regard for God.^[c]

4 Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.

5 Let evil recoil on those who slander me; in your faithfulness destroy them.

6 I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, LORD, for it is good.

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Psalms 54:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? Of the word "neginoth," See Gill on "Ps 4:1," title; and of "maschil," See Gill on "Ps 32:1," title. The occasion of writing this psalm were the discoveries the Ziphims or Ziphites made to Saul of David being in their neighbourhood; which they did twice, as appears from 1 Samuel 23:14. Which of these gave occasion to the psalm is not certain; it is very likely that it was composed after both had been made. These Ziphims were the inhabitants of a city called Ziph, which was in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:55, near to which was a wilderness, which had its name from the city in which David was when they came to Saul with this news of him.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 15

1. S 1 Samuel 24:15
2. Psalms 20:1
3. 2 Chronicles 20:6
4. S Psalms 4:1; Psalms 5:1; 5Psalms 5:1
5. Psalms 86:14
6. Psalms 18:48; Psalms 140:1,4,11
7. S 1 Samuel 20:1; Psalms 40:14
8. Psalms 36:1
9. S 1 Chronicles 5:20; S Psalms 20:2; Psalms 118:7
10. S Psalms 18:35; Psalms 41:12
11. S Deuteronomy 32:35; Psalms 94:23; Proverbs 24:12
12. Psalms 89:49; Psalms 143:12; Isaiah 42:3
13. S Leviticus 7:12,16; S Ezra 1:4; S Psalms 27:6; Psalms 50:14
14. Psalms 44:8; Psalms 69:30; Psalms 138:2; Psalms 142:7; Psalms 145:1
15. Psalms 52:9

Footnotes 3

[a]. In Hebrew texts 54:1-7 is numbered 54:3-9.
[b]. Title: Probably a literary or musical term
[c]. The Hebrew has "Selah" (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

Psalms 54:1-6

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For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. When the Ziphites had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?”

Psalms 54:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

Cross References 15

Footnotes 3