Psalms 73:4

4 For they have no pangs; their bodies are sound and sleek.

Psalms 73:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 73:4

For there are no bands in their death
Nothing that binds and straitens them, afflicts and distresses them; they have no pain of mind nor of body, but die at once, suddenly, in a moment, wholly at ease and quiet, without any bitterness of soul; see ( Job 21:13 Job 21:23 Job 21:25 ) , or "there are no bands until their death" F6; they have no straits nor difficulties all their life long, no distempers nor diseases which may be called "bonds", ( Luke 13:12 Luke 13:13 Luke 13:16 ) , till they come to die: the Vulgate Latin version is, "there is no respect to their death"; they take no notice of it, they have no care or concern about it; or, as the Targum,

``they are not terrified nor troubled because of the day of their death;''

they put it away far from them, and think nothing about it: but their strength is firm; they are hale and robust, healthful and sound, to the day of their death; their strength is not weakened in the way by diseases and distempers. Some take the word rendered "strength" to signify a porch or palace, and translate it, they are strong as a palace, or in a palace, or their palace is strong F7 their houses are well built, and continue long.


FOOTNOTES:

F6 (Mtwml) "usque ad mortem eorum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Gejerus, Michaelis.
F7 (Mlwa) "palatium vel sicut palatium"; so some in Piscator; "porticus", Schmidt; so R. Jonah, Arama, and Jerom.

Psalms 73:4 In-Context

2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For they have no pangs; their bodies are sound and sleek.
5 They are not in trouble as other men are; they are not stricken like other men.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.