Psalm 6:1-7

1 {To the chief Musician. On stringed instruments, upon Sheminith. A Psalm of David.} Jehovah, rebuke me not in thine anger, and chasten me not in thy hot displeasure.

2 Be gracious unto me, Jehovah, for I am withered; Jehovah, heal me, for my bones tremble.

3 And my soul trembleth exceedingly: and thou, Jehovah, till how long?

4 Return, Jehovah, free my soul; save me for thy loving-kindness' sake.

5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee; in Sheol who shall give thanks unto thee?

6 I am wearied with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I dissolve my couch with my tears.

7 Mine eye wasteth away through grief; it hath grown old because of all mine oppressors.

Psalm 6:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, a Psalm of David. What is designed by "the chief musician," and what is meant by "neginoth," have been observed preciously, See Gill on "Ps 4:1." As for "sheminith," it seems to be one particular sort of the "neginoth," or stringed instrument, which this man had the care of; see the title of Psalm 12:1: which most of the Hebrew writers {y} understand of the harp of eight strings, to which this psalm was set; and which, from the number of its strings, was called "sheminith," which signifies "the eighth": and this receives confirmation from 1 Chronicles 15:21. The eighth string was added to the harp by Simonides, according to Pliny {z}: but if such an harp is here meant, this refutes it, for David lived long before Simonides. Though some {a} have thought it refers to a poem or song of eight notes, to the tune of which this psalm was sung; or to the eighth note, which was grave, and which we call the bass. As for the eighth day of circumcision, of which some Jewish writers mystically interpret it; or the eighth, that is, the first day, or Lord's day, to which some of the ancient Christian writers refer it, or the eighth age, or millennium, as Theodoret; these can by no means be admitted of. The occasion of it was either some bodily disease the psalmist laboured under, or some distress of soul, on account of sin; and the rather this seems to be the case, seeing the psalm begins with the same words as Psalm 38:1, in which the psalmist so much bewails his iniquity. Some have thought it was drawn up for the use of any and every sick person; and others say it was written on the account of Israel in captivity, who were then as sick persons {b}: but rather the occasion of it was bodily sickness, inward guilt of conscience for sin, and distress by enemies; as appears from, Psalm 6:3.

{y} Targum, Jarchi, Kimchi, & Ben Melech in loc. {z} Nat. Hist. l. 7. c. 56. {a} In Aben Ezra in loc. {b} Vid. Kimchi & Aben Ezra in loc.

Footnotes

• [a] Perhaps 'upon the octave,' or 'with eight strings:' see Ps. 12; 1Chron. 15.21.
• [b] Chesed: see Ps. 4.3.
• [c] i.e. 'Hades;' it vaguely expresses the place or state of the soul separated from the body.
• [d] Or 'celebrate thy praises.'
• [e] Tzar, see Ps. 8.2.