Psalms 119:23

23 Though princes sit and slander me, Your servant will meditate on your statutes.

Psalms 119:23 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 119:23

Princes also did sit [and] speak against me
The princes in the court of Saul, who suggested to him that David sought his hurt; the princes of his own court, Absalom, his own son, a prince of the blood, and Ahithophel, a counsellor of state: or the princes of the Gentiles, as Jarchi; so the princes of the Philistines spake against him in a very disdainful manner, "make this fellow return to his place again", ( 1 Samuel 29:4 ) . Such as these might speak against him, as they sat and rode in their chariots; when at their tables, conversing together; or at their council boards, forming schemes against him: the phrase denotes their constant practice, as Kimchi observes; see ( Psalms 50:20 ) ; herein David was a type of Christ, whom the princes of this world conspired against, and whose life they took away, ( Psalms 2:2 ) ( 1 Corinthians 2:8 ) ;

[but] thy servant did meditate in thy statutes;
what the princes did or said against him did not divert his mind, or take off his thoughts from the word of God, and the ordinances of it; he thought of them, he spoke and discoursed of them; he declared them, as the word F23 sometimes signifies, and so the Targum takes it here; he was not afraid nor ashamed to profess his regard unto them: as Daniel, when he knew that the presidents and princes had obtained a royal decree, and the writing was signed; yet went into his chamber, as at other times, and kneeled down and prayed to God, ( Daniel 6:10 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F23 (xyvy) "disserit", Tigurine version, Vatablus, Musculus; "loquitur", Piscator, Gejerus.

Psalms 119:23 In-Context

21 You have rebuked the proud who are cursed, Who wander from your mitzvot.
22 Take reproach and contempt away from me, For I have kept your statutes.
23 Though princes sit and slander me, Your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24 Indeed your statutes are my delight, And my counselors.
25 My soul is laid low in the dust. Revive me according to your word!
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.