Psalm 56:2

2 Meine Feinde schnauben täglich; denn viele streiten stolz wider mich.

Psalm 56:2 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 56:2

Mine enemies would daily swallow [me] up
For not one man only, but many, were his enemies; who observed and watched him, and were eagerly desirous of his ruin. The believer has many enemies, sin, Satan, and the world, seeking to devour and destroy him, though they cannot;

for [they be] many that fight against me, O thou most High;
he appeals to God, who dwells on high, and sees all things, for the truth of this, that he had many enemies both at Gath and in Israel; as well as applies to him for help, he being higher than they. Some render the words, "for [they] be many that fight against me from on high" ^F17, or "highly" {r}, proudly and haughtily. Aben Ezra gives a very different sense,

``I have many angels on high that fight for me.''

But (Mwrm) , "marom", is an epithet of God, as in ( Psalms 92:8 ) ( Micah 6:6 ) ; and so it is interpreted by Jarchi and Kimchi; and also by the Targum, which renders it, O God most High; and adds,

``whose throne is on high;''

which is approved by Gussetius ^F19.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 (Mwrm) "a sublimi", Junius & Tremellius; "ex alto", Cocceius; so Arab vers. and Michaelis.
F18 "Elato animo", Musculus; so some in Vatablus; "superbe", Gejerus.
F19 Ebr. Comment. p. 783.

Psalm 56:2 In-Context

1 Ein gülden Kleinod Davids, von der stummen Taube unter den Fremden, da ihn die Philister griffen zu Gath. Gott, sei mir gnädig, denn Menschen schnauben wider mich; täglich streiten sie und ängsten mich.

2 Meine Feinde schnauben täglich; denn viele streiten stolz wider mich.

3 Wenn ich mich fürchte, so hoffe ich auf dich.

4 Ich will Gottes Namen rühmen; auf Gott will ich hoffen und mich nicht fürchten; was sollte mir Fleisch tun?

5 Täglich fechten sie meine Worte an; all ihre Gedanken sind, daß sie mir Übel tun.