Psalm 54:1-3

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]

Psalm 54:1-3 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.

Cross References

• 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

Footnotes

• [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.