Psalms 69:23

23 Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and make their bodies shake continually.

Psalms 69:23 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 69:23

Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not
Not literally, the eyes of their bodies; but figuratively, the eyes of their understanding; which were so darkened, and they given up to such judicial blindness, that they could not discern the signs of the times that the Messiah must be come, Daniel's weeks being up; could not see any glory, excellency, and comeliness in Christ; could not see the evidence of the Messiahship of Jesus in the miracles he wrought; nor in the prophecies of the Old Testament fulfilled in him: that book was a sealed book unto them; the Gospel, and the doctrines of it, were hid from them, even from the wise and prudent among them; yea, also those things which belonged to their temporal peace; they were so blinded and infatuated, they could not see what was for their outward good and happiness: and, in proof of this their blindness, the words are cited by the apostle in ( Romans 11:7 Romans 11:10 Romans 11:25 ) ; see ( Matthew 16:3 ) ( 11:25 ) ( Matthew 13:11 Matthew 13:13 ) ( Luke 19:42 ) ;

and make their loins continually to shake;
weaken their loins, in which a man's strength lies, that they may not be able to rise up against their enemies; and that they might not be able to flee and escape from them; see ( Deuteronomy 33:11 ) ; or fill them with horror, dread, and trembling, as they will be when Christ shall come in the clouds of heaven; and they shall see him whom they have pierced, ( Revelation 1:7 ) . The apostle renders the words "bow down their back alway"; (See Gill on Romans 11:10).

Psalms 69:23 In-Context

21 But instead, they give me poison for food; they offer me sour wine for my thirst.
22 Let the bountiful table set before them become a snare and their prosperity become a trap.
23 Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and make their bodies shake continually.
24 Pour out your fury on them; consume them with your burning anger.
25 Let their homes become desolate and their tents be deserted.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Greek version reads and let their backs be bent forever. Compare Rom 11:10 .
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