I have seen the wicked in great power
Meaning some particular person invested with great power, in
great authority among men, one of the spiritual wickednesses in
high places; such a man as Haman in Ahasuerus's court; and though
the psalmist does not choose to mention his name, he doubtless
had him in his mind; as either Saul, or Doeg the Edomite, or
Ahithophel, or some such man, who was in an exalted station of
life; and it may be when he himself was in low and distressed
circumstances: the word used F3 signifies one formidable and
terrible, striking terror to all around; of whom others are
afraid, as Aben Ezra interprets it, ( Isaiah 29:20
) ( 49:25
) ;
and spreading himself like a green bay tree:
or like one that grows up out of the earth of itself, and is in
its native soil, and very flourishing: and the metaphor denotes
an increase of riches and honour, and a seemingly settled state
in the enjoyment of such outward felicity; so Jarchi interprets
it (vyrvm) , "taking
root"; as well as such a man's glorying in and boasting of his
affluence and fulness; see ( Psalms 73:12
) ( Jeremiah
12:1 Jeremiah
12:2 ) ( Psalms 49:6 ) . Aben
Ezra explains it of a wicked man's openly committing iniquity,
declaring his sin as Sodom, and glorying in his shame; but rather
it denotes a man in great authority and esteem, as a man crowned
with laurels, and in a very exalted and triumphant state.