Psalm 6:3-10

3 My soul is in deep anguish. How long, LORD, how long?

4 Turn, LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.

5 Among the dead no one proclaims your name. Who praises you from the grave?

6 I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.

7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes.

8 Away from me, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my weeping.

9 The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.

10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish; they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.

Psalm 6:3-10 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, a Psalm of David. What is designed by "the chief musician," and what is meant by "neginoth," have been observed preciously, See Gill on "Ps 4:1." As for "sheminith," it seems to be one particular sort of the "neginoth," or stringed instrument, which this man had the care of; see the title of Psalm 12:1: which most of the Hebrew writers {y} understand of the harp of eight strings, to which this psalm was set; and which, from the number of its strings, was called "sheminith," which signifies "the eighth": and this receives confirmation from 1 Chronicles 15:21. The eighth string was added to the harp by Simonides, according to Pliny {z}: but if such an harp is here meant, this refutes it, for David lived long before Simonides. Though some {a} have thought it refers to a poem or song of eight notes, to the tune of which this psalm was sung; or to the eighth note, which was grave, and which we call the bass. As for the eighth day of circumcision, of which some Jewish writers mystically interpret it; or the eighth, that is, the first day, or Lord's day, to which some of the ancient Christian writers refer it, or the eighth age, or millennium, as Theodoret; these can by no means be admitted of. The occasion of it was either some bodily disease the psalmist laboured under, or some distress of soul, on account of sin; and the rather this seems to be the case, seeing the psalm begins with the same words as Psalm 38:1, in which the psalmist so much bewails his iniquity. Some have thought it was drawn up for the use of any and every sick person; and others say it was written on the account of Israel in captivity, who were then as sick persons {b}: but rather the occasion of it was bodily sickness, inward guilt of conscience for sin, and distress by enemies; as appears from, Psalm 6:3.

{y} Targum, Jarchi, Kimchi, & Ben Melech in loc. {z} Nat. Hist. l. 7. c. 56. {a} In Aben Ezra in loc. {b} Vid. Kimchi & Aben Ezra in loc.

Cross References

• 1. S Job 7:11; Psalms 31:7; Psalms 38:8; Psalms 55:4; S John 12:27; Romans 9:2; 2 Corinthians 2:4
• 2. 1 Samuel 1:14; 1 Kings 18:21; Psalms 4:2; Psalms 89:46; Isaiah 6:11; Jeremiah 4:14; Habakkuk 1:2; Zechariah 1:12; Psalms 90:13
• 3. Psalms 25:16; Psalms 31:2; Psalms 69:16; Psalms 71:2; Psalms 86:16; Psalms 88:2; Psalms 102:2; Psalms 119:132
• 4. Psalms 13:5; Psalms 31:16; Psalms 77:8; Psalms 85:7; Psalms 119:41; Isaiah 54:8,10; Psalms 17:13
• 5. Psalms 30:9; Psalms 88:10-12; Psalms 115:17; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Isaiah 38:18
• 6. S Judges 8:5; Psalms 69:3
• 7. S Job 3:24; S Job 23:2; Psalms 12:5; Psalms 77:3; Psalms 102:5; La 1:8,11,21,22
• 8. S Job 16:16
• 9. S Job 7:3; Luke 7:38; Acts 20:19; Psalms 42:3
• 10. S Job 16:8; Psalms 31:9; Psalms 69:3; Psalms 119:82; Isaiah 38:14
• 11. Psalms 119:115; Psalms 139:19
• 12. Psalms 5:5; S Matthew 7:23; Luke 13:27
• 13. Psalms 28:6; Psalms 116:1
• 14. S 2 Kings 19:26
• 15. Psalms 40:14; Psalms 71:24; Psalms 73:19