Psalm 77:4

4 (76-5) My eyes prevented the watches: I was troubled, and I spoke not.

Psalm 77:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 77:4

Thou holdest mine eyes waking
Or, "the watches", or rather "keepers of the eyes" ^F13; the eyebrows, which protect the eyes; these were held, so that he could not shut them, and get any sleep; so R. Moses Haccohen interprets the words, as Jarchi observes; and so the Targum,

``thou holdest the brows of my eyes;''

a person in trouble, when he can get some sleep, it interrupts his sorrow, weakens it at least, if it does not put a stop to it; wherefore it is a great mercy to have sleep, and that refreshing, ( Psalms 127:1 ) , but to have this denied, and to have wearisome nights, and be in continual tossing to and fro, is very distressing:

I am so troubled that I cannot speak;
his spirits were so sunk with weariness, and want of sleep in the night, that he could not speak in the morning; or his heart was so full with sorrow, that he could not utter himself; or it was so great that he could not express it; or his thoughts were such that he dared not declare them; or he was so straitened and shut up in himself that he could not go on speaking unto God in prayer.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F13 (ynye twrmv) "vigilias", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Tigurine version; "palpebras oculorum meorum", Musculus, Cocceius; "palpebras quasi custodias oculorum", Michaelis.

Psalm 77:4 In-Context

2 (76-3) In the days of my trouble I sought God, with my hands lifted up to him in the night, and I was not deceived. My soul refused to be comforted:

3 (76-4) I remembered God, and was delighted, and was exercised, and my spirit swooned away.

4 (76-5) My eyes prevented the watches: I was troubled, and I spoke not.

5 (76-6) I thought upon the days of old: and I had in my mind the eternal years.

6 (76-7) And I meditated in the night with my own heart: and I was exercised and I swept my spirit.