Psalms 3:2
"Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

Many there be which say of my soul,.... Or "to my soul" (u), the following cutting words, which touched to the quick, reached his very heart, and like a sword pierced through it: there is no help for him in God; or "no salvation" (w): neither in this world, nor in that which is to come, as Kimchi explains it. David's enemies looked upon his case to be desperate; that it was impossible he should ever extricate himself from it; yea, that God himself either could not or would not save him. And in like manner did the enemies of Christ say, when they had put him upon the cross; see Mat 27:43 ; and how frequent is

it for the men of the world to represent the saints as in a damnable state! and to call them a damned set and generation of men, as if there was no salvation for them? and how often does Satan suggest unto them, that there is no hope for them, and they may as well indulge themselves in all sinful lusts and pleasures? and how often do their own unbelieving hearts say to them, that there is no salvation in Christ for them, though there is for others; and that they have no interest in the favour of God, and shall be eternally lost and perish? And this account is concluded with the word selah, which some take to be a musical note; and so the Septuagint render it which Suidas (x) interprets the change of the song, of the note or tune of it; and the rather it may be thought to be so, since it is only used in this book of Psalms, and in the prayer of Habakkuk, which was set to a tune, and directed to the chief singer. Kimchi derives it from a root which signifies "to lift up", and supposes that it denotes and directs to an elevation, or straining of the voice, at the place where this word stands. Others understand it as a pause, a full stop for a while; and as a note of attention, either to something that is remarkably bad and distressing, as here; or remarkably good, and matter of rejoicing, as in Psa 3:4 . Others consider it as an affirmation of the truth of anything, good or bad; and render it "verily", "truly", as, answering to "Amen"; so be it, so it is, or shall be; it is the truth of the thing: to this sense agrees Aben Ezra. But others render it "for ever", as the Chaldee paraphrase; and it is a tradition of the Jews (y), that wherever it is said, "netzach", "selah", and "ed", there is no ceasing, it is for ever and ever; and so then, according to this rule, the sense of David's enemies is, that there was no help for him in God for ever. A very learned man (z) has wrote a dissertation upon this word; in which he endeavours to prove, that it is a name of God, differently used, either in the vocative, genitive, and dative cases; as, O Selah, O God, or of God, or to God, &c. as the sense requires. (u) , Sept. "animae meae", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus, Gejerus, Michaelis; so the Targum. (w) "non est salus", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus; "non ulla salus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Ainsworth. (x) In voce (y) T. Bab. Erubin, fol. 54. 1. Vid. Ben Melech in loc. (z) Paschii Dissertatio de Selah, p. 670. in Thesaur. Theolog. Philolog. par. 1.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (7 words)

H3068 יְהוָֹה
Definition:

7;Leviticus 24:11יהוהwas regarded as anomen ineffabile(see Philode Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529), called by the Jewsהַשֵּׁםand by the Samaritansשׁימא. The pronunciationJehovahwas unknown until 1520, when 7;Leviticus 24:11יהוהwas regarded as anomen ineffabile(see Philode Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529), called by the Jewsהַשֵּׁםand by the Samaritansשׁימא. The pronunciationJehovahwas unknown until 1520, when

Possible Meanings:
  • Yahweh (semantic_range)
  • the one bringing into being (semantic_range)
  • life-giver (semantic_range)
H4100 מָה
Definition:

43;Joshua 22:16;Judges 8:1),מַהֿ,מַהּ,מֶה,מַּ(Exodus 4:2;Isaiah 3:15;Malachi 1:13;1 Chronicles 15:13; 2Chronicles 30:3),מָ(only inמָהֵםEzekiel 8:6Kt., Qr.מָה הֵם) — on the distinction in the use of th 43;Joshua 22:16;Judges 8:1),מַהֿ,מַהּ,מֶה,מַּ(Exodus 4:2;Isaiah 3:15;Malachi 1:13;1 Chronicles 15:13; 2Chronicles 30:3),מָ(only inמָהֵםEzekiel 8:6Kt., Qr.מָה הֵם) — on the distinction in the use of th

Possible Meanings:
  • what? (semantic_range)
H7231 רָבַב
Definition:

29;Isaiah 6:12,רָ֑בָּהGenesis 18:20(Hosea 9:7 readוְרֹב הַמּשְׂטֵמָה[forᵑ0׳וְרַבָּה מ]ᵐ5. We Now); elsewhere only 3 pluralרַבּוּ1 Samuel 25:10+,רָ֑בּוּJeremiah 46:23+2t. [other forms supplied byרבהq. 29;Isaiah 6:12,רָ֑בָּהGenesis 18:20(Hosea 9:7 readוְרֹב הַמּשְׂטֵמָה[forᵑ0׳וְרַבָּה מ]ᵐ5. We Now); elsewhere only 3 pluralרַבּוּ1 Samuel 25:10+,רָ֑בּוּJeremiah 46:23+2t. [other forms supplied byרבהq.

Possible Meanings:
  • shoot (semantic_range)
H6862 צַר
Definition:

Or tsar {tsawr}; fromtsarar; narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. Trouble); also a pebble (as intsor); (transitive) an opponent (as crowding) -- adversary, afflicted(-tion), a Or tsar {tsawr}; fromtsarar; narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. Trouble); also a pebble (as intsor); (transitive) an opponent (as crowding) -- adversary, afflicted(-tion), a

Possible Meanings:
  • knives of flint (semantic_range)
H7227 רַב
Definition:

By contracted fromrabab; abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) -- (in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, lon By contracted fromrabab; abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) -- (in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, lon

H6965 קוּם
Definition:

1.קוּם628verbarise, stand up, stand; — (Late Hebrew in derived species and derivatives; Phoenician Hiph`il Participle andמקםplace; Arabicstand, rise, Ethiopicstand, stop; Sabeanמקם,place, HomChrest. 1 1.קוּם628verbarise, stand up, stand; — (Late Hebrew in derived species and derivatives; Phoenician Hiph`il Participle andמקםplace; Arabicstand, rise, Ethiopicstand, stop; Sabeanמקם,place, HomChrest. 1

H5921 עַל
Definition:

“The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). From the opening verses, עַל marks God’s sovereignty above the chaotic deep, foreshadowing His orderly governance of the “The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). From the opening verses, עַל marks God’s sovereignty above the chaotic deep, foreshadowing His orderly governance of the

Possible Meanings:
  • upon (semantic_range)
  • on account of (semantic_range)
  • to (semantic_range)

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