King James Version
Psalms 16
11 verses with commentary
Preserve Me, O God
Michtam of David. Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. Michtam: or, A golden Psalm
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.</strong> This opening cry establishes the psalm's foundation—urgent prayer for divine preservation grounded in trust. Psalm 16 is profoundly Messianic, quoted in Acts 2:25-31 as prophesying Christ's resurrection, yet it begins with simple, desperate dependence on God.<br><br>"Preserve me" (שָׁמְרֵנִי/<em>shomreni</em>) means guard, keep, p...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(1) **For in thee.**—Better, *for I have found refuge in thee *(as in Psalm 7:1; Psalm 11:1). The verb is in the preterite.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
13-23. Job affirms his freedom from unfairness towards his servants, from harshness and oppression towards the needy.
**despise the cause--**refused to do them justice.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 16
This psalm begins with expressions of devotion, which may be applied to Christ; but ends with such confidence of a resurrection, as must be applied to Christ, and to him only.
--David flees to God's protection, with cheerful, believing confidence. Those who have avowed that the Lord is their Lord, should often put themselves in mind of what they have done, take the comfort of it, ...
Read full commentary →O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;
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KJV Study Commentary
David declares 'You are my Lord; I have no good apart from You.' This is comprehensive God-dependence. The Hebrew 'towb' (good) encompasses all blessing and welfare. This anticipates Jesus' teaching that 'no one is good except God alone' (Mark 10:18) and Paul's affirmation that every good gift comes from God (James 1:17). Reformed theology's doctrine of total depravity teaches that apart from God'...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(2) **Thou hast** **said.**—The text of this passage is exceedingly corrupt. This appears (1) from the actual existence of various readings, (2) by the variations in the ancient versions, both from the Hebrew and each other. It will be best to take Psalm 16:2-3 together first. The consensus of the ancient versions in favour of the first person, “I said,” instead of “thou hast said” (the italicised...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
13-23. Job affirms his freedom from unfairness towards his servants, from harshness and oppression towards the needy.
**despise the cause--**refused to do them justice.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 16
This psalm begins with expressions of devotion, which may be applied to Christ; but ends with such confidence of a resurrection, as must be applied to Christ, and to him only.
--David flees to God's protection, with cheerful, believing confidence. Those who have avowed that the Lord is their Lord, should often put themselves in mind of what they have done, take the comfort of it, ...
Read full commentary →But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
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KJV Study Commentary
David delights in 'the saints in the land' and 'the excellent ones.' The Hebrew 'qadosh' (saints/holy ones) and 'addir' (excellent/noble) describe those set apart for God. This anticipates the communion of saints—believers find fellowship and delight in God's people. Reformed theology emphasizes the vital importance of the church as Christ's body where believers edify one another (Hebrews 10:24-25...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
13-23. Job affirms his freedom from unfairness towards his servants, from harshness and oppression towards the needy.
**despise the cause--**refused to do them justice.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 16
This psalm begins with expressions of devotion, which may be applied to Christ; but ends with such confidence of a resurrection, as must be applied to Christ, and to him only.
--David flees to God's protection, with cheerful, believing confidence. Those who have avowed that the Lord is their Lord, should often put themselves in mind of what they have done, take the comfort of it, ...
Read full commentary →Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. hasten: or, give gifts to another
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KJV Study Commentary
The sorrows of idolaters 'multiply'—the Hebrew 'rabah' suggests exponential increase. David refuses participation in their worship: no drink offerings of blood, no taking idol names on his lips. This anticipates Paul's instruction to flee idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14). Reformed theology sees idolatry as the fundamental sin—replacing the Creator with creation—and warns that it enslaves rather than...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(4) **Their sorrows.**—This verse offers also great variation in the ancient versions. The literal text runs *Their sorrows *[or, *idols*] (*fem.*)* are multiplied *(*masc*)*; another they hasten *[or, *change*].* I will not pour out their libations from blood, and will not take their names upon my lips, *which, with one or two slight changes in the punctuation, becomes—
“They shall multiply their...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
13-23. Job affirms his freedom from unfairness towards his servants, from harshness and oppression towards the needy.
**despise the cause--**refused to do them justice.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 16
This psalm begins with expressions of devotion, which may be applied to Christ; but ends with such confidence of a resurrection, as must be applied to Christ, and to him only.
--David flees to God's protection, with cheerful, believing confidence. Those who have avowed that the Lord is their Lord, should often put themselves in mind of what they have done, take the comfort of it, ...
Read full commentary →The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. of mine: Heb. of my part
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.</strong> This verse employs inheritance and land allotment imagery to express complete satisfaction in God Himself as one's ultimate portion and possession. The concepts resonate with Israel's tribal land distributions but transcend physical inheritance to spiritual reality.<br><br>"The LORD is the portion ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(5) **The portion.**—There is allusion here to the Levitical portion (Numbers 18:20): “I am thy portion and thine inheritance.” The poet, whom we must imagine exiled from his actual inheritance in Canaan, consoles, and more than consoles himself, with the sublime thought that this “better part” could not be taken away from him. Perowne quotes Savonarola’s fine saying, “What must not he possess who...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
13-23. Job affirms his freedom from unfairness towards his servants, from harshness and oppression towards the needy.
**despise the cause--**refused to do them justice.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 16
This psalm begins with expressions of devotion, which may be applied to Christ; but ends with such confidence of a resurrection, as must be applied to Christ, and to him only.
--David flees to God's protection, with cheerful, believing confidence. Those who have avowed that the Lord is their Lord, should often put themselves in mind of what they have done, take the comfort of it, ...
Read full commentary →The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
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KJV Study Commentary
The 'lines' (Hebrew 'chebel'—measuring lines) have fallen in pleasant places, giving David a delightful inheritance. This alludes to land distribution in Canaan but points beyond to spiritual inheritance. The Hebrew 'nachalah' (inheritance) anticipates the New Testament teaching that believers inherit eternal life and all things in Christ (Romans 8:17, 1 Peter 1:4). Reformed theology emphasizes th...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(6) **The lines are fallen unto me.**—The allusion is to the “measuring cords” by which allotments of land were measured, and they are said to “fall” possibly because after the measurement the portions were distributed by “lot” (Joshua 17:5; Micah 2:5).
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
13-23. Job affirms his freedom from unfairness towards his servants, from harshness and oppression towards the needy.
**despise the cause--**refused to do them justice.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 16
This psalm begins with expressions of devotion, which may be applied to Christ; but ends with such confidence of a resurrection, as must be applied to Christ, and to him only.
--David flees to God's protection, with cheerful, believing confidence. Those who have avowed that the Lord is their Lord, should often put themselves in mind of what they have done, take the comfort of it, ...
Read full commentary →I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
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KJV Study Commentary
David blesses God who 'counsels' him, with his heart instructing him 'in the night.' The Hebrew 'ya'ats' (counsel) indicates wise guidance. The kidneys (Hebrew 'kilyot,' often translated 'heart') instructing at night suggests God's intimate, ongoing teaching even in rest. This anticipates the Holy Spirit's role as Counselor (John 14:26) who brings things to remembrance and guides into truth.
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(7) **Given me counsel . . .**—*i.e.*, led me to a right and happy choice of the way of life.
**My reins**—*i.e.*, my heart.
**Instruct me.**—Better, *warn me. *Conscience echoes the voice of God. The Hebrew word, from a root meaning *bind, *includes the sense of obligation. Once heard, the Divine monition becomes a law to the good man, and his own heart warns him of the slightest danger of deviat...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
24-25. Job asserts his freedom from trust in money (1Ti 6:17). Here he turns to his duty towards God, as before he had spoken of his duty towards himself and his neighbor. Covetousness is covert idolatry, as it transfers the heart from the Creator to the creature (Col 3:5). In Job 31:26, 27 he passes to overt idolatry.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 16
This psalm begins with expressions of devotion, which may be applied to Christ; but ends with such confidence of a resurrection, as must be applied to Christ, and to him only.
--David flees to God's protection, with cheerful, believing confidence. Those who have avowed that the Lord is their Lord, should often put themselves in mind of what they have done, take the comfort of it, ...
Read full commentary →I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.</strong> This verse reveals the secret of spiritual stability—continual God-consciousness resulting in unshakable security. It forms the hinge between trust declared (v.1-7) and confidence expressed (v.9-11).<br><br>"I have set" (שִׁוִּיתִי/<em>shivviti</em>) uses a verb meaning to place, set, put. ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(8) **At my right hand.**—Comp. Psalm 109:31; Psalm 110:5; Psalm 121:5. The image seems to be a military one: the shield of the right-hand comrade is a protection to the man beside him.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
24-25. Job asserts his freedom from trust in money (1Ti 6:17). Here he turns to his duty towards God, as before he had spoken of his duty towards himself and his neighbor. Covetousness is covert idolatry, as it transfers the heart from the Creator to the creature (Col 3:5). In Job 31:26, 27 he passes to overt idolatry.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 16
This psalm begins with expressions of devotion, which may be applied to Christ; but ends with such confidence of a resurrection, as must be applied to Christ, and to him only.
--David flees to God's protection, with cheerful, believing confidence. Those who have avowed that the Lord is their Lord, should often put themselves in mind of what they have done, take the comfort of it, ...
Read full commentary →Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. rest: Heb. dwell confidently
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.</strong> This verse marks the transition from trust declared (v.1-8) to confidence expressed (v.9-11). The word "therefore" (לָכֵן/<em>lakhen</em>) indicates logical consequence—because the LORD is at my right hand (v.8), therefore joy and confidence follow.<br><br>"My heart is glad" (שָׂמַח לִבִּי/<em>sa...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(9) **Glory.**—Heb., *khabôd; *but probably the poet wrote *khabed, i.e., liver, *or (comp. “reins” above, and the common use of the word “bowels”) *heart. *The LXX. paraphrase *tongue. *The passage was so quoted in Acts 2:25. (Comp. Psalm 57:8; Psalm 108:1.) “With the best member that I have” (Prayer Book).
**Shall rest in hope.**—This follows the Vulg. The LXX. also have “shall tabernacle in hop...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
26. If I looked unto the sun (as an object of worship) because he shined; or to the moon because she walked, &c. Sabaism (from tsaba, "the heavenly hosts") was the earliest form of false worship. God is hence called in contradistinction, "Lord of Sabaoth." The sun, moon, and stars, the brightest objects in nature, and seen everywhere, were supposed to be visible representatives of the invisibl...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 16
This psalm begins with expressions of devotion, which may be applied to Christ; but ends with such confidence of a resurrection, as must be applied to Christ, and to him only.
--David flees to God's protection, with cheerful, believing confidence. Those who have avowed that the Lord is their Lord, should often put themselves in mind of what they have done, take the comfort of it, ...
Read full commentary →For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.</strong> This verse stands at the psalm's theological center and provides the basis for Peter's resurrection sermon at Pentecost. Its dual meaning—David's confidence and Messianic prophecy—makes it crucial for Christian theology.<br><br>"For thou wilt not leave" (כִּי לֹא־תַעֲזֹב/<em>ki lo-t...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(10) **Leave.**—Rather, *commit, *or *give up.*
**In hell.**—Better, *to the unseen world *(Sheôl), as in Psalm 6:5, where see Note.
**Holy One.**—Better, *thy chosen, *or *favoured, *or *beloved One. *Heb., *chasîd, *which, starting from the idea of one standing in a state of covenant favour with Jehovah, gathers naturally, to this passive sense, an active one of living conformably to such a stat...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**27. enticed--**away from God to idolatry.
**kissed ... hand--**"adoration," literally means this. In worshipping they used to kiss the hand, and then throw the kiss, as it were, towards the object of worship (1Ki 19:18; Ho 13:2).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 16
This psalm begins with expressions of devotion, which may be applied to Christ; but ends with such confidence of a resurrection, as must be applied to Christ, and to him only.
--David flees to God's protection, with cheerful, believing confidence. Those who have avowed that the Lord is their Lord, should often put themselves in mind of what they have done, take the comfort of it, ...
Read full commentary →Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.</strong> This concluding verse moves from preservation through death (v.10) to abundant life beyond—both present reality and eternal promise. It's the psalm's climactic affirmation, expressing ultimate hope and satisfaction in God.<br><br>"Thou wilt shew me" (תּוֹדִיעֵ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(11) **There are.**—The italics in the Authorised Version spoil the triplet:—
“Thou wilt show me the path of life,
In thy presence fulness and joy,
At thy right hand pleasures for evermore.”
It is another image for the same thought which dominates the psalm—the thought of the happiness of being with God. The fair heritage, the serene happiness, the enduring pleasure always to be found at God’s rig...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
28. The Mosaic law embodied subsequently the feeling of the godly from the earliest times against idolatry, as deserving judicial penalties: being treason against the Supreme King (De 13:9; 17:2-7; Eze 8:14-18). This passage therefore does not prove Job to have been subsequent to Moses.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 16
This psalm begins with expressions of devotion, which may be applied to Christ; but ends with such confidence of a resurrection, as must be applied to Christ, and to him only.
--David flees to God's protection, with cheerful, believing confidence. Those who have avowed that the Lord is their Lord, should often put themselves in mind of what they have done, take the comfort of it, ...
Read full commentary →