King James Version
Psalms 62
12 verses with commentary
My Soul Waits for God Alone
To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. Truly: or, Only waiteth: Heb. is silent
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The Hebrew 'dumiyyah' (silence/waiting/stillness) before God demonstrates restful trust, not anxious striving. 'My salvation cometh from him' identifies God as source, not circumstances or human allies. This waiting in silence contrasts with the noise of enemies (vv. 3-4), demonstrating that faith's posture is receptive stillness before God's sovereign action.
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(1) **Waiteth upon God.**—Literally, *unto God *(*is*)* silence my soul. *(Comp. Psalm 22:2; Psalm 39:2; Psalm 65:1.) The LXX. and Vulg., “shall be in subjection to,” which no doubt gives one side of the feeling; but another may be illustrated by Wordsworth’s—
“The holy time is *quiet *as a nun
*Breathless *with adoration.”
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**2. lift up my hands--**a gesture of prayer (Psa 63:4; 141:2).
**oracle--**place of speaking (Ex 25:22; Nu 7:89), where God answered His people (compare Psa 5:7).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 62
Chapter Outline
David's confidence in God.(1-7)
No trust to be put in worldly things.(8-12)
**Verses 1-7**
We are in the way both of duty and comfort, when our souls wait upon God; when we cheerfully give up ourselves, and all our affairs, to his will and wisdom; when we leave ourselves to all the ways of his providence, and patiently expect the event, with full satisf...
Read full commentary →He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. defence: Heb. high place
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KJV Study Commentary
The threefold description of God as 'rock,' 'salvation,' and 'defence' (high tower) emphasizes security's divine source. 'I shall not be greatly moved' acknowledges possible shaking without ultimate overthrow. The qualification 'greatly' shows realism—trials may disturb but won't destroy, because foundation rests on God who cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28).
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(2) **Defence.**—Properly, *high tower, *as so often. The metaphor is important here from the contrast with the *tottering wall *of next verse.
**Shall not be greatly moved . . .**—*i.e. *(as in Psalm 37:24), *shall not be made to totter or fall.*
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**3. Draw me not away--**implies punishment as well as death (compare Psa 26:9). Hypocrisy is the special wickedness mentioned.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 62
Chapter Outline
David's confidence in God.(1-7)
No trust to be put in worldly things.(8-12)
**Verses 1-7**
We are in the way both of duty and comfort, when our souls wait upon God; when we cheerfully give up ourselves, and all our affairs, to his will and wisdom; when we leave ourselves to all the ways of his providence, and patiently expect the event, with full satisf...
Read full commentary →How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.
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KJV Study Commentary
The question to enemies 'How long will ye imagine mischief' indicates weariness with persistent opposition. The imagery of enemies as attackers assaulting a 'bowing wall' and 'tottering fence' suggests perceived vulnerability. Yet this may be ironic—they see David as weak, but he stands secure in God. Their destruction of one 'already slain' indicates futile assault on one whom God guards.
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(3) **Imagine mischief.**—This is the Rabbinical rendering of a word that occurs only here. The LXX. have “fall upon”; Vulg., “rush upon,” a meaning supported by an Arabic root meaning to *storm *or *assault, *and is so far preferable to Aquila’s and Jerome’s “plot against,” and Symmachus’ “labour in vain,” or Syriac, “act foolishly.”
**Ye shall be slain.**—The reading varies, the Tiberian school ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
4. The imprecation is justified in Psa 28:5. The force of the passage is greatly enhanced by the accumulation of terms describing their sin.
**endeavours--**points out their deliberate sinfulness.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 62
Chapter Outline
David's confidence in God.(1-7)
No trust to be put in worldly things.(8-12)
**Verses 1-7**
We are in the way both of duty and comfort, when our souls wait upon God; when we cheerfully give up ourselves, and all our affairs, to his will and wisdom; when we leave ourselves to all the ways of his providence, and patiently expect the event, with full satisf...
Read full commentary →They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah. inwardly: Heb. in their inward parts
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KJV Study Commentary
Enemies' counsel to 'cast him down from his excellency' indicates assault on David's position/dignity. 'Delight in lies... bless with their mouth but curse inwardly' reveals duplicity—public honor masking private hostility. This anticipates warnings against those who honor God with lips while hearts remain far (Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 15:8), showing that hypocrisy characterized God's enemies from an...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(4) **Their mouth.**—Literally, *his mouth. They bless each with his mouth, *&c
**Excellency.**—Rather, *height, *carrying on the metaphor of preceding verse.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
5. Disregard of God's judgments brings a righteous punishment.
**destroy ... build ... up--**The positive strengthened by the negative form.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 62
Chapter Outline
David's confidence in God.(1-7)
No trust to be put in worldly things.(8-12)
**Verses 1-7**
We are in the way both of duty and comfort, when our souls wait upon God; when we cheerfully give up ourselves, and all our affairs, to his will and wisdom; when we leave ourselves to all the ways of his providence, and patiently expect the event, with full satisf...
Read full commentary →My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.</strong><br><br>This verse captures the essence of patient, exclusive trust in God. The Hebrew word for "wait" (<em>damam</em>) means to be silent, still, or at rest—not passive resignation but active, quiet confidence. David commands his own soul (<em>nephesh</em>), his inner being, to rest solely upon God. The word "only" ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(5) As in Psalm 62:1. *Truly to God, be silence my soul. *The state of resignation is one which can only be preserved by prayer. We may *say, I will, *but can only *feel *it through prayer.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**6. supplications--**or, "cries for mercy."
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 62
Chapter Outline
David's confidence in God.(1-7)
No trust to be put in worldly things.(8-12)
**Verses 1-7**
We are in the way both of duty and comfort, when our souls wait upon God; when we cheerfully give up ourselves, and all our affairs, to his will and wisdom; when we leave ourselves to all the ways of his providence, and patiently expect the event, with full satisf...
Read full commentary →He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.</strong><br><br>This verse parallels verse 2 with a crucial difference: verse 2 says "I shall not be greatly moved," while verse 6 declares absolute immovability—"I shall not be moved." This progression reveals growing faith. The Hebrew for "rock" (<em>tsur</em>) depicts God as a massive cliff or boulder providing...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
7. The repetition of "heart" denotes his sincerity.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 62
Chapter Outline
David's confidence in God.(1-7)
No trust to be put in worldly things.(8-12)
**Verses 1-7**
We are in the way both of duty and comfort, when our souls wait upon God; when we cheerfully give up ourselves, and all our affairs, to his will and wisdom; when we leave ourselves to all the ways of his providence, and patiently expect the event, with full satisf...
Read full commentary →In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The refrain 'In God is my salvation and my glory' grounds identity in divine action, not accomplishment. 'Rock of my strength' repeats the foundation metaphor while 'refuge' adds the dimension of shelter. This dual imagery—foundation and covering—depicts God's comprehensive protection. Taking refuge in God is both theological conviction and practical response to threat.
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(7) **In God.**—Literally, *upon God, *as in Psalm 7:10.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
8. The distinction made between the people.
**their strength--**and the anointed--may indicate Absalom's rebellion as the occasion.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 62
Chapter Outline
David's confidence in God.(1-7)
No trust to be put in worldly things.(8-12)
**Verses 1-7**
We are in the way both of duty and comfort, when our souls wait upon God; when we cheerfully give up ourselves, and all our affairs, to his will and wisdom; when we leave ourselves to all the ways of his providence, and patiently expect the event, with full satisf...
Read full commentary →Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The shift to exhortation ('Trust in him at all times') indicates David shares tested wisdom with others. 'Ye people' broadens from personal testimony to congregational teaching. 'Pour out your heart before him' encourages emotional honesty with God. The concluding affirmation 'God is a refuge for us' uses plural, showing individual faith experience has corporate dimension.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
9. The special prayer for the people sustains this view.
**feed them--**as a shepherd (Psa 23:1, &c.).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 8-12**
Those who have found the comfort of the ways of God themselves, will invite others into those ways; we shall never have the less for others sharing with us. the good counsel given is, to trust wholly in God. We must so trust in him at all times, as not at any time to put that trust in ourselves, or in any creature, which is to be put in him only. Trust in him to guide us when i...
Read full commentary →Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity. altogether: or, alike
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KJV Study Commentary
The vanity of human stations—'men of low degree' and 'men of high degree'—levels all humanity before God. Being 'lighter than vanity' when weighed in balances indicates complete worthlessness apart from God. This echoes Ecclesiastes's 'vanity of vanities' (Ecclesiastes 1:2) and anticipates Paul's teaching that all have sinned (Romans 3:23), showing human merit cannot bear weight in divine scales.
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(9) **Are vanity.**—Or, *mere breath.*
**To be laid in the balance.**—Literally, *in the balances to go up, *which may mean *in the scales they must go up, i.e., *kick the beam. But a slight change in one letter gives the more probable, *when weighed in the scales.*
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 8-12**
Those who have found the comfort of the ways of God themselves, will invite others into those ways; we shall never have the less for others sharing with us. the good counsel given is, to trust wholly in God. We must so trust in him at all times, as not at any time to put that trust in ourselves, or in any creature, which is to be put in him only. Trust in him to guide us when i...
Read full commentary →Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
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KJV Study Commentary
The warning against trusting in oppression and robbery identifies two temptations—using power unjustly or accumulating wealth wickedly. 'Become not vain in robbery' warns that ill-gotten gains produce emptiness. The caution about riches increasing ('if riches increase, set not your heart upon them') addresses prosperity's spiritual danger, anticipating Christ's warnings about wealth's deceitfulnes...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(10) **If riches increase.**—Even if by honest means you grow rich, distrust your wealth.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
PSALM 29 Psa 29:1-11. Trust in God is encouraged by the celebration of His mighty power as illustrated in His dominion over the natural world, in some of its most terrible and wonderful exhibitions.
**1. Give--**or, "ascribe" (De 32:3).
**mighty--**or, "sons of the mighty" (Psa 89:6). Heavenly beings, as angels.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 8-12**
Those who have found the comfort of the ways of God themselves, will invite others into those ways; we shall never have the less for others sharing with us. the good counsel given is, to trust wholly in God. We must so trust in him at all times, as not at any time to put that trust in ourselves, or in any creature, which is to be put in him only. Trust in him to guide us when i...
Read full commentary →God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God. power: or, strength
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KJV Study Commentary
God's speaking 'once... twice' indicates emphatic revelation—truth firmly established (Job 33:14). The two truths are God's power and mercy (v. 12). Power without mercy yields tyranny; mercy without power yields sentimentality. God's character unites both, demonstrated supremely in the cross where justice and mercy kiss (Psalm 85:10).
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(11) **Once; twice.**—The usual Hebrew mode of emphasising a numerical statement, and one growing naturally out of the structure of the verse, which loves a climax. (Comp. Proverbs 6:16-19.) The union of power and love is proved to the poet by the fairness and justice mentioned in the last clause.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
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Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**2. name--**as (Psa 5:11; 8:1).
**beauty of holiness--**the loveliness of a spiritual worship, of which the perceptible beauty of the sanctuary worship was but a type.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 8-12**
Those who have found the comfort of the ways of God themselves, will invite others into those ways; we shall never have the less for others sharing with us. the good counsel given is, to trust wholly in God. We must so trust in him at all times, as not at any time to put that trust in ourselves, or in any creature, which is to be put in him only. Trust in him to guide us when i...
Read full commentary →Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.
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KJV Study Commentary
The affirmation 'Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy' balances verse 11's power. The foundation for final judgment appears: 'thou renderest to every man according to his work.' This appears to contradict salvation by grace until recognizing that believers' works flow from grace, tested by fire (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). God's mercy determines standing; works evidence genuine faith.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**3. The voice of the Lord--**audible exhibition of His power in the tempest, of which thunder is a specimen, but not the uniform or sole example.
**the waters--**the clouds or vapors (Psa 18:11; Jr 10:13).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 8-12**
Those who have found the comfort of the ways of God themselves, will invite others into those ways; we shall never have the less for others sharing with us. the good counsel given is, to trust wholly in God. We must so trust in him at all times, as not at any time to put that trust in ourselves, or in any creature, which is to be put in him only. Trust in him to guide us when i...
Read full commentary →