Salmos 140
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 140
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS Several names for God are used in this Psalm. YHWH, Ps. 140:1,4,6 (twice),7,8,12 God (i.e., El), Ps. 140:6 Adon, Ps. 140:7 SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C. D. SPECIAL TOPIC: LORD (Adon and Kurios) Notice how different persons are characterized. the unfaithful evil men, Ps. 140:1a violent men, Ps. 140:1b,4b devise evil things in their hearts, Ps. 140:2a stir up wars, Ps. 140:2b sharpen their tongues as a serpent, Ps. 140:3a poison of a viper is under their lips, Ps. 140:3b wicked men, Ps. 140:4a purposed to trip, Ps. 140:4c the proud have a hidden trap, Ps. 140:5a spread a net, Ps. 140:5b set snares, Ps. 140:5c Israel's Deity rescues, Ps. 140:1a perseveres, Ps. 140:1b,4b keep, Ps. 140:4a He is El, Ps. 140:6a gives ear, Ps. 140:6b He is the strength of salvation, Ps. 140:7a (only here in the OT) protector in battle, Ps. 140:7b maintain the cause of the afflicted, Ps. 140:12a justice for the poor, Ps. 140:12b faithful followers the afflicted, Ps. 140:12a the poor, Ps. 140:12b the righteous give thanks, Ps. 140:13a the upright dwell with God, Ps. 140:13b This Psalm clearly illustrates "the two ways" (cf. Deut. 30:15,19; Psalm 1). The Mosaic covenant was performance based, unlike the New Covenant of Jer. 31:31-34. This Psalm, like Psalm 139, has a large number of hapax legomena and rare words. The Masoretic scholars suggested three changes (Qere) to the MT, one in Ps. 140:10,11,13, which show confusion in the text.
Salmos 140:1-3
140:1-3,4-5 These two strophes are parallel in several ways. Ps.140:1 and 4 are prayers to God. The second line of both are IMPERFECTS used as JUSSIVES or even possibly an IMPERATIVE OF REQUEST. So the first VERB of Ps. 140:1, "rescue" (BDB 322, KB 321, Piel IMPERATIVE), is parallel to "keep" (BDB 1036, KB 1581, Qal IMPERATIVE) of Ps. 140:4. The second lines of both Ps. 140:1 and 4 are the same. The wicked are thus characterized in Ps. 140:2-3 and 4c-5. 140:2 "Who devise evil things" This is characteristic of those who do not follow God (cf. Ps. 7:14; 36:4; 52:2; Prov. 3:29; 6:14; Isa. 59:4; Hosea 7:15; Mic. 2:1; Nah. 1:9). By their actions you know who their father is (cf. John 8:39-44)! By their fruit you will know them (cf. Matt. 7:15-23)! The same VERB, "devise" (BDB 362, KB 359, Qal PERFECT) is repeated in Ps. 140:4c. ▣ "in their hearts" This is a Hebrew idiom for the whole person. See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HEART. ▣ "continually stir up wars" "continually gather together for war" "stir up wars continually" "day after day they stir up bitter strife" "day after day they harbour strife" "they plot war every day" "always stirring up quarrels" "continually do they stir up contention" "all day long they kept waging wars" It is obvious that there are two Hebrew roots interpreted. MT, "stir up wars," has Qal IMPERFECT of BDB 158, KB 184 II ‒ רוג suggested emendation to "stir up strife," Piel IMPERFECT of KB 202 ‒ הרג In context this would refer to interpersonal strife, not armed conflict between nations (see NET Bible, #21, p. 1005). It is possible that as Psalm 139 may have been written against the judicial backdrop of the charge of idolatry, so too, Psalm 140 (esp. Ps. 140:12). SPECIAL TOPIC: CONSEQUENCES OF IDOLATRY 140:3 Notice the number of words with שׁ in them (i.e., sound play). VERB, "make sharp" (BDB 1041) NOUN, "tongues" (BDB 546) NOUN, "serpent" (BDB 638) NOUN, "vipers" (BDB 747) their lips (BDB 973) All are meant to play on the hissing sound of a snake. Paul quotes this verse in Rom. 3:13 as one of many examples from the OT of mankind's sin (cf. Rom. 3:9-18,23). See note at Ps. 130:3-4. ▣ "viper" This NOUN (BDB 747, עכשׁוב, KB 824) is found only here in the OT. Most translations have "asp" or "viper" or "cobra" (TEV), but some (REB) have "spider" (BDB 747, עכבישׁ). This imagery of a vicious or poisonous bite is used of human speech in Ps. 57:4; 58:6-7.
Salmos 140:4-5
140:4-5 Notice the string of hunting images (cf. Ps. 9:15; 31:4; 35:7; 64:5; 119:110; 141:9-10; 142:3). This imagery is often used in a military sense (Jewish Study Bible, p. 1438). trip up my feet, Ps. 140:4c set a hidden trap, Ps. 140:5a set hidden cords, Ps. 140:5a spread a net by the road, Ps. 140:5b set snares 140:5,8 "Selah" See full note at Ps. 3:2.
Salmos 140:6-8
140:6-7 This is covenant language. The faithful follower calls on his faithful God for help and deliverance because he knows YHWH's character. Notice the prayer requests. rescue me, Ps. 140:1a preserve me, Ps. 140:1b keep me, Ps. 140:4a preserve me, Ps. 140:4b give ear, Ps. 140:6b do not grant the desires of the wicked, Ps. 140:8a do not promote their evil device, Ps. 140:8b may the mischief of their lips cover them, Ps. 140:9b may burning coals fall upon them, Ps. 140:10a may they be cast into the fire, Ps. 140:10b may they be cast into deep pits they cannot get out of, Ps. 140:10c may the slander not be established, Ps. 140:11a may evil hunt the violent man speedily, Ps. 140:11b These are a combination of IMPERATIVES, IMPERFECTS used as JUSSIVES and JUSSIVES. This Psalm is a prayer for justice to be done to evil, violent, wicked, proud, lying people! SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT) 140:8 "the desires of the wicked" This term (BDB 16, KB 539) is found only here in the OT. The psalmist prays that the "desires" of the wicked go unfulfilled. God gives the "desires" of the hearts of faithful followers because He places them there. Our "desires" (and our words) clearly reveal our hearts! ▣ "his evil device" This term (BDB 273, KB 273) is used in this sense in Ps. 31:13; 37:12.
Salmos 140:9-11
140:9 "the head" This Hebrew word (BDB 910, KB 1164) refers to the leader or organizer of the wicked, violent, lying, proud men who have plotted against the psalmist an idiom for being victorious Number 2 fits the context best. There are several " COLLECTIVE SINGULARS in this Psalm. SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAD 140:10 "fire" This is a symbol of judgment. SPECIAL TOPIC: FIRE ▣ NASB, NKJV "deep pits" NRSV, TEV, JPSOA "pits" "mire" "miry depths" This term (BDB 243, KB 553) occurs only here. BDB has the meaning of "watery pit" or "flood." KB has "bottomless pit." Water was an ancient symbol of chaos. It is also possible that the imagery of this verse refers to a fiery Sheol (cf. Deut. 32:22 and Peshitta translation). SPECIAL TOPIC: SHEOL SPECIAL TOPIC: WATERS 140:11 "speedily" This term (BDB 191, KB 548) occurs only here in the OT. It seems to mean "blow upon blow," therefore, it denotes violence. The NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 934, suggests that "speedily" implies that "the slanderer is to be destroyed before he can become established in the country" (i.e., Promised Land).
Salmos 140:12-13
140:12 "the afflicted. . .the poor" These are often used in the Psalter for faithful followers (cf. Ps. 9:18; 34:6; 40:17; 70:5; 86:1; 109:22). This may be the origin of Jesus' imagery in Matt. 5:3-4. ▣ "justice" See SPECIAL TOPIC: JUSTICE. 140:13 "righteous" See SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUS ▣ "will give thanks" This VERB (BDB 392, KB 389, Hiphil IMPERFECT, in the Hiphil stem, can mean: give thanks confess acknowledge This is the expected response of the worshiper of YHWH in every and all circumstances! SPECIAL TOPIC: THANKSGIVING ▣ "Your name" See SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH. ▣ "will dwell in Your presence" This VERB (BDB 442, KB 444, Qal IMPERFECT) could refer to worshiping in the temple an afterlife with God Only context can tell; see Ps. 11:7; 16:11; 17:15; 23:6; 31:20.