Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 17:4
Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept [me from] the paths of the destroyer.
4. As for the works of men, by the word of thy lips
I have shunned the paths of the violent.
In regard to his behaviour as a man among men, he has obeyed the Divine precepts, and marked and shunned the ways of violent men, avoiding their example and society. God’s commandments have been his preservation, supplying the rule and the strength for his conduct. ‘The paths of the violent’ are the opposite of the ‘path of life,’ Psa 16:11. (Pro 1:19; Pro 2:11-19, &c.). Robbery with violence is mentioned as the commonest form of wrong doing to neighbours (Jer 7:11; Eze 18:10). For illustration of the verse from David’s life see 1Sa 25:32 ff; 1Sa 24:10 ff.; cp. Psa 7:3 ff.
The P.B.V., Because of men’s works, that are done against the words of thy lips, is untenable.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Concerning the works of men – In respect to the works or doings of men. The reference is here probably to the ordinary or common doings of mankind, or to what generally characterizes the conduct of men. As their conduct is so commonly, and so characteristically wicked, wickedness may be spoken of as their work, and it is to this doubtless that the psalmist refers. In respect to the sinful courses or paths to which men are so prone, he says that he had kept himself from them. This is in accordance with what he says in the previous verse, that he had given no occasion by his conduct for the treatment which he had received at the hands of his enemies.
By the word of thy lips – Not by his own strength; not by any power which he himself had, but by the commands and promises of God – by what had proceeded from his mouth. The reference is doubtless to all that God had spoken: to the law which prescribed his duty, and to the promises which God had given to enable him to walk in the path of uprightness. He had relied on the word of God as inculcating duty; he had submitted to it as authority; he had found encouragement in it in endeavoring to do right.
I have kept me – I have preserved myself. I have so guarded my conduct that I have not fallen into the sins which are so common among men.
The paths of the destroyer – The paths which the destroyer treads; the course of life which such men lead. The idea is, not that he had been able to save himself from violence at their hands, but that he had been enabled to avoid their mode of life. The word rendered destroyer is from a verb which means to break, to rend, to scatter, and would properly refer to acts of violence and lawlessness. He had kept himself from the modes of life of the violent and the lawless; that is, he had been enabled to lead a peaceful and quiet lift. He had given no occasion to his enemies to treat him as a violent, a lawless, a wicked man.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 17:4
Concerning the works of men, by the word of Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
Young men warned against unsound principles
Many are the nets that are spread for the souls of men, especially of young men. By means of evil associations and unsound or unscriptural principles. Of these latter we will speak now. They may be classified under three heads.
I. The principle of expediency or compromise. Things are done to serve a present purpose without regard to their being right or wrong, or whether Christian rectitude approve or condemn.
II. Self-indulgence, or animal gratification. Here he is in danger of being misled both by his equals and by himself. It is said that appetites were given, not to be crushed but gratified; that religious requirements and natural tendencies, emanating both from God, can never be incompatible with each other, and that asceticism and austerity are signs, not of a true but of a false religion. But in this case, as in every other, be who proves too much proves nothing. The natural appetites were designed not merely for gratification, but for moral discipline. They are not to be gratified alone, but subordinated, and due subordination is not asceticism, nor proper control of the affections, austerity. Religious requirements harmonise with natural tendencies, in that they impose a restriction at the very point where satisfaction terminates and excess begins: they apply reasonable and salutary restraints. Regard first the culture of the soul and you will never compromise the welfare of the body; preserve only what is due to God and you will be in little danger of withholding what is due to man.
III. The principle of false appearances or false assumptions. For it adopts a fallacious standard, superseding Gods Word by popular opinion. It is peculiarly necessary to guard against this in an age where names, self-assumed, are a prolific source of deception, and evil often puts on and parades the semblance of good. It is the way of the world, that lives without and forgets Him. It is the way of those who are often men of high honour, but of low principle; of strict uprightness, but of lax morality; men of reputable conduct, but of no religion. And especially avoid that path of the destroyer amidst the works of men, and of which Solomon says, Let not thine heart decline to her ways. The number and effrontery of those who yield to this temptation make it peculiarly subtle and fatal. The young man, new to the world, sees what others do, and that they are not the worse thought of for it, nor think at all worse of themselves; he hears some avowing it and others vindicating it–how shall he escape? Only by the word of Thy lips: that word hid in the heart, and its principles known and embraced. So shall you be enabled to stand in the evil day. (Thomas Dale, M. A.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 4. The paths of the destroyer.] Some render, hard or difficult paths, the sense of which is given above. But the passage is exceedingly obscure. My old Psalter translates and paraphrases as follows: –
Trans. That my mouthe speke noght the werkes of men, for the wordes of thi lippes I haf keped hard wayse.
Par. That es, that nothing passe of my mouthe bot at falles to the louyng of the; noght til werkes of men, that dos o gaynes thy wil; als to say, I spak noght bot gude; and for the wordes of thi lippes, that es, to ful fil the wordes that thi prophetes saide; I kepe hard waies of verteus and of tribulacioun, the qwilk men thynk hard; and for thi thai leve the hard way til heven, and takes the soft way til hel; but it es ful hard at the end.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Concerning the works of men: concerning my care and caution about my words, I have now spoken, Psa 17:3, now I may say the like concerning my works. As for the works which men generally practise. Or, because of (as the prefix lamed is oft used, as Gen 2:23; Num 16:34; Jer 4:31; 22:10; 23:9)
the works of men. So the sense may be this, Observing and considering the quality of the works of the men of this age, with whom I converse, or of all mankind, some few excepted; considering, I say, how wicked, and unreasonable, and pernicious they are, not only to others, but also to themselves; I was resolved to take more care in the ordering of my own actions.
By the word of thy lips, i.e. by the help of thy blessed word, and the excellent rules, promises, and threatenings thereof, which by deep and frequent meditation I have hid and fixed in mine heart, as the best antidote against sin and temptation, Psa 119:9,11.
I have kept; so the same verb is used with the like supplement Jos 6:18, which also is in a manner included in the verb. Or, I have observed, to wit, so as to avoid them.
The paths, or ways, i.e. the customs and practices, or the imitation of them; as may be gathered from the next verse, where he prays to be kept in Gods paths, which are opposed to these paths.
Of the destroyer; or, of the violent man; such as Saul and his courtiers and soldiers have showed themselves toward me. Although their rage and violence against me might have tempted me to have repaid them in their own coin, yet I forbore it, and spared both others and Saul himself, when his life was at my mercy, 1Sa 24; 26;; and this I did in obedience to thy word, which required me to honour and preserve the Lords anointed.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. works of mensinfulpractices.
by the word of thy lipsasa guide (Psa 119:9; Psa 119:11;Psa 119:95).
destroyerviolent man.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Concerning the works of men,…. Of wicked men, as to what respects and concerns them, or in the midst of them; in the midst of a wicked generation of men, and their filthy conversation; who appear to be so,
by the word of thy lips; the law of God, the Scriptures of truth, the rule and standard of faith and practice, which show what works are good and what are not; by the use, help, and benefit of this;
I have kept [me from] the paths of the destroyer; such is the devil, who was a murderer from the beginning; antichrist, whose name is Abaddon and Apollyon, both which signify a destroyer; false teachers, and all wicked men: the “paths” of such are their wicked principles and practices, their damnable errors and heresies, their sins and lusts, which make up the broad road that leads to destruction: these the psalmist “kept” or “observed” a, for the words “me” and “from” are not in the original text; and the sense is, that he took notice of them, and avoided them, and, as a faithful prince and magistrate, forbad his subjects walking in them, and restrained them from them, making the word of God the rule of his conduct.
a “custodivi”, Pagninus, Montanus; “observavi”, Musculus, Piscator, Cocceius, Gejerus; so Ainsworth; “vel prohibui”, Muis.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
4. As for the works of men, by the word of thy lips. Interpreters explain this verse in different senses. Some thinking that the letter ב, beth, which commonly signifies in or by, is taken for against, render it thus: As for the works of men which they practice against thy word. But I rather incline to the opinion of others who consider that there is here commended a right judgment of the actions of men which is formed according to the rule of the word of God. There are some shrewd and ingenious persons who carefully mark the works of men, but they do not judge of them according to the word of God. What we have as yet said does not, however, fully give us the sense of the passage. We must still consider what the Psalmist means when he speaks of the paths of the destroyer. (349) Some think he refers to the men of his own company, who, if he had not restrained them, would have instantly rushed like robbers to commit depredation; since being reduced to the greatest distress, and seeing no prospect of an alteration to the better in their affairs, they were become bold through despair; and we know how sharp a spur necessity is in goading men forward in any course. But this exposition seems to me to be forced, and therefore I rather refer the words to his enemies. Farther, there is a diversity of opinion among interpreters with respect to the meaning of the word watched or observed. Some understand it in this sense, that David had done his duty in strenuously opposing outrageous men, and those who were wickedly engaged in the work of disturbing the repose and tranquillity of their fellow-men. (350) Others understand it thus, that he was careful to distinguish between good and evil, or right and wrong, that he might not be corrupted by bad examples, (351) but avoid them, and, on the contrary, practice those things which he saw to be agreeable to the word of God. But David, I have no doubt, had a different meaning, and intended to declare, that although wicked and malicious men provoked him to evil, he had, nevertheless, been always restrained by the word of God, so that he kept himself from exercising violence and inflicting injuries, or from rendering evil for evil. (352) He therefore tells us, that whatever may have been the works of men, he had been always so devoted to the word of God, and so hung, as it were, upon his mouth, that he could not think of allowing himself, when provoked by the injuries his enemies inflicted on him, to act towards them as they acted towards him. We know how severe a temptation it is, and how difficult to overcome, to disregard the manner in which men behave themselves towards us, and to consider only what God forbids or commands us. Even those who are naturally inclined to gentleness and humanity, (353) who desire to do good to all men, and wish to hurt nobody, whenever they are provoked, burst forth into a revengeful mood, carried away by a blind impetuosity; especially when we see all right and equity overthrown, the confusion so blinds us, that we begin to howl with the wolves. If, therefore, we would have a good rule for governing ourselves, when our enemies, by their mischievous actions, provoke us to treat them in a similar manner, let us learn, after the example of David, to meditate upon the word of God, and to keep our eyes fixed upon it. By this means our minds will be preserved from ever being blinded, and we shall always avoid the paths of wickedness, seeing God will not only keep our affections under restraint by his commandments, but will also train them to patience by his promises. He withholds us from doing evil to our neighbors, (354) not only by forbidding us, but by declaring, at the same time, that he will take into his own hand the execution of vengeance on those who injure us, (355) he admonishes us to “give place unto wrath,” (Rom 12:19.)
(349) Or, the paths of the violent. Literally of him who, by violent means, makes a breach in, or breaks down a wall or fence, the word פריף, pharits, being derived from פרף, pharats, to break down, or break through. It is referred by Calvin to the violent and wicked conduct of his enemies towards him.
(350) “ De troubler le repos et la tranquillite des autres.” — Fr.
(351) “ Afin de n’estre point corrompu par mauvals exemples.” — Fr.
(352) “or have kept me from the paths, etc. or observed the paths, viz., so as to avoid them.” — Poole’s Annotations.
(353) “ Car mesme ceux qui sont de nature enclins a debonnairete.” — Fr.
(354) “ De real faire a nos prochains.” — Fr.
(355) “ Qu’il prendra en main la vengence contre ceux qui nous outragent.” — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(4) Concerning the works of meni.e., as regards the actions of men, or in ordinary human actions; for the expression comp. Job. 31:33; and Hos. 6:7, where the margin has Adam.
By the word of thy lips.Some take this clause closely with the foregoing, and render, against the word, &c; but the Authorised Version is better. The Divine standard for action, not the human or worldly, influences the writer.
I have kept me.Literally, I for my part have observed ways of violence. But usage (Pro. 2:20) almost compels us to understand by this, I have kept ways of violence, which is impossible here. Hence we have either to give the verb the unusual sense guard against, or suppose an error in the text.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. There is an historic background to the allusions of this verse. David was leading a fugitive life on the southern boundary of Judea, and in Arabia and Philistia, exiled from his country, proscribed by government, hunted by Saul, and compelled to live most of his time in the neighbourhood of robbers. It was a wild border life; but the word of God had kept him from going in their paths or adopting their habits.
Concerning the works of men As to the doings of men; that is, the common practices of men who follow not God. Compare “course of this world.” Eph 2:2.
Kept from the paths of the destroyer Literally, I have watched the paths of the destroyer; that is, with a view to avoid them.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘As for the works of men, by the word of your lips,
I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.
My steps have held fast to your paths,
My feet have not slipped.’
When he compares his behaviour with the behaviour of others he can justly claim that because he has heard YHWH’s word from His lips (through His Law) he has kept himself from being an unjustly violent man, even though none might have had better excuse. For he was a trained fighting man, had a band of men at his call, and had been unjustly treated. Yet he has ensured that his steps held fast firmly to YHWH’s paths, and his feet never slipped. What we suffer provides no excuse for how we behave.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
This is blessed, as it concerns our glorious Surety; for God engaged to carry him through his whole work; see Psa 89:21-24 . And it is blessed also, as it concerns his redeemed in him. The Redeemer committed them to the Father in the moment of his departure. And God our Father hath engaged to keep them also for Jesus’s sake: see Joh 17:11 ; 1Pe 1:5 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 17:4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept [me from] the paths of the destroyer.
Ver. 4. Concerning the works of men ] sc. Which ought to be done by them according to thy law. Or, which they are wont to do, whether right or wrong, I have not now to say, but this I can safely say by thy mercy, that
By the word of thy lips
I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
men. Hebrew. ‘adam. App-14.
kept me from = I have marked.
the destroyer = the oppressor, or violent one. Only here in the Psalms.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
works: Psa 14:1-3, Gen 6:5, Gen 6:11, Job 15:16, Job 31:33, 1Co 3:3, 1Pe 4:2, 1Pe 4:3
word: Psa 119:9-11, Pro 2:10-15, Mat 4:4, Mat 4:7, Mat 4:10, Joh 17:17, Eph 6:17, Jam 1:18, Rev 12:11
destroyer: 1Pe 5:8, Rev 9:11, *marg.
Reciprocal: Job 33:22 – his life Psa 18:21 – For I Pro 2:12 – deliver Pro 6:22 – General Joh 8:23 – Ye are from Gal 5:19 – the works 1Jo 4:5 – are 1Jo 5:18 – keepeth
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 17:4. Concerning the works of men That is, the works which men generally practise: observing how unreasonable, wicked, and pernicious they are, not only to others, but also to themselves, I have been resolved to take more care in the ordering of my actions. This he says, to show that he had been as careful to abstain from sinful actions as from sinful words, and in all respects to do his duty to God and man. By the word of thy lips By the help of thy blessed word, and the excellent precepts, promises, and threatenings thereof, which, by deep and frequent meditation, I have hid and fixed in my heart, as the rule of my actions, the guide of my life, and the best antidote against sin and temptation, Psa 119:9; Psa 119:11. I have kept me from the paths Hebrew, , shamarti arechoth, I have watched, or observed, that is, in order to avoid, the paths, or ways of the destroyer. The ways of sin are the ways of the destroyer, that is, of the devil, whose name is Abaddon, and Apollyon, or destroyer, and who ruins souls by decoying them into these ways. Now, if we would shun them, we must attend to the word of God as our rule and guide, and in order thereto, must understand, believe, and hide it in our heart. If the word be not in our heart at all, or if it be not there in such a manner as to be ready at all times for use and application, we shall be in danger, at every turn, of going astray. Horne.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
17:4 Concerning the works of men, by the {e} word of thy lips I have kept [me from] the paths of the destroyer.
(e) Though the wicked provoked me to do evil for evil, yet your word kept me back.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
David also claimed to have kept free from sinners’ ways with the help of God’s Word. He had pursued God’s revealed way to live consistently.