Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 34:20
He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
20. As breaking the bones is a forcible metaphor for the torture of pain that racks the bodily framework (Psa 51:8; Isa 38:13), or for cruel oppression (Mic 3:3), so keeping them denotes the safe preservation of the man’s whole being. See note on Psa 6:2. This passage as well as Exo 12:46 may have been present to the Evangelist’s mind as fulfilled in Christ (Joh 19:36). The promise to the righteous man found an unexpectedly literal realisation in the passion of the perfectly Righteous One.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
He keepeth all his bones – That is, he preserves or guards the righteous.
Not one of them is broken – Perhaps there is a direct and immediate allusion here to what the psalmist had himself experienced. In His dangers God had preserved him, so that he had escaped without a broken bone. But the statement is more general, and is designed to convey a truth in respect to the usual and proper effect of religion, or to denote the advantage, in reference to personal safety in the dangers of this life, derived from religion. The language is of a general character, such as often occurs in the Scriptures, and it should, in all fairness, be so construed. It cannot mean that the bones of a righteous man are never broken, or that the fact that a man has a broken bone proves that he is not righteous; but it means that, as a general principle, religion conduces to safety, or that the righteous are under the protection of God. Compare Mat 10:30-31. Nothing more can be demanded in the fair interpretation of the language than this.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 20. He keepeth all his bones] He takes care of his life; and if he have scars, they are honourable ones.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
All his bones, i.e. all the parts and members of their bodies, which are synecdochically expressed by the bones, which are the stay and strength of the rest. God will not suffer any mischief to befall him; though he may be oft afflicted, yet he shall not be destroyed. But these words, though they are here spoken of the righteous men in general, of whom they are true in a metaphorical sense; yet they had a further meaning in them, being designed by the Spirit of God (which dictated to David, not only the matter, but the very words and expressions) to signify a great mystery, that none of Christs bones should be broken; to which purpose they are alleged, Joh 19:36.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
20. bonesframework of thebody.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
He keepeth all his bones; not one of them is broken. This is literally true of Christ, in whom the type of the passover lamb had its accomplishment, and this passage also; see Ex 12:46; and seems better to agree with him than with any of his members, since the bones of many of them have been broken by one accident or another; and especially many of the martyrs of Jesus have had all their bones broken upon the rack or wheel; wherefore, to understand these words of them might tend to create uneasiness and despondency in the minds of such who by any means have their bones broken; as if they were not righteous persons, this promise not being fulfilled in them: and to interpret this of the Lord’s keeping the bones of his people in the grave, and in the resurrection putting them together again; this is no other than what will be done to the wicked; it seems therefore best to understand the whole of Christ; and it looks as if this passage was had in view as fulfilled in Joh 19:36; since a Scripture is referred to; but if it is interpreted of the righteous in general, it must be with a limitation; as that their bones are all kept by the Lord, and not one is broken without his knowledge and will; and that they are not broken finally, but restored again perfect and whole in the resurrection, and so will continue to all eternity: the phrase, without entering into particulars, may in general design the care of Providence over the righteous; with this compare Mt 10:29.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(20) Broken.See Joh. 19:36, N. Test. Commentary.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 34:20. He keepeth all his bones, &c. These words were peculiarly accomplished in Christ, whose bones were not broken on the cross, according to the usual custom of treating those who were crucified, to put them the sooner out of their pain. But the expression here may be figurative, and mean deliverance from all grievous, distressing, and deadly affliction. This is what good men may generally expect from God. The 21st verse seems fully to explain this.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
I detain the Reader at this verse to fix his eye upon Christ. It was never said of any other but the paschal Lamb; and this the apostles John and Paul declare to mean Christ, that not a bone of him should be broken. Many of God’s dear children have gone to heaven with broken bones. So that it is Christ, and Christ alone, who is the righteous person, and God’s Holy One here spoken of. Exo 12:46 ; Joh 19:36 ; 1Co 5:7 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 34:20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
Ver. 20. He keepeth all his bones ] Which are very many. Perhaps, saith Aben Ezra here, David had been scourged by the Philistines, but his bones were not broken, nor were our Saviour’s, Joh 19:36 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
bones. True (by application) of the members of Christ’s body. See note on Psa 35:10. Eph 5:30. Hence Joh 19:31-33. Exo 12:46. Heartbroken (Psa 69:20), but not “bones”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 34:20-22
Psa 34:20-22
“He keepeth all his bones:
Not one of them is broken.
Evil shall slay the wicked;
And they that hate the righteous shall be condemned.
Jehovah redeemeth the soul of his servants;
And none of them that take refuge in him shall be condemned.”
“All his bones … not one … is broken” (Psa 34:20). In this verse, David doubtless had in mind the passage in Exo 12:46, in which Moses’ instructions for the eating of the Passover carried the injunction, “Neither shall ye break a bone thereof.” Evidently, David’s knowledge of the typical nature of the Passover led him to the inspired statement here that for the truly righteous, it would also be true that “not a bone should be broken.” At any rate, the deduction was true enough; and Christ, the only truly righteous One, saw the complete fulfilment of this in his own person on the Cross.
The apostle John’s Gospel relates how Pilate’s order to break the legs of Jesus was frustrated, “That the Scriptures might be fulfilled” (Joh 19:36), “A bone of him shall not be broken” (Exo 12:46; Psa 34:20). In all probability, John had both these Scriptures in mind.
These last two verses were accurately summarized by Leupold, as follows:
“The outcome for the ungodly will always be this, `Evil shall slay the wicked, and they that hate the righteous shall pay the penalty.’ On the other hand, those that seek to live in the fear of the Lord, are here designated as `His servants.’ They have this assurance, that, `The Lord redeems the life of his servants, and that all who take refuge in him shall not pay the penalty.’
“Jehovah redeemeth” (Psa 34:22). This word `redeem,’ according to Dahood, “Is a metaphor depicting Jehovah as paying ransom money (to Death) to assure his saints of life.; Job 5:20 also has a statement that seems to say the same thing. “In famine, he will redeem thee from death.”
There are many things, perhaps, which our finite minds shall never comprehend about how Jesus ransoms us from death; but it is a fact, gloriously stated by our Lord himself:
“For the Son of Man also came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mar 10:45).
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 34:20. David was an inspired writer and wrote many prophetic statements. This verse refers to the circumstance that the legs of Jesus were not broken on the cross as were those of the thieves. (Joh 19:36.)
Psa 34:21. The Judgment to come on the wicked does not always come literally in this life. The unrighteous men who do not repent will be slain with eternal death after the judgment of the last day.
Psa 34:22. Redeemeth the soul is significant. The bodies of God’s servants may suffer persecution and finally be put to death by the tormentors, but the soul is beyond the power of man to destroy. (Luk 12:4-5.) Desolate means to be under punishment for guilt of sin, and the righteous will escape that lot.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
He keepeth
See Exo 12:46; Joh 19:36
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Psa 35:10, Psa 91:12, Dan 6:22-24, Joh 19:36
Reciprocal: Psa 37:24 – Though Mat 4:6 – lest
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
34:20 {m} He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
(m) And as Christ says, all the hairs of his head.