Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 38:20

They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow [the thing that] good [is].

20. Yea, and rewarding evil for good

They are adversaries unto me, for my following of good.

Not, in return for my pursuit of good in general, but, in return for the good I have striven to do for them. The point is their base ingratitude. Cp. Psa 35:12-13, note.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

They also that render evil for good – They whose characteristic it is to return evil for good, are opposed to me. This implies that those who were now seeking his ruin had been formerly benefitted by him. They were persons who cherished no grateful recollection of favors bestowed on them, but who found a pleasure in persecuting and wronging their benefactor. Compare Psa 35:12-16. Are my adversaries. Are now opposed to me; have become my enemies.

Because I follow the thing that good is – This properly means, Because I follow the good. The Hebrew word rendered because – tachath – means properly the lower part; what is underneath; then, below; beneath. The idea here is, that the underlying reason of what they did was that he followed good, or that he was a righteous man; or, as we say, This was at the bottom of all their dealings with him. Sinner as he felt he was (and as he acknowledged he was) before God, and true as it was that his sickness was brought upon him by God for his sinfulness, yet the reason why men treated him as they did, was that he was a friend of God – a religious man; and their conduct, therefore, was sheer persecution. We may, with entire consistency, be very humble before God, and acknowledge that we deserve all that He brings upon us; and yet, at the same time, we may be sensible that we have not wronged men, and that their conduct toward us is wholly undeserved, is most ungrateful, is sheer malignity against us.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 20. Because l follow the thing that good is.] The translation is as bad as the sentence is awkward. tachath rodpi tob, because I follow goodness. There is a remarkable addition to this verse in the Arabic: “They have rejected me, the beloved one, as an abominable dead carcass; they have pierced my body with nails.” I suppose the Arabic translator meant to refer this to Christ.

None of the other Versions have any thing like this addition; only the AEthiopic adds, “They rejected their brethren as an unclean carcass.” St. Ambrose says this reading was found in some Greek and Latin copies in his time; and Theodoret has nearly the same reading with the Arabic: , “And they cast me, the beloved, out, as an abominable dead carcass.” Whence this reading came I cannot conjecture.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

They render evil for good; they hate and persecute me, not only without any injury or provocation on my part, but as it were in requital of the good which I have done to them.

Because I follow the thing that good is; because I love and diligently practise justice and godliness, which they hate, and which they take to be a reproach to them, and which I did exercise, as I had opportunity, in the punishment of such as they are. Compare Joh 15:19; 1Jo 3:12.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries,….

[See comments on Ps 35:12];

because I follow [the thing that] good [is]; or “follow good”; a good God, whom his soul followed hard after, Ps 63:8; the good Shepherd of the sheep, who led him into green pastures, whither he followed him,

Ps 23:1; the good Spirit of God his guide, whom he walked after, Ro 8:1; good and holy men of God, whom he took for examples and copied after; and every good work, which he pursued with eagerness and pleasure; and all this drew upon him the hatred of his adversaries.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

This is more fully confirmed in the following verse, in which he declares that they requited him evil for the good which he had done them. More than this, however, is implied in the language of David. It implies that he not only abstained from all hurtful dealing towards his enemies, but that he had done them all the good which was in his power; and on this account the rage of the wicked is the less excusable, which not only moves them to do harm to others without cause, but which likewise cannot be appeased by any marks of kindness exercised towards them. It is indeed true, that there is nothing which wounds those of an ingenuous disposition of mind more than when wicked and ungodly men recompense them in a manner so dishonorable and unjust; but when they reflect upon this consolatory consideration, that God is no less offended with such ingratitude than those to whom the injury is done, they have no reason to be troubled beyond measure. To mitigate their sorrow, let this doctrine be the subject of their frequent meditation, That whenever the wicked, to whom we have endeavored to do good, shall requite us evil for good, God will certainly be their judge. In the last place, it is added, as the highest degree of their desperate wickedness, that they hated David because he studied to practice uprightness: They are opposed to me, because I follow that which is good It must be admitted, that those are froward and wicked in the extreme, nay, even of a devilish disposition, who hold uprightness in such abhorrence that they deliberately make war upon those who follow after it. It is, indeed, a very sore temptation, that the people of God, the more sincerely they endeavor to serve him, should procure to themselves so much the more trouble and sorrow; but this consideration ought to prove a sufficient ground of consolation to them, that they are not only supported by the testimony of a good conscience, but that they also know that God is ever ready, and that, too, for this very reason, to manifest his mercy towards them. On the ground of this assurance, they dare to appear in the presence of God, and entreat him, as it is his cause as well as theirs, that he would maintain and defend it. There can be no doubt that David, by his own example, has prescribed this as a common rule to all the faithful, rather to incur the hatred and ill-will of the world, than in the least degree to swerve from the path of duty, and without any hesitation to regard those as their enemies whom they know to be opposed to that which is just and righteous.

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

20. Render evil for good This, as well as wrongfully, in Psa 38:19, defines their character, (see Psa 35:12,) and shows that David’s sin did not lie against his subjects, beyond the moral influence of example, but against God. To his enemies he had been a faithful king and liberal patron.

Because I follow good This he speaks as a king towards his people. He had sought their good, and religiously he had developed the highest idea of the theocracy. The highly religious character of his government was, indeed, a secret cause of their disaffection. The two closing verses are an earnest prayer for instant help.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psa 38:20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow [the thing that] good [is].

Ver. 20. They also that render evil for good ] While they rejoice at my misery, who fasted for them in their adversity, Psa 35:15 .

Are mine adversaries ] Heb. They satanically hate me, as if they were transformed into so many breathing devils.

Because I follow the thing that good is ] This was devil-like indeed; this was to hate and persecute God in David (Tertul.). Thus Cain, the devil’s patriarch, hated his brother Abel, and slew him. And why? “Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous,” 1Jn 3:12 . For like cause Moab fretted at Israel, Num 22:3-4 , and the courtiers at Daniel, Psa 6:5 .

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

evil. Hebrew. ra’a’. App-44.

To the chief Musician. See App-64.

even to Jeduthun. See App-65.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

render: Psa 7:4, Psa 35:12, Psa 109:3-5, 1Sa 19:4-6, 1Sa 23:5, 1Sa 23:12, 1Sa 25:16, 1Sa 25:21, Jer 18:20

because: Mat 5:10, Joh 10:32, 1Pe 3:13, 1Pe 3:17, 1Pe 3:18, 1Pe 4:14-16, 1Jo 3:12

Reciprocal: Psa 69:4 – being Psa 109:4 – For my Pro 17:13 – General Isa 66:5 – Your 1Th 5:15 – ever 1Ti 6:11 – and Heb 12:14 – Follow

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

38:20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow [the thing that] {o} good [is].

(o) He would rather have the hatred of all the world, than fail in any part of his duty to God.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes