Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 55:3
Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
3. the voice of the enemy ] Insulting, calumniating, threatening.
oppression ] A peculiar word, found here only, meaning that his enemies hem him in or crush him down. Cp. the cognate verb in Amo 2:13.
3 b 5. He describes the nature of the persecution from which he is suffering, and its effect upon his spirits.
3 b . they cast iniquity upon me ] Not, they charge me with crimes of which I am innocent: but, they hurl or roll mischief down upon me, a metaphor from the practice of rolling stones down upon an enemy. Cp. Psa 140:10 (of hot coals), and similar phrases in Psa 21:11; 2Sa 15:14.
and in wrath &c.] And in anger are they hostile unto me: (R.V. persecute me).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Because of the voice of the enemy – He now states the cause of his troubles. He had been, and was, unjustly treated by others. The particular idea in the word voice here is, that he was suffering from slanderous reproaches; from assaults which had been made on his character. He was charged with evil conduct, and the charge was made in such a manner that he could not meet it. The result was, that a series of calamities had come upon him which was quite overwhelming.
Because of the oppression of the wicked – The word here rendered oppression occurs nowhere else. The verb from which it is derived occurs twice, Amo 2:13 : Behold, I am pressed under you as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves. The idea is that of crushing by a heavy weight; and hence, of crushing by affliction. The wicked alluded to here, if the supposition referred to in the Introduction about the occasion of the psalm is correct, were Absalom and those who were associated with him in the rebellion, particularly Ahithophel, who had showed himself false to David, and had united with his enemies in their purpose to drive him from his throne.
For they cast iniquity upon me – That is, they charge me with sin; they attempt to justify themselves in their treatment of me by accusing me of wrong-doing, or by endeavoring to satisfy themselves that I deserve to be treated in this manner. If this refers to the time of the rebellion of Absalom, the allusion would be to the charges, brought by him against his father, of severity and injustice in his administration, 2Sa 15:2-6.
And in wrath they hate me – In their indignation, in their excitement, they are full of hatred against me. This was manifested by driving him froth his throne and his home.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. They cast iniquity upon me] To give a colourable pretense to their rebellion, they charge me with horrible crimes; as if they had said: Down with such a wretch; he is not fit to reign. Clamour against the person of the sovereign is always the watch-word of insurrection, in reference to rebellion.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The voice of the enemy, i.e. their clamours, and threats, and slanders, and insolent boastings; all which are hateful to thee, as well as injurious to me.
They cast iniquity upon me: the sense is, either,
1. They make me the great object of their wicked, and injurious, and mischievous practices; or,
2. They lay many crimes to my charge falsely, as if by my wickedness I was the cause of all my calamities.
They hate me; their anger and rage against me is no sudden and transitory passion, but is boiled up into malice and hatred.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. oppressionliterally,”persecution.”
they . . .iniquityliterally, “they make evil doings slide upon me.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Because of the voice of the enemy,…. Of Absalom, as Arama; or of Ahithophel, who gave out he would smite the king only, 2Sa 17:2; and so of any spiritual enemy, as sin, Satan, and the world, when they threaten dominion and tyranny; and of the Scribes and Pharisees reproaching Christ, as being a Samaritan, and having a devil, and doing his miracles by his assistance; menacing, insulting, and triumphing over him, when on the cross;
because of the oppression of the wicked; of Absalom or Ahithophel, as Arama; who conspired against David, and obliged him to quit his palace, and the city of Jerusalem; and is applicable to the troubles which surround the people of God, from every quarter, by wicked men, and to our Lord’s being enclosed by them at the time of his Crucifixion,
Ps 22:12;
for they cast iniquity upon me; laid things to his charge he knew not: so wicked men falsely accuse the good conversation of the saints; and so the Jews imputed crimes to Christ he was innocent of; as immorality, sedition, blasphemy, c.
and in wrath they hate me as they do all the people of God, because chosen and called, and separated from them: and so they did Christ, and with a mortal hatred, though without a cause.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) Oppressor.This meaning of a rare word is secured from Amo. 2:13.
Cast iniquity.Better, roll mischief. The figure seems to be drawn from the practice of rolling stones down on an enemy from a height. In Psa. 140:10 the same verb is used of rolling burning coals on a foe.
Hate me.Better, persecute me.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. They cast iniquity upon me The figure is borrowed from setting in motion, or casting down from a height, weighty stones, or other instruments of death, upon an enemy, as Psa 140:10. They had hurled iniquity upon him by false accusations, threats, and dark conspiracies. See 2Sa 15:7-8; 2Sa 19:19
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 55:3. For they cast iniquity upon me The Psalmist here declares the causes of his consternation and perplexity. It was upon account of the clamour of his enemies, when the conspiracy against him was strong, and the opposition of the wicked (properly, the presence of the wicked) was round him, so that he had scarcely any way or method of escaping; and because they cast iniquity upon him; properly, they heaped up iniquity upon him, as with a bar, or a lever; to denote the heavy reproaches they threw on him, and the violence of their accusations. Instead of, they hate me, we may read, they set themselves against me.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
If we consider David’s history, it will appear probable that he had an eye to his son, Absalom, as this enemy. If we look at Christ, probably Judas was the foe here intended, with the Scribes and Pharisees.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 55:3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
Ver. 3. Because of the voice of the enemy ] He may very well intend Shimei’s bitter revilings, 2Sa 16:5 , &c.
For they cast iniquity upon me
And in wrath they hate me
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
oppression: or outcry. The Hebrew word ‘akah occurs only here.
iniquity = iniquitous words or devices. Hebrew. ‘aven. App-44. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 55:3-5
Psa 55:3-5
THE SHAMEFUL SITUATION DESCRIBED
“Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the oppression of the wicked;
For they cast iniquity upon me,
And in anger they persecute me.
My heart is sore pained within me:
And the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me,
And horror hath overwhelmed me.”
“The voice of the enemy … they cast iniquity upon me” (Psa 55:3). In the psalm, the enemy is mentioned with both singular and plural words. This is appropriate because there were many enemies, led by “an enemy,” perhaps either Ahithophel or Absalom.
“Because of the oppression of the wicked” (Psa 55:3). The Jerusalem Bible renders this, “They bring misery crashing down upon me.”
“And in anger they persecute me” (Psa 55:3). A number of scholars render this, “In wrath they hate me.
“The terrors of death are fallen upon me” (Psa 55:4). “There could be no greater consternation than fear of death, even if this is a figure. We cannot think of “death” mentioned here as anything other than the real thing. If Absalom had been successful in his rebellion, David would have been the first of many executions; such is the nature of the type of revolution Absalom was attempting.
“Fearfulness … trembling … horror” (Psa 55:5). These are eloquent words indeed, describing the heart-grief of King David. As Adam Clarke said, “Nobody ever described a wounded heart like David.
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 55:3. David’s earnestness of voice in complaining of his afflictions was caused by a like voice of his enemies. They opposed him both in word and action.
Psa 55:4. Terrors of death is a strong expression of the intense feelings of David caused by his trials. He was not actually expecting death at the hands of his enemies, but the anxiety that was crowding up upon his heart was such as to suggest the extremity of death or the approach to it.
Psa 55:5. These feelings pertained to David’s fleshly nature. His inner self had not given way to doubt as to the continued support from God.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
oppression: Psa 12:5, Psa 54:3, Psa 73:8, Lam 3:34-36
for they: Psa 27:12, Psa 35:11, 2Sa 15:3, 2Sa 16:7, 2Sa 16:8, 2Sa 19:19, Mat 26:59
Reciprocal: Gen 39:14 – he came Gen 39:17 – General 2Sa 15:14 – and smite 2Ch 18:7 – I hate him Job 35:9 – they make Psa 17:1 – attend Psa 42:9 – because Psa 102:8 – Mine Pro 18:14 – but
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
55:3 Because of the {b} voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for {c} they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
(b) For the threatenings of Saul and his adherents.
(c) They have defamed me as a wicked person, or they have imagined my destruction.