Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 109:2

For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.

2. For a wicked man’s mouth, yea a mouth of deceit, have they opened against me:

They have spoken with me with a tongue of falsehood.

It would be easy to smooth the style of the first line by reading ‘a mouth of wickedness ’ for ‘ a wicked man’s mouth ’; it is only a question of vowel points in the Heb.: but the Versions support the reading of the Massoretic text, and it points at once to the leader of the gang, who has been set on by his fellows to compass the Psalmist’s ruin. The phrase they have spoken with me (R.V. to me, marg. against me) seems to be used in a forensic sense as in Psa 127:5. His enemies there is no need to explain to God who are meant by ‘they’ are scheming to effect his ruin by groundless charges supported by false witness. The word for falsehood is that used in Exo 20:16, and frequently in Proverbs (Pro 6:19, &c.) of false witness.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful – literally, The mouth of wickedness, and the mouth of deceit. This acquaints us with the nature of the wrong which had been done him. It was slander; undeserved reproach.

Are opened against me – Margin, have opened; that is, have opened themselves.

They have spoken against me with a lying tongue – They have accused me of things which are not true; they have made false charges against me. David, as has not been uncommon with good people, was called repeatedly to this trial.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 2. The mouth of the wicked and – the deceitful are opened against me] Many persons are continually uttering calumnies against me. Thou knowest my heart and its innocence; vindicate my uprightness against these calumniators.

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

Of the deceitful; of those who add hypocrisy and perfidiousness to their malice.

Are opened; they speak freely, boldly, and publicly, without any fear or shame.

Against me; or, to or with me, as this particle commonly signifies.

With a lying tongue; either,

1. With calumnies, or false and malicious reports. Or,

2. With deep dissimulation and professions of friendship and kindness.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

2. For the mouth . . . openedor,”They have opened a wicked mouth”

against meliterally,”with me,” that is, Their intercourse is lying, or, theyslander me to my face (Mt 26:59).

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me,…. Or “of deceit” x itself; most wicked and very deceitful men, who sometimes flattered and pretended friendship, as the Jews did to Christ, when they designed ill against him; though at other times their mouths were opened, and they poured out their calumnies and reproaches very freely and largely; traducing his person, and aspersing his character as a wicked man; blaspheming his miracles, as if done by the help of the devil; charging his doctrine with novelty, falsehood, and blasphemy; loading him with invidious names, as Samaritan, madman, c representing him as an enemy to the state, as a seditious person, and a disturber of the nation’s peace; particularly their mouths were opened against him when they called for his crucifixion, and would have no denial; and especially when he was on the cross, where they gaped upon him with their mouths, and poured out their scoffs and jeers at him; see Ps 22:14.

They have spoken against me with a lying tongue, false witnesses rose up against him, and laid things to his charge he knew nothing of, and which they could not prove, Mt 26:59.

x “os doli”, Vatablus, Cocceius; “os fraudis”, Gejerus, Michaelis; so Ainsworth.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

2 Because the mouth of the wicked David here very plainly declares, that he was the more solicitous to obtain help from God, in consequence of justice not being found among men. And though it is probable that he was rashly and furiously assailed, nevertheless, he complains that the mouth of deceit and fraud had been opened against him, and that he was surrounded with false tongues. Whence, to those who were ignorant of his real situation, there would appear to be some plausible pretext for his being loaded with reproaches, so much so indeed, that he would not be able to evade the charge of criminality.

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

(2) Of the deceitful.Properly, as in margin, of deceit; consequently, to make the two expressions alike, it is proposed to read, instead of mouth of the wicked (properly, of a wicked man), mouth of wickedness. In any case the best English equivalent will be, a wicked mouth and a deceitful mouth. A blow with a word strikes deeper than a blow with a sword (Whichcote).

Spoken against me.Rather (comp. Psa. 12:3), talked with me.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

If, while we read these words, we call to our recollection Psa 22 and Psa 69 , we shall perceive an obvious correspondence. John the Evangelist tells us, that the Jews charged Christ with being a Samaritan, and having a devil; Joh 8:48 ; and how very striking is that passage: for the love that I had to them (saith Jesus) they are my adversaries. Yes! it was solely for Christ’s opening his commission as the Messiah, that their hatred was called forth. For a good work say they, we stone thee not, but for blasphemy: and because that thou being a man, makest thyself God. Joh 15:25Joh 15:25 .

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Psa 109:2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.

Ver. 2. For the mouth of the wicked ] There is nothing more easy than to wag a wicked tongue.

They have spoken against me with a lying tongue ] But with so much impudence as if it were a very truth. Socrates in his Apology, My lords, said he to the judges, I know not how you have been affected with mine accusers’ eloquence, while you heard them speak. For mine own part, I assure you that I, whom it toucheth not, was almost drawn to believe that all they said, though against myself, was true, when they scarce uttered one word of truth.

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

the wicked = a lawless one. Hebrew. rasha’. App-44.

They have spoken against me. See verses: Psa 109:6-19 for what they spoke.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

the mouth: Psa 31:13, Psa 31:18, Psa 64:3, Psa 64:4, Psa 140:3, 2Sa 15:3-8, 2Sa 17:1, Pro 15:28, Mat 26:59-62

of the deceitful: Heb. of deceit

are opened: Heb. have opened themselves

with: Psa 120:3, Pro 6:17, Pro 12:19, Jer 9:3, Jer 9:5, Act 6:13

Reciprocal: Psa 52:2 – working Psa 55:11 – deceit Psa 59:7 – swords Psa 64:2 – secret Psa 83:1 – Keep Psa 119:69 – proud Psa 120:2 – from lying lips Psa 144:8 – mouth Lam 2:16 – thine Mat 27:39 – reviled

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psa 109:2-4. The mouth of the wicked, and the mouth of the deceitful Of those who add hypocrisy and perfidiousness to their malice; are opened against me They speak against me freely, boldly, and publicly, without any fear or shame. They have spoken against me Hebrew, , itti, to, or with me, as this particle commonly signifies; with a lying tongue With deep dissimulation, and professions of friendship and kindness: or, against me, with calumnies, or false and malicious reports. They compassed me with words of hatred Which, though covered with specious pretences, proceeded from deep malice and hatred, and were designed to work my destruction. Without a cause Without any just provocation given by me. For my love they are my adversaries They requite my love and goodwill with enmity and mischief, Psa 109:5; but I give myself unto prayer

Hebrew, , vaani tephillah, but I prayer, that is, I am a man of prayer. Thus, I peace, is put for, I am for peace, as we render it, Psa 120:7. The sense here is, While they reproach and curse me, I pray, either, 1st, For them, as Psa 35:13; or, 2d, For himself: I do not render unto them evil for evil, but quietly commit myself and my cause to God by prayer, desiring him to plead my cause against them.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments