Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 140:2

Which imagine mischiefs in [their] heart; continually are they gathered together [for] war.

2. Who have devised evils in their heart ] Secretly and deliberately.

continually &c.] Every day do they stir up strife: lit. wars. They are perpetually trying to pick a quarrel with me.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Which imagine mischiefs in their heart – Here the language is changed to the plural number in the Hebrew, implying that while there was one man who was eminent in his wickedness and his wrong-doing, there were many others associated with him, acting under his direction. The word mischiefs in the Hebrew means evils; wickednesses. It was not a single purpose; the plan embraced many forms of evil – doing him wrong in every way possible.

Continually are they gathered together for war – They are organized for this purpose; they are constantly prepared for it. The word rendered gathered together properly means to sojourn, to dwell for a time; and it has been proposed by some to render this, All the day they dwell with wars; that is, they are constantly involved in them. But the word may mean also to gather together, as in Psa 56:6.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 2. They gathered together] He and his courtiers form plots and cabals against my life.

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

To execute those bloody enterprises which they had devised in the first clause of this verse.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

2-5. This character of thewicked, and the devices planned against the pious, correspond toPsa 10:7; Psa 31:13;Psa 58:4, &c.

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

Which imagine mischiefs in [their] heart,…. This shows that not a single person barely is meant but more, as Saul’s courtiers; who were secretly and continually meditating mischief against David, traducing him to Saul, and devising things to take away his life. Such were the Jews to Christ, who were always plotting to entangle him, or contriving to kill him; and so wicked men are ever devising mischief against the quiet in the land, which is very abominable to God; and rightly observed here, to prevail upon the Lord to preserve from them, Ps 2:1;

continually are they gathered together [for] war; so Saul gathered together three thousand men, and went in pursuit of David, as an enemy, to take him. So Herod and Pontius Pilate joined together, though before enemies, in the prosecution of Christ; and Jews and Gentiles gathered together against him: so the saints, being in a warfare state, have their enemies, who often combine against them, and attack them, and will not suffer them to be at rest and peace; as sin, Satan, the world, and false teachers; see Ps 120:7.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

2. Who imagine mischief’s in their heart. Here he charges them with inward malignity of heart. And it is plain that the reference is not to one man merely, for he passes to the plural number (in a manner sufficiently common,) reverting from the head to all his associates and copartners in guilt. Indeed what was formerly said in the singular number may be taken indefinitely, as grammarians say. In general he repeats what I have noticed already, that the hostility to which he was subjected arose from no cause of his. From this we learn that the more wickedly our enemies assail us, and the more of treachery and clandestine acts they manifest, the nearer is the promised aid of the Holy Spirit, who himself dictated this form of prayer by the mouth of David. The second clause may be rendered in three ways. Literally it reads, who gather wars, and so some understand it. But it, is well known that the prepositions are often omitted in the Hebrew, and no doubt he means that they stirred up general enmity by their false information’s being as the trumpet which sounds to battle. Some render the verb — to conspire, or plot together, but this is a farfetched and meager sense. He intimates afterwards in what manner they stirred up unjust war by the wicked calumnies which they spread, as they could not crush a good and innocent person by violence, otherwise than by first overwhelming him with calumny.

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

(2) Imagine . . .Or, contrive, plot.

Gathered together.This translation follows the analogy of Psa. 56:6. Others render, dwell with wars. But it is preferable to derive from a root meaning to incite: They are continually stirring up wars. It is the situation described in Psa. 120:7 and frequently; Israel would be at peace, but within and without are those ever trying to involve her in troubles.

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

2. Mischiefs in their heart Here is the seat and fountain of all deeds of wrong and violence. Mat 15:18-19. Satan’s workshop and council chamber are in the hearts “of the children of disobedience.” Eph 2:2.

Continually are they gathered together for war Literally, Every day they gather war, or, All the day they are assembled to excite war. The latter is the probable sense, judging from the use of the word gather, in Psa 56:6; Psa 59:4; Isa 54:15. This also forms a fit parallel to their devising “mischiefs in their heart,” in the previous member. The Septuagint reads, “All the day they prepared war.” The version of the “Common Prayer Book” reads, “They stir up strife all the day long.”

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

Psa 140:2. Are they gathered together, &c. Are they creating wars: forming and occasioning quarrels and contentions.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

Psa 140:2 Which imagine mischiefs in [their] heart; continually are they gathered together [for] war.

Ver. 2. Which imagine mischief in their heart ] Where the devil worketh night and day as a mintman; as a smith in his forge; or an artificer in his shop. A godly man is said to have right thoughts, Pro 12:5 , and that his desires are only good, Pro 11:23 . An evil man is called a man of wicked devices, Pro 12:2 ; Pro 14:17 , being ingeniose nequam, wittily wicked, as it was once said of Gaius Curio, the Roman lawyer.

They are gathered together for war ] Heb. they gather wars, as serpents gather poison to vomit out at others. Coacervant praelia, q.d. sunt tanquam tubae belli.

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