Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 102:20
To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;
20. An echo of the prayer in Psa 79:11. Cp. Isa 42:7; Isa 61:1. Israel in exile is compared to a condemned captive languishing in prison, and doomed to perish if Jehovah does not speedily interpose.
the groaning of the prisoner ] R.V. the sighing of the prisoner, as in Psa 79:11.
those that are appointed to death ] Lit. the sons of death. Cp. 1Sa 20:31 (marg.). The word for death is a form found only here and in Psa 79:11.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
To hear the groaning of the prisoner – Meaning here, probably, the captives in Babylon; those who were held as prisoners there, and who were subjected to such hardships in their long captivity. See the notes at Psa 79:11.
To loose those that are appointed to death – Margin, as in Hebrew, the children of death. Compare the notes at Mat 1:1. This may mean either those who were sentenced to death; those who were sick and ready to die; or those who, in their captivity, were in such a state of privation and suffering that death appeared inevitable. The word rendered loose means, properly, to open, applied to the mouth, for eating, Eze 3:2; or in song, Psa 78:2; or for speaking, Job 3:1; – or the ear, Isa 50:5; or the hand, Deu 15:8; or the gates of a city, a door, etc., Deu 20:11. Them it means to set free, as by opening the doors of a prison, Isa 14:17; Job 12:14. Here it means to set free, to deliver. Compare Isa 61:1.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 20. To hear the groaning] By sin, all the inhabitants of the earth are miserable. They have broken the Divine laws, are under the arrest of judgment, and all cast into prison. They have been tried, found guilty, and appointed to die; they groan under their chains, are alarmed at the prospect of death, and implore mercy.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
To release his poor captives out of Babylon, and, which is more, from the chains and fetters of sin and Satan, and from eternal destruction.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
To hear the groanings of the prisoner,…. Not of a single person only, but of many, who lie in prisons in Popish countries, especially in the Inquisition; where they lie and groan, in darkness and misery, under dreadful tortures; their cries and groans the Lord hears; his heart yearns towards them; he looks with pity on them; and, because of the sighing of these poor and needy ones, he will arise in due time, and set them in safety from him that puffs at them: it is true also of such who are prisoners of sin, Satan, and the law; and, when sensible of it, groan under their bondage, and cry to the Lord for help, who hears them, and directs them, as prisoners of hope, to turn to Christ, their strong hold, Zec 9:11,
to loose those that are appointed to death; delivered to death, as the Targum; delivered over to the secular power, in order to be put to death; who are arraigned and condemned as malefactors, and put into the condemned hole, in order for execution; these the Lord will loose, and save them from the death they are appointed to by men; for this is not to be understood of persons appointed by the Lord to death, either corporeal or eternal, from which none can be loosed, so appointed: in the original text the phrase is “children of death” d; the same as “children of wrath”, Eph 2:3, that is, deserving of death, and under the sentence of it; as all men are in Adam, even the Lord’s own people; and who are, in their own apprehension, as dead men, when awakened and convinced of their state by the Spirit of God; these Christ looses from the shackles and fetters of sin, from the bondage of the law, from the tyranny of Satan, and from fears of death, and puts them into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
d “filios mortis”, Montanus, Vatablus, Musculus, Gejerus, Michaelis.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
20. To hear the groaning of the prisoner Here the prophet repeats once more what he had previously touched upon concerning prayer, in order again to stir up the hearts of the godly to engage in that exercise, and that after their deliverance they might know it to have been granted to their faith, because, depending on the divine promises, they had sent up their groanings to heaven. He calls them prisoners; for although they were not bound in fetters, their captivity resembled a most rigorous imprisonment. Yea, he affirms a little after that they were devoted to death, to give them to understand that their life and safety would have been altogether hopeless, had they not been delivered from death by the extraordinary power of God.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(20, 21) Comp. Isa. 61:1-2, and generally the whole magnificent cycle of prophetic songs at the close of Isaiah.
Appointed to death.See margin. LXX. and Vulg., the sons of the slain.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
20. To loose those that are appointed to death Hebrew, the sons of death. They were rescued from under the “death” sentence. Same as Psa 79:11. So imminent was the danger and opportune the help!
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 102:20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;
Ver. 20. To hear the groaning of the prisoner ] Those prisoners of hope held so long captive in Babylon, the cruelty whereof is graphically described, Jer 51:34 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
those . . . appointed to death = the sons of death. Genitive of Relation. The Hebrew word for “death” occurs only here and Psa 79:11. It is feminine, as though the mother. Compare Rom 8:36, and see App-17(5).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
To hear: Psa 79:11, Psa 146:7, Exo 2:23-25, Exo 3:7, 2Ki 13:4, 2Ki 13:22, 2Ki 13:23, Job 24:12, Isa 14:17, Isa 61:1-3, Jer 51:34, Jer 51:35, Zec 9:9-12
to loose: 2Ch 33:11-13, Jer 51:32-34, Act 12:6-11
those that are appointed to: Heb. the children of, Eph 2:2, Eph 2:3
Reciprocal: Exo 2:24 – God heard Deu 26:7 – looked Deu 26:15 – Look down 1Sa 26:16 – worthy to die Psa 9:18 – For the Psa 14:2 – The Lord Psa 38:9 – groaning Psa 69:33 – the Lord Psa 72:12 – For Psa 107:14 – brake Psa 147:2 – he Isa 42:22 – are hid Isa 49:9 – to the Isa 63:15 – down Jer 31:18 – surely Lam 3:34 – all Lam 3:50 – General Eze 34:10 – for I will Luk 4:18 – to preach deliverance Act 12:17 – declared Act 16:26 – and every Rom 7:24 – who Rom 8:26 – with
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
102:20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are {o} appointed to death;
(o) Who now in their banishment could look for nothing but death.