Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 109:3
They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.
3. Yea, with words of hatred have they surrounded me,
And fought against me without cause.
Cp. Psa 35:7; Psa 35:19-20; Psa 69:4; Pro 1:11.
“Come and let us smite him with the tongue” was the cry of Jeremiah’s opponents (Jer 18:18). “Denounce, yea, let us denounce him” (Jer 20:10).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
They compassed me about also with words of hatred – They attacked me on every side; they assailed me, not merely in one form and direction, but in every form, and in every direction. I could turn no way – I could go nowhere – where I did not encounter these slanderous reports.
And fought against me without a cause – Contended against me, or fought against me, with words. They sought to do me all the harm they could. The phrase without a cause means that he had given them no occasion for this conduct; he had not wronged them; it was mere malignity. See Psa 35:7; Psa 69:4. Compare Joh 15:25.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
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 them by me.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. (Compare Psa 35:7;Psa 69:4).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
They compassed me about also with words of hatred,…. They surrounded him as he hung on the cross, and expressed their malice and hatred against him; then was he enclosed with these spiteful snarling dogs, and encompassed by them as with so many bees, who everyone left their sting in him, Ps 22:16.
And fought against me without a cause: they were of an hostile spirit, enemies and enmity itself against him; fought against him both with words and blows, with their tongues and with their fists; sought his life, and at length took it away; he was attacked by the body of the Jewish nation, and by the whole posse of devils; and all this without any cause or just reason: he gave them no occasion for this enmity and malice, and opposition to him; and it was in the issue without effect, it was in vain and to no purpose; for though they gained their point in putting him to death, yet he rose again a triumphant Conqueror over them all.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
3 And they have encompassed me He complains, that from all quarters he was assailed with the most hostile and abusive epithets, and that, too, most undeservedly. And, under a beautiful similitude, he shows that the tongues of his enemies were so full of deadly poison, that it was harder for him to endure their attacks than that of a great army, and the more so that he merited no such treatment at their hands. This species of warfare, to the exercise of which God very frequently summons his children, must be carefully considered by us. For though Satan may assault them with open violence, yet as he is the father of lies, he endeavors, by the amazing dexterity which he possesses in heaping calumny upon them, to tarnish their reputation, as if they were the most abandoned of mankind. Now, as that which was prefigured by David was fulfilled in Christ, so we must remember, that that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ is daily filling up in believers, Col 1:24; because, he having once suffered in himself, calls them to be sharers and associates with him in his sufferings.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
3. Compassed fought Military terms; enemies surrounded and fought him with the words of falsehood and hatred. These were their weapons and their policy of war.
Without a cause In the absence of all just ground of hostility they could deal in nothing but falsehood. Compare, in the Messianic sense of the psalm, Mat 26:59
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 109:3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.
Ver. 3. They compassed me about also, &c. ] So that I could not find out any way to clear myself, though never so innocent.
And fought against me
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
words of hatred. Written down in verses: Psa 109:6-15. Compare 2Sa 16:5-13 for the type.
without a cause. Compare Joh 15:25.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
compassed: Psa 17:11, Psa 22:12, Psa 88:17, 2Sa 16:7, 2Sa 16:8, Hos 11:12
fought: Psa 35:7, Psa 35:20, Psa 59:3, Psa 59:4, Psa 69:4, 1Sa 19:4, 1Sa 19:5, 1Sa 26:18, 2Sa 15:12, Joh 15:24, Joh 15:25
Reciprocal: Num 20:6 – they fell 1Sa 25:21 – he hath requited 2Sa 15:31 – O Lord Psa 25:3 – without Psa 35:12 – They Psa 35:19 – that hate Psa 38:20 – render Psa 55:11 – deceit Psa 59:7 – swords Psa 64:2 – secret Psa 69:14 – let me Psa 89:23 – plague Psa 119:69 – proud Psa 119:78 – without Psa 144:8 – mouth Lam 3:52 – without Mat 5:22 – without Mar 3:6 – Pharisees Luk 6:12 – that