Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 112:10
The wicked shall see [it], and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
10. The wicked looks on in impotent rage and is consumed with vexation. While “the desire of the righteous is granted” (Pro 10:24), his desire comes to nought. The end of the Psalm, like the beginning, is an echo of Psalms 1.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The wicked shall see it, and be grieved – They shall see his prosperity; shall see the evidence that God approves his character and his conduct. The word rendered grieved means rather to be angry or enraged. Perhaps the word fret would best express the sense.
He shall gnash with his teeth – As indicative of hatred and wrath. See the notes at Psa 37:12.
And melt away – Disappear – as snow does that melts; or as a snail (see the notes at Psa 58:8); or as waters that run away (see the notes at Psa 58:7); or as wax (see the notes at Psa 68:2). Their wrath shall be of no avail, for they themselves shall soon disappear.
The desire of the wicked shall perish – He shall not be able to accomplish his desire, or to carry out his purposes. He shall be disappointed, and all his cherished plans will come to nought. This is in strong contrast with what is said in the psalm would occur to the righteous. They would be prospered and happy; they would be able to carry out their plans; they would be respected while living, and remembered when dead; they would find God interposing in their behalf in the darkest hours; they would be firm and calm in the day of danger and of trouble; they would put their trust in the Lord, and all would be well. Surely there is an advantage in our world in being a friend of God.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 10. The wicked shall see it] rasha, the wicked one. Some think Satan is meant. It is distinguished from reshaim, wicked men, in the conclusion of the verse.
Shall gnash with his teeth] Through spite and ill will.
And melt away] Through envy and hopeless expectation of similar good; for his desire in reference to himself, and in reference to him who is the object of his envy, shall perish – shall come to nothing.
ANALYSIS OF THE HUNDRED AND TWELFTH PSALM
The psalmist, having put it down for an infallible maxim, in the close of the former Psalm, “that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” in this sets down the felicity of that man who fears God, in several particulars.
There are two parts in this Psalm: –
I. A general proposition, that he is blessed.
II. An enumeration of particulars in which that blessedness consists, Ps 112:2-10.
I. To the first part he prefixes a hallelujah, “praise the Lord,” which is the intent and scope of the Psalm; that he be praised for those rewards of piety he bestows on such as fear him.
He delivers this one general proposition to persuade them to piety: “Blessed is the man,” c., that believes, honours, and serves him.
For fear a man should mistake, supposing he fears the Lord when he really does not, he adds these three restrictions to his proposition: –
1. “Keep his commandments.” An obedient fear.
2. “He delights in them,” c. Is pleased with their equity, and loves them.
3. “He delights greatly,” &c. It must be a thankful and ready fear, performed with alacrity and earnestness, done with all the heart.
II. In the rest of the Psalm he insists on what this blessedness consists in: –
1. That the righteous shall have temporal goods, and that they shall be blessings.
2. That though they shall enjoy them, they are not exempted from crosses, 2Ti 3:12.
3. That God distributes these temporal blessings not equally, but most profitably for him.
This being premised, he enumerates the blessings here promised: –
1. “His seed shall be mighty,” c. Which was verified in Abraham and his posterity: “I will show mercy to thousands,” &c.
2. “Wealth and riches,” &c. That is, abundance of all things shall be in his house, and remain in it for his just dealing and contentment preserves his well obtained goods to his posterity.
3. “Unto the upright there ariseth light,” c. The light of counsel and consolation, in the midst of doubts, tribulations, and afflictions, which the prophet ascribes to God’s mercy and goodness.
4. He hath bowels of compassion, of which he shows two effects: 1. “A good man showeth favour,” &c. Easily forgives an injury. 2. Imagines he is not born for himself, but to do good to others.
5. “He will guide his affairs with discretion.” Discern between truth and falsehood be no accepter of persons, but in all things just and upright.
6. He is patient and constant. Troubles and dangers may increase but in the midst of all he looks to heaven, and remains firm in his principles.
7. “The righteous shall be had,” c. His name is written in the book of life, and it is precious in the Church, such as those of the martyrs while the wicked are detested, such as Judas, Cain, Pilate. At the last day the one shall have “Come, ye blessed;” the other, “Go, ye cursed.”
8. “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings.” Scandals may arise; but he remembers “the servant is not above his lord,” therefore he bears all patiently, and for these reasons: 1. “Because his heart is fixed,” c. He has a sure rock God will clear his innocency. 2. “His heart is established,” c. He knows God will take care of him.
9. The ninth felicity to the righteous is, God has given him a charitable heart. 1. “He hath dispersed,” acts liberally, that others as well as himself may reap. 2. He does it freely, without looking for any thing again: “He gives.” 3. “He hath given to the poor.” To those who need his kindness.
For this liberality he is a great gainer in two respects: –
1. “The good work he hath done,” &c. His charity and piety are increased by it.
2. “His horn,” &c. His power, honour, dignity, and glory.
His last felicity is,
1. “The wicked shall see it,” and be grieved at his felicity.
2. “He shall gnash his teeth” as a mad dog, and seek his ruin.
3. But shall not be able to harm him: “The desire of the wicked shall perish.” He that fears God is a happy man he that fears him not, most unhappy. Reader, in what state art thou? Happy or unhappy?
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Be grieved at the felicity of good men, partly, from envy at the happiness of others; partly, from his peculiar hatred of all godly men; and partly, because it is a plain testimony of Gods justice and providence, and therefore a certain presage of his own ruin. The desire; his desire either of the misery of good men, or of his own constant prosperity and happiness in the world.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. Disappointed in theirmalevolent wishes by the prosperity of the pious, the wicked arepunished by the working of their evil passions, and come to naught.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The wicked shall see it,…. The glory and happiness of the upright man: so when the witnesses shall ascend to heaven, a phrase expressive of a more glorious state of the church, their enemies shall behold them, Re 11:12.
And be grieved; at their happiness, and grudge it: the Targum is,
“and shall be angry at him;”
the upright man.
He shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away; like snow water r; or as a snail melteth, or as wax before the fire, Ps 58:7, shall pine away with grief and envy at the happiness and prosperity of the righteous; the wicked will weep and gnash their teeth, when they shall see them in the kingdom of heaven, and they themselves shut out,
Lu 13:28. The desire of the wicked shall perish; they shall not have their desire, neither of good things for themselves here and hereafter, nor of evil things for the righteous.
r “Mens mea tabida liquescit”, &c. “Liquescunt pectora”, &c. Ovid. de Ponto, l. 1. Eleg. 1. v. 68. & Eleg. 2. v. 57.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
10. The wicked shall see it. (350) Here follows a contrast similar to that which we met with in Psa 2:5, which renders the grace of God towards the faithful the more illustrious. His meaning is, that though the wicked may cast off all regard to piety, and banish from their minds all thoughts of human affairs being under the superintending providence of God, they shall yet be made to feel, whether they will or no, that the righteous, in compliance with God’s command, do not vainly devote themselves to the cultivation of charity and mercy. Let them harden themselves as they choose, yet he declares that the honor, which God confers upon his children, shall be exhibited to them, the sight of which shall make them gnash with their teeth, and shall excite an envy that shall consume them by inches. (351) In conclusion, he adds, that the wicked shall be disappointed of their desires They are never content, but are continually thirsting after something, and their confidence is as presumptuous as their avarice is unbounded. And hence, in their foolish expectations, they do not hesitate at grasping at the whole world. But the prophet tells them that God will snatch from them what they imagined was already in their possession, so that they shall always depart destitute and famishing.
(350) “ The wicked shall see it; i.e. , the exalted horn ” — Dimock
(351) “ Et par une envie qu’ils auront les fera mourir a petit feu.” — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(10) Gnash.See Psa. 35:16.
Melt away.As we say, Consume with vexation.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. The spirit of the world toward Christ and his Church is well set forth in this verse.
Grieved Properly, enraged.
Gnash with his teeth Expressive of a transport of impotent rage. See Psa 35:16; Psa 37:12; Act 7:54.
Melt away Their combinations dissolve, their adherents lessen, and their hearts grow faint and feeble, as they behold the futility of all their schemes, and remember that God and public sentiment are against them. Psa 68:2.
The desire of the wicked shall perish In Hebrew psychology this simply means the desire shall not be gratified. While the desire or passion itself remains namely, the envy, jealousy, hatred, rage, toward God and his holy people the gratification is precluded. As the thirsty man, when water is taken away, becomes a prey to his appetite, so these perish in the defeat and disappointment of their malice, which now returns upon the soul and becomes a fire that is unquenchable. See Pro 10:28; Pro 11:7.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 112:10. The wicked That is, the devil; for the Hebrew here is singular, and so denotes that wicked one, whose power and kingdom must melt away, while he beholds with rage the exaltation of Christ and his servants; and then, the desire of wicked men also (for in the last line the word is plural) shall perish. The expression melt away, is strong, and signifies that his envy shall be like a slow fire in the bowels. The word desire is put for the things themselves which are the objects of desire; as hope or confidence are put for their objects in Job 17:15; Job 18:14.
REFLECTIONS.1st. The Psalmist opens this psalm with ascribing praise to God, who is to be acknowledged in all he doth for and in his believing people; for by his grace they are what they are.
1. He describes the character of the truly blessed and happy man. He feareth the Lord, and only him; he delighteth greatly in his commandments; he counts obedience his highest privilege, and God’s service perfect freedom: he is upright, sincere before God in his professions, and in all his dealings with men just and true: he is gracious, full of compassion, sensibly touched with the distresses of others, and ready to relieve them, and righteous; what he bestows on the necessitous is honestly come by: he shewth favour, and lendeth; not with a view to his own advantage, but of pure charity to assist the industrious poor, hoping for nothing again; he will guide his affairs with discretion, or his words with judgment; he is careful of what he speaks, that neither hastily, falsely, nor imprudently, his tongue may offend, but that all he saith may be well weighed, and the result of sound reflection and judgment; and in the management of his affairs he acts with such prudence and oeconomy, as both to shew piety at home in the becoming provision of his own house, and to have withal a portion to spare for him that needeth.
2. The man who perseveres in this spirit and conduct, is truly blessed and happy; he is the object of God’s care and protection; the blessings of grace and love are laid up for him, and God himself is his portion, and his exceeding great reward; his posterity shall partake of his blessing, exalted on earth, and mighty in the grace which is in Jesus Christ. Wealth and riches, as much as God sees will be profitable for him and them, shall be in his house; nor shall his worldly prosperity turn away his heart from God, as it is too apt to do: his righteousness endureth for ever: God will preserve him, and enable him to prosper in his soul, as his substance is increased, and never suffer him to decay or decline. If at any time a dark cloud passes over him, either of temptation in his soul, or of affliction in his body, family, or substance, God will lift up the light of his countenance upon him, and cheer his heart with fresh visits of his love, minister new strength and consolation to his soul, and make the most afflictive dispensations issue to his good.
2nd, The Psalmist goes on,
1. To instance, in other particulars, the blessedness of the man who thus perseveringly feareth the Lord. [1.] His stability is ensured. [2.] The memory of his piety shall descend to latest ages, and his righteousness God will to all eternity remember and reward. [3.] No dangers shall terrify, no evil tidings dismay him; neither the world with all its snares and opposition, nor Satan with all his legions, nor death with all its terrors, shall be able to shake his confidence, or deject his spirit; for his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. [4.] He shall see his desire upon his enemies; expecting in faith the salvation of God, he shall see all his spiritual foes finally destroyed, his temporal foes subdued or made his friends, and himself in all things made more than conqueror. [5.] He shall be exalted to honour, the highest honour, that which cometh from God, who will remember his labours of love, his charity, liberality, and persevering continuance in well-doing; and at the resurrection-day crown him with glory, honour, and immortality.
2. This blessedness of the righteous will be the envy and torment of the wicked; they shall see it with grief and bitter anguish, and through vexation shall pine away in their iniquities, till at last they shall be cut off from all the good things on which their desires were placed, and doomed to that place of eternal torment, where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Lord, gather not my soul with sinners!
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
An awful verse, this! But oh! how tremendously awful when fulfilled. The seed of the serpent, all along, are thus described. Joh 8:44 . And, Reader, do remark the dreadful punishment, in the desire of the wicked perishing. The very desire of such, be it what it may, shall be their misery. Oh! who can calculate the extent of that sin, and that misery connected with it, of despising Christ; the one, the only one ordinance of heaven for sinners! There is salvation in no other. The neglect of it, and the despising of it, brings on finally, in the soul, wonder, and perishing. Act 13:41Act 13:41 .
REFLECTIONS
PRECIOUS Jesus! while my soul unceasingly beholds thee, in thy divine nature, as one with the Father, over all, God blessed forever, give me grace, in the perusal of sweet scriptures, like this psalm, to behold thee with an equal delight, as the man, the very man, Christ Jesus. For hadst thou not condescended to leave the bosom of the Father, and taken upon thee the nature of man, never could my poor nature have been taken into the family of God in Christ, and been made a child of God by adoption and by grace. It was thy wonderful undertaking that first led to this hope. Thou, becoming a very man, in order to become the sinner’s Surety, and in the holiness of thy nature fulfilling all righteousness, and satisfying both thy Father’s law and justice in our place and room: this, and this, alone, created hope and confidence in the souls of thy people. Lost as they all were in themselves, and totally incapable of doing one act of perfect obedience towards God, yet when in the same nature thou camest to fulfil all righteousness, and became sin for us, when thou knewest no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in thee; here faith, taught by the Holy Ghost, was encouraged to look up, and to see how God can be just and yet the justifier of poor ungodly sinners, who believe in Jesus. Yes, blessed Lord, in thee we behold a suitable righteousness, a complete, a covenant, an everlasting righteousness! And what endears it to every true believer’s heart, is, that this righteousness is our own in thee; for thou art our Husband, our Head, our Surety, our Jesus. God our Father hath declared himself well pleased in thee; and thy people are beheld and accepted in thee. It is thou thyself, blessed Jesus, hast said it: the word is gone out of thy mouth, neither wilt thou have it to return: thou hast said that thou art one with thy people, and they one with thee; and that the world may know that the Father hath loved them, as the Father hath loved thee! And shall not my soul everlastingly rejoice in knowing thee, and loving thee, as the man Christ Jesus? Shall not I unceasingly behold thee, in thy one person, God and Man united? And shall not I sing this sweet psalm, beginning with Hallelujah, because Jesus, the God-man, hath feared the Lord, and greatly delighted in his commandments; because his seed shall be mighty in his might, and righteous in his righteousness; and because Jesus will cause them to inherit substance, and fill all their treasures? Oh blessed, forever blessed! be the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for Jesus Christ.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 112:10 The wicked shall see [it], and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
Ver. 10. The wicked shall see it ] Vir improbus et reprobus; the covetous wretch who sat a brood upon his bags, and befooled the bountiful man, shall himself come to beggary, which he so much feared, and be ready to eat his own nails through envy at the other’s prosperity; and because he cannot come at his heart, he feeds upon his own, yea, puts himself into a hell above ground, both for pain of loss and pain of sense, as here.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 112:10
10The wicked will see it and be vexed,
He will gnash his teeth and melt away;
The desire of the wicked will perish.
Psa 112:10 gnash his teeth This was a sign of anger (cf. Psa 35:16; Psa 37:12; Psa 112:10; Luk 13:28). It also refers to the experience of judgment (cf. Mat 8:12; Mat 13:42; Mat 13:50; Mat 22:13; Mat 24:51; Mat 25:30).
melt away The wicked will perish (cf. Psa 68:2). They will melt away in the fire of YHWH’s judgment (cf. Isa 34:2-4).
Their psychological pain is caused by
1. the reversal of their prosperous state
2. their exclusion from God’s kingdom
3. the blessing and prosperity of the faithful followers before their eyes
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.
1. What does it mean to fear the Lord?
2. Explain Psa 112:4 a in your own words.
3. Do Psa 112:3; Psa 112:6; Psa 112:9 speak of heaven?
4. What does it mean to exalt one’s horn? (Psa 112:9)
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
The wicked = A lawless one. Hebrew. rasha’. App-44.
desire. Probably = hope, as in Psa 9:18; Prov; Psa 10:28.
the wicked = lawless ones (plural) App-44.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
wicked: Est 6:11, Est 6:12, Isa 65:13, Isa 65:14, Luk 13:28, Luk 16:23
gnash: Psa 37:12, Mat 22:13, Rev 16:10, Rev 16:11
melt: Psa 58:7, Psa 58:8
desire: Pro 10:28, Pro 11:7, Luk 16:24-26
Reciprocal: Gen 26:14 – envied Jos 2:9 – faint 1Sa 23:20 – all the desire Neh 2:10 – it grieved Est 7:7 – for he saw Job 8:15 – it shall not stand Job 18:14 – confidence Psa 1:6 – way Psa 6:10 – Let all Psa 107:42 – iniquity Pro 14:30 – envy Lam 2:16 – gnash Eze 22:21 – and ye Mar 9:18 – gnasheth Act 7:54 – they gnashed Rev 11:12 – and their
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 112:10. The wicked shall be grieved At the felicity of the righteous, partly from envy at the happiness of others, and partly from their peculiar hatred of godly men. It will vex them to see the innocence of such cleared, and their low state regarded; to behold those, whom they hated and despised, and whose ruin they sought and hoped to witness, now made the favourites of heaven, and advanced to have dominion over them. This will make them gnash with their teeth, and melt away The sight of Christ in glory with his saints, says Dr. Horne, will, in an inexpressible manner, torment the crucifiers of the one, and the persecutors of the others; as it will show them the hopes and wishes of their adversaries all granted to the full, and all their own desires and designs for ever at an end; it will excite an envy which must prey upon itself, produce a grief which can admit of no comfort, give birth to a worm which can never die, and blow up those fires which nothing can quench.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
112:10 The wicked shall see [it], and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and {g} melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
(g) The blessings of God on his children will cause the wicked to die for envy.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
3. The anxiety the wicked experience 112:10
God’s goodness to the righteous fills the wicked with anxiety. Finally they perish.
God’s people need to remember God’s blessings to them and give God praise for these things-so that they won’t envy the wicked, whose lot is much worse.