Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 14:5
There were they in great fear: for God [is] in the generation of the righteous.
5. This verse is commonly explained to refer to the future, the perfect tense expressing the certain assurance of the Psalmist that judgement will be executed. Cp. Psa 36:12. But it is more natural to refer it to the past. ‘There’ points emphatically to some signal instance in which panic terror and overwhelming calamity overtook ‘the workers of iniquity.’ If Psa 14:4 may be understood of the oppression of Israel in Egypt, Psa 14:5 will refer to the overthrow of the Egyptians in the Red Sea (Exo 14:24-25). Psa 53:5 adds where no fear was, no natural cause for alarm.
for God &c.] Present among them to defend them. ‘The generation’ (see on Psa 12:7) ‘of the righteous’ is synonymous with ‘my people;’ either the nation, which might be so described in respect of its calling, and in contrast to its oppressors: or the godly part of it. Cp. Psa 118:15.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
There were they in great fear – Margin, as in Hebrew, they feared a fear. The idea is, that they were in great terror or consternation. They were not calm in their belief that there was no God. They endeavored to be. They wished to satisfy themselves that there was no God, and that they had nothing to dread. But they could not do this. In spite of all their efforts, there was such proof of his existence, and of his being the friend of the righteous, and consequently the enemy of such as they themselves were, as to fill their minds with alarm. People cannot, by an effort of will, get rid of the evidence that there is a God. In the face of all their attempts to convince themselves of this, the demonstration of his existence will press upon them, and will often fill their minds with terror.
For God is in the generation of the righteous – The word generation here, as applied to the righteous, seems to refer to them as a race, or as a class of people. Compare Psa 24:6; Psa 73:15; Psa 112:2. It commonly in the Scriptures refers to a certain age or duration, as it is used by us, reckoning an age or generation as about thirty or forty years (compare Job 42:16); but in the use of the term before us the idea of an age is dropped, and the righteous are spoken of merely as a class or race of persons. The idea here is, that there were such manifest proofs that God was among the righteous, and that he was their friend, that the wicked could not resist the force of that evidence, however much they might desire it, and however much they might wish to arrive at the conclusion that there was no God. The evidence that he was among the righteous would, of course, alarm them, because the very fact that he was the friend of the righteous demonstrated that he must be the enemy of the wicked, and, of course, that they were exposed to his wrath.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 5. There were they in great fear] This is a manifest allusion to the history of the Canaanitish nations; they were struck with terror at the sight of the Israelites, and by this allusion the psalmist shows that a destruction similar to that which fell upon them, should fall on the Babylonians. Several of the versions add, from Ps 53:5, “Where no fear was.” They were struck with terror, where no real cause of terror existed. Their fears had magnified their danger.
For God is in the generation] They feared the Israelites, because they knew that the Almighty God was among them.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
There, i.e. in the place, or upon the spot, where they practised these insolences, God struck them with a panic fear. Or, then, i.e. in the height of their tyranny and prosperous impiety, when they seemed to have no cause for it. An adverb of place for an adverb of time, of which there want not examples in Scripture and other authors, as hath been noted before. Or, thence, as this particle is rendered, Gen 2:10; 49:24; Isa 65:20; i.e. from that time; or for that cause, as some take it, and it may be taken, Job 35:12; Psa 36:12, i.e. for this their contempt of God and manifest injury to men.
In great fear, from their own guilty consciences, and the just expectation of Divine vengeance. Heb. they feared with fear, i.e. vehemently, where there was no cause of fear, as is here implied, (for they are now supposed to be in a state of power and tyranny,) as is expressed in the parallel place, Psa 53:5. Or, they shall be greatly afraid, the past tense being put for the future prophetically.
For; for they remembered what a potent adversary they had, and therefore had cause enough to fear. Or, but, as this particle is taken, Gen 45:8; Psa 37:20; Ecc 2:10; 6:2. So he describes the contrary and safe condition of the righteous. Or, when, as it oft signifies, and so it answers to the then in the beginning of the verse, when God shall once appear for his people, a dreadful horror shall seize upon their wicked enemies.
In the generation of the righteous, i.e. among them, with his gracious and powerful presence to defend them, and to fight against their enemies. Or, God is for, &c., as the Hebrew beth oft signifies, that is, God is on their side, and therefore their enemies have great cause to tremble.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
There were they in great fear,…. This, shows that they had some knowledge of God, and consciousness of guilt, which they endeavoured to banish out of their minds by their fears of punishment; and these fears men of the most atheistic principles cannot get rid of. In Ps 53:5 it is added, “where no fear was”: that is, any cause or reason for it: such men are often frightened at their own shadows, afraid to be in the dark alone, as Hobbes the atheist was. The wicked flee when no man pursues, and are chased by the sound of a shaken leaf; see
Pr 28:1; or where there was no fear of God before their eyes, nor on their hearts, as well as no regard to men; or where before there were perfect peace and security, and no apprehension or dread of any calamity, ruin, and destruction;
for God [is] in the generation of the righteous, or “of the righteous One” b; which some understood of Jesus Christ the righteous: and though the age or generation in which he lived was a very wicked one, yet God was with him; as was seen by the doctrines he taught, and the miracles he wrought; and which filled the Jews with panic fears, lest the Romans should come and take away their place and nation: but rather this is to be understood of the generation of the saints, who are righteous through the righteousness of Christ, and have the new man in them, which is created in righteousness and true holiness, and live soberly and righteously; these are sometimes called the generation of the upright, and of the children of God, and of them that seek him,
Ps 112:2; in the midst of these God is, among them he affords his gracious presence, and is with them, for their help and assistance against their enemies: and as this makes them fearless of them, it fills their enemies with dread and terror; see Jos 2:9. The Targum renders it,
“the Word of the Lord is in the generation of the righteous.”
b “justi”, Montanus, Gejerus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
When Jahve thus bursts forth in scorn His word, which never fails in its working, smites down these brutish men, who are without knowledge and conscience. The local demonstrative is used as temporal in this passage just as in Psa 66:6; Hos 2:17; Zep 1:14; Job 23:7; Job 35:12, and is joined with the perfect of certainty, as in Job 36:13, where it has not so much a temporal as a local sense. It does not mean “there = at a future time,” as pointing into the indefinite future, but “there = then,” when God shall thus speak to them in His anger. Intensity is here given to the verb by the addition of a substantival object of the same root, just as is frequently the case in the more elevated style, e.g., Hab 3:9; and as is done in other cases by the addition of the adverbial infinitive. Then, when God’s long-suffering changes into wrath, terror at His judgement seizes them and they tremble through and through. This judgment of wrath, however, is on the other hand a revelation of love. Jahve avenges and thus delivers those whom He calls (My people); and who are here called , the generation of the righteous, in opposition to the corrupted humanity of the time (Psa 12:8), as being conformed to the will of God and held together by a superior spirit to the prevailing spirit of the age. They are so called inasmuch as passes over from the signification generatio to that of genus hominum here and also elsewhere, when it is not merely a temporal, but a moral notion; cf. Psa 24:6; Psa 83:15; Psa 112:2, where it uniformly denotes the whole of the children of God who are in bondage in the world and longing for deliverance, not Israel collectively in antithesis to the Scythians and the heathen in general (Hitzig).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
5. There did they tremble with fear, The prophet now encourages himself and all the faithful with the best of all consolations, namely, that God will not forsake his people even to the end, but will at length show himself to be their defender. Some explain the adverb of place there, as meaning that God will take vengeance on the wicked in the presence of his saints, because they exercised their tyranny upon them. But I rather think that by this word there is expressed the certainty of their punishment, (289) as if the Psalmist pointed to it with the finger. (290) It may also intimate what we may gather from Psa 53:0, that the judgment of God would come upon them suddenly, and when they were not thinking about it; for it is there added, where no fear is, or, where no fear was. (291) Expositors, I am aware, differ in their interpretation of these words. Some supply the word equal or like, and read, There is no fear equal to it. Others refer them to those secret alarms with which the ungodly are tormented, even when there may be no ground for apprehension. God threatens the transgressors of his law with such mental torment that they “shall flee when none pursueth them,” (Lev 26:17, and Pro 28:1) and that “the sound of a shaking leaf shall chase them,” (Lev 26:36) just as we see that they are themselves their own tormentors, and are agitated with mental trouble even when there is no external cause to create it. But I think the meaning of the prophet is different, namely, that when their affairs are in a state of the greatest tranquillity and prosperity, God will suddenly launch against them the bolts of his vengeance.
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For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them,” (1Th 5:3.)
The prophet, therefore, encourages and supports the faithful with this prospect, that the ungodly, when they think themselves free from all danger, and are securely celebrating their own triumphs, shall be overwhelmed with sudden destruction.
The reason of this is added in the last clause of the verse, namely, because God is determined to defend the righteous, and to take in hand their cause: For God is in the generation of the righteous Now, in order to preserve them safe, he must necessarily thunder in his wrath from heaven against their enemies, who unjustly oppress and waste them by violence and extortion. (292) There is, however, some ambiguity in the word דור , dor, which we have translated generation. As this noun in Hebrew sometimes signifies an age, or, the course of human life, the sentence might be explained as follows: Although God for a time may seem to take no notice of the wrongs inflicted upon his servants by the wicked, yet he is ever present with them, and exercises his grace towards them during their whole life. But it seems to me a more simple and natural exposition to interpret the clause thus: That God is on the side of the righteous, and takes their part, as we say, (293) so that דור , dor, will have the same signification here which the word natio, [nation,] sometimes has among the Latins.
In Psa 53:5, the Psalmist adds a sentence which does not occur in this psalm, For God hath scattered the bones of him that besiegeth thee, thou shalt put them to shame; because God hath rejected them. By these words the prophet explains more clearly how God protects the righteous, that it is by delivering them from the jaws of death, just as if one were to put to flight those who had laid siege to a town, and were to set at liberty its inhabitants, who before were in great extremity and quite shut up. (294) Whence it follows, that we must patiently bear oppression, if we desire to be protected and preserved by the hand of God, at the time of our greatest danger. The expression, bones, is used metaphorically for strength or power. The prophet particularly speaks of their power; for if the wicked were not possessed of riches, ammunition, and troops, which render them formidable, it would not appear, with sufficient evidence, that it is the hand of God which at length crushes them. The Psalmist next exhorts the faithful to a holy boasting, and bids them rest assured that an ignominious destruction hangs over the heads of the wicked. The reason of this is, because God hath rejected them; and if he is opposed to them, all things must ultimately go ill with them. As מאס, maäs, which we have translated to reject, sometimes signifies to despise, some render it thus, Because God hath despised them; but this, I think, does not suit the passage. It would be more appropriate to read, — He hath rendered them contemptible, or, subjected them to disgrace and ignominy. Whence it follows, that they only draw down upon themselves dishonor and infamy while they strive to elevate themselves, as it were, in despite of God.
(289) Though punishment had not as yet been actually inflicted on the oppressors of the people of God, of whom the Psalmist had spoken in the preceding verse, he speaks of their punishment as if it had taken place. The reason of this manner of speaking concerning things future in prophetic poetry, Horsley explains to be this, “That a scene typical of futurity is presented to the prophet’s imagination, and what he sees in that scene he speaks of as done.”
(290) The particle שם, is used demonstratively, in reference to the scene which lies before the inspired poet’s fancy. “See there!” — Horsley.
(291) In the Septuagint version, to the words, there were they in great fear, there is added the words οὑ ουκ ἠν ὁ φόβος, Where there was no fear, the transcribers, perhaps, transferring it by memory from Psa 53:6, or the translators adding the words by way of paraphrase.
(292) “ Qui les foullent injustement et usent de violence et extorsion.” — Fr.
(293) “ Et tient leur parte, comme on dit.” — Fr.
(294) “ Ne plus ne morns que si quelqu’un mettoit en fuite ceux qui auroyent dress, le siege derant une ville, et mettoit en liber, les habitans d’icelle qui estoyent auparavant en grande extremit, et bien enserrez.” — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(5) There were they.Literally, there they feared a fear, i.e., terror overtook them. Psalms 53 adds, which was no fear. The local there brings the scene before us as in a picture. We see them there before us, these wicked men; there in the midst of their intrigues, or their exactions, or their pleasures, the hand of God seizes them, and lo! they are struck with fear. We evidently have not here any indication by which to fasten on a particular event. Whether the addition in Psalms 53 gives any is discussed there.
For God is.For the singular variation in Psalms 53 consult Note on Psa. 14:5 of that psalm. The uneasy sense that, after all, the good have God on their sidethis general truth is implied in the phrase generations of the righteous, even if first employed of faithful Israelis always a cause of fear to the wicked.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. There were they in great fear Literally, afraid with fear. The form is intensive. It would seem that the allusion is to some interposition of Jehovah, which had checked the heathen and wrought consternation, as in Dan 3:24-27. Several such instances occurred during the captivity. But the adverb may denote time instead of place, and read, then were they in fear, etc.; that is, when God arose to judgment.
Generation righteous “Generation,” here, means not only the people living at any one time, but, as a moral designation, as in this place, all people of a given sort or quality in any age. See note on Psa 12:7
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 14:5 There were they in great fear: for God [is] in the generation of the righteous.
Ver. 5. There were they in great fear ] There? and they? and in great fear? where? and who? and what kind of fear was it they were in? For answer: There, that is, in the generation of the righteous, in the assemblies of the saints, according to that, Psa 76:3 , “There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and battle. Selah.” There, that is, in Salem, where is God’s tabernacle; and in Zion, where is his dwelling place, Psa 14:2 , in the congregation, where the saints were praying. Or, there, that is, in the very place where they oppressed and devoured the poor, they were surprised with a sudden horror, In loco ubi opprimunt (R. David), even there where they had said, Peace and safety, &c., and where no fear was, Psa 53:5 , no apparent cause of such an amazement, Isa 13:8 . A panic terror fell upon them; they feared a fear, as the Hebrew hath it, but could not tell why; the hornet within stings them, and they have many a secret twinge that the world is never aware off Saul was afraid of David, and Catiline trembled upon the least noise made.
For God is in the generation of the righteous
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
were they in great fear. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6. Hebrew they feared a fear.
generation = circle. Hebrew. dor, company, or class.
righteous = righteous man.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 14:5
Psa 14:5
“There were they in great fear;
For God is in the generation of the righteous.”
This verse answers the question raised in Psa 14:4, “Are the wicked totally without knowledge of God?” Indeed they are not. In every wicked man, there is the haunting fear, the secret dread, that, after all, God may indeed overthrow him at last in hell. God’s being in the generation of the righteous may have the meaning that a residual knowledge of God remains in all men, “generation” here being understood as posterity, or descendants. Whether that is true or not, wicked men indeed have some knowledge of God, as witnessed by his holy name being so frequently profanely used by them. As George DeHoff stated it, “Evil people have some knowledge of God and they fear the day of retribution.
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 14:5. When God saw his righteous people in trouble at the hands of these unbelievers he defended them against their oppressors. That caused the wicked ones to be afraid of the Lord’s judgments; or it put them in great fear.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
were: etc. Heb. they feared a fear, Psa 53:5, Exo 15:16, Est 8:7, Pro 1:26, Pro 1:27, Pro 28:1
God: Psa 46:5, Psa 46:7, Psa 46:11, Isa 8:10, Isa 12:6, Isa 41:10, Isa 43:1, Isa 43:2, Mat 1:23
the generation: Psa 22:30, Psa 24:6, Psa 73:15, Psa 112:2, 1Pe 2:9
Reciprocal: Gen 35:5 – General Gen 50:15 – Joseph 1Sa 14:15 – there was trembling 2Ki 7:6 – the Lord 2Ch 23:13 – she looked Psa 23:4 – for thou Son 6:10 – clear Mar 5:15 – and they Rev 6:16 – and from
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 14:5. There were they in great fear In the place, or upon the spot where they practised these insolences: or, then, that is, in the height of their tyranny and prosperous impiety, when they seemed to have no cause for it, God struck them with a panic fear. Hebrew, , pachadu pachad, they feared with fear, that is, vehemently, namely, from their own guilty consciences and the just expectation of divine vengeance. Or, they shall be greatly afraid, the past tense being put for the future prophetically. Thus Bishop Patrick understands it, whose paraphrase on the words is, What a terror will it be to them to see the divine vengeance seize on them when they think themselves most secure! For God is in the generation of the righteous He, who is the righteous Judge, will not desert those that are faithful to him, but will graciously deliver them. Or, God is for the generation, &c., as the Hebrew particle , here used, often signifies: that is, God is on their side, and therefore their enemies have great cause to tremble.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
14:5 {d} There were they in great fear: for God [is] in the generation of the righteous.
(d) Where they think themselves most sure.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The wicked are in a dangerous position because God is in the midst of His people. When evildoers persecute the godly, they bring God’s punishment on themselves.