Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 18:36
Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
36. enlarged my steps &c.] Given me free space for unobstructed movement (cp. Psa 18:19; Pro 4:12), and the power to advance with firm, unwavering steps.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Thou hast enlarged my steps under me – The idea here is, Thou hast made room for my feet, so that I have been enabled to walk without hindrance or obstruction. So in Psa 31:8, Thou hast set my feet in a large room. The idea is, that he was before straitened, compressed, hindered in his goings, but that now all obstacles had been taken out of the way, and he could walk freely.
That my feet did not slip – Margin, mine ancles. The Hebrew word here rendered in the text feet, and in the margin ancles, means properly a joint; small joint; especially the ancle. The reference here is to the ancle, the joint that is so useful in walking, and that is so liable to be sprained or dislocated. The meaning is that he had been enabled to walk firmly; that he did not limp. Before, he had been like one whose ancles are weak or sprained; now he was able to tread firmly. The divine favor given to him was as if God had given strength to a lame man to walk firmly.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 18:36
Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
The double blessing of enlargement and safety
A smooth pathway leading to spacious possessions and camping grounds had been opened for him. Instead of threading the narrow mountain path, and hiding in the cracks and corners of caverns, he was able to traverse the plains and dwell under his own vine and fig tree. It is no small mercy to be brought into full Christian liberty and enlargement, but it is a greater favour still to be enabled to walk worthily ill such liberty, not being permitted to slip with our feet. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 36. Enlarged my steps] See on Ps 18:19. From the hand of God he had continual prosperity; and while he walked with God no enemy was able to prevail against him. He details his successes in the following verses.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Thou hast enlarged my steps; which before were straitened and confined to a little compass, and entangled with the narrowness and difficulty of the way. Thou hast set my feet in a large room, Psa 31:8; 118:5, i.e. thou hast brought me out of all my straits and difficulties into a state of freedom and safety.
Slip, or stumble, as they are apt to do in narrow and uneven ways.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
36. enlarged my stepsmadeample room (compare Pr 4:12).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Thou hast enlarged my steps under me,…. Which is opposed to those straitened circumstances in which the psalmist was, Ps 18:4; and is expressive of deliverance from his enemies, by whom he was surrounded, besieged, and shut up; see Ps 31:8; and of freedom of walking at large, without being straitened for room, or interrupted by others, Pr 4:12; and of safety in standing; all which is true in a spiritual sense of believers in Christ, who being delivered by him out of the hands of their enemies, serve the Lord without fear in righteousness and holiness; walk at liberty by faith in Christ, and up and down in the name of the Lord their God; and have their feet established upon the Rock of ages, that sure and large foundation, Christ, from which there is no danger of slipping and falling; as follows;
that my feet did not slip; so as to fall and perish; for sometimes the steps of the saints are well nigh slipped; yea, in some sense they stumble; slip, and fall, but not so as to be utterly cast down and perish eternally; the bottom on which they are is so broad, and the foundation so sure, that it is not possible they should. The words will bear to be applied to Christ, who was in very pressed and straitened circumstances, when beset with the bulls of Bashan, encompassed with dogs, and enclosed with the assembly of the wicked; and was in slippery places, when he sunk in deep mire where there is no standing,
Ps 22:12; but now being delivered from all this, he is brought, as in Ps 18:19, into a large place, into heaven, and made higher than the heavens, and is set down at the right hand of God, from whence he can never be moved.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
By the enlargement of his steps, he intimates that God had opened up to him an even and an accommodating pathway through places to which there was before no means of access; for there is in the words an implied contrast between a large and spacious place and a narrow spot, out of which a person cannot move his foot. The meaning is, that when David was reduced to the greatest distress, and saw no way of escape, God had graciously brought him out of his straits and difficulties. This is a lesson which may be highly useful for correcting our distrust. Unless we see before us a beautiful and pleasant plain, in which the flesh may freely enjoy itself, we tremble as if the earth would sink under our feet. Let us, therefore, remember, that the office of enlarging our ways and making them level belongs to God, and is here justly ascribed to him. In short, the Psalmist subjoins the effect of this instance of the grace of God towards him, namely, that his feet had not staggered or slipped; in other words, no resistance, adversity, or calamity, which had befallen him, had been able to deprive him of courage or cast him into despair.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(36) Thou hast enlarged my steps.Comp. Psa. 31:8, which explains the phrase; also Psa. 18:19 above.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
36. Thou hast enlarged my steps See on Psa 18:19. Hengstenberg: “Thou makest large my steps. One takes small steps when many stumbling blocks or hindrances are in the way.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 18:36. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me See the note on Psa 18:18. “Thou hast brought me out of my distresses; given me great prosperity:” and my feet do not slip: i.e. my happiness continues unmoved.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 18:36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
Ver. 36. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me ] Or, Thou hast widened my passage, and made room for me; when the wicked man’s strong passages are straitened, Job 18:7 , his pace impeded.
And my feet did not slip
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
enlarged: Psa 4:1, Job 18:7, Job 36:16, Luk 12:50, Luk 24:46-48
feet: Heb. ancles, 2Sa 22:37, Pro 4:12
Reciprocal: Deu 33:20 – Blessed Psa 17:5 – that Psa 18:19 – brought Psa 30:7 – by thy Psa 40:2 – established Psa 119:32 – enlarge
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 18:36. Thou hast enlarged my steps Which before were confined within narrow limits, and entangled with the straitness and difficulty of the way. Thou hast set my feet in a large room, Psa 31:8; Psa 118:5. It must be observed, that the eastern writers were wont to denote any persons condition in life by his steps, or goings. Hence narrow, or straitened steps, according to their phraseology, signified a state of distress and great affliction; and large and unconfined steps, the contrary state of prosperity and plenty. So that David here praises God for advancing him to great honour and prosperity. That my feet did not slip Or stumble, as they are apt to do in narrow and uneven ways.