Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 18:40
Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
40. Yea mine enemies hast thou made to turn their backs unto me,
And as for them that hated me, I cut them off.
The first line means that his enemies were put to flight before him Exo 23:27), not (as the A.V. seems to imply) that he planted his foot on their necks in token of triumph (Jos 10:24).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies – Their necks to tread upon, as the result of victory; or their necks to be subject to me, as the neck of the ox is to his owner. The phrase is sometimes used in this latter sense to denote subjection (compare Jer 27:12); but it is more commonly, when applied to war, used in the former sense, as denoting complete triumph or conquest. It was not uncommon to trample on the necks of those who were overcome in battle. See Jos 10:24; Eze 21:2; Gen 49:8. The word used here – oreph – means properly neck, nape, the back of the neck; and hence, to give the neck means sometimes to turn the back, as in flight; and the phrase would admit of that meaning here. So Gesenius (Lexicon) understands it. So also DeWette: Thou turnest my enemies to flight. It seems to me, however, that the more probable interpretation is that of complete subjection – as when the conqueror places his foot on the necks of his foes. This is confirmed by the next member of the sentence, where the psalmist speaks of the complete destruction of those who hated him.
That I might destroy them that hate me – That have pursued and persecuted me in this manner. The idea is that of utterly overcoming them; of putting an end to their power, and to their ability to injure him.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 40. The necks of mine enemies] Thou hast made me a complete conqueror. Treading on the neck of an enemy was the triumph of the conqueror, and the utmost disgrace of the vanquished.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Either,
1. That I might smite or behead them. Or,
2. That I might put my yoke upon their necks, or bring them into subjection. Or rather thus, Thou hast made them turn their backs to me, i.e. flee away from me; for so this very phrase is used and rendered, Exo 23:27; Jos 7:8,12, and elsewhere. So far are they mistaken, that say this Hebrew word oreph is only used for the neck, and not for the back. That I might destroy them; that I might have opportunity to destroy them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
40. given me the necksliterally,”backs of the necks”; made them retreat (Exo 23:27;Jos 7:8).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies,…. Either to slay them, or to trample or put a yoke upon them; or rather the sense is, thou hast made them to fly before me, to turn their necks or backs unto me, as the word is used in Jos 7:8; and it is expressive of an utter rout and vanquishing of them;
that I might destroy them that hate me; they not being able to face him and stand against him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(40) Thou hast also given.Literally, and as to mine enemies, thou gavest to me the back, which either means turned to flight so that only their backs were visible (Jer. 18:17 and Psa. 21:12), or alludes to the common symbolism of defeattrampling on an enemys neck.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
40. Given me the necks of mine enemies To “turn the neck” in battle is to be put to flight. See Jos 7:8, where “backs” should read necks, so elsewhere. To put the foot upon the neck of an enemy denotes his complete and abject submission. Jos 10:24. See note on Psa 110:1
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 18:40. Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies As for mine enemies, thou givest me their back. Houbigant. Mudge, &c. The word oreph, rendered neck, signifies the back part of the neck, and therefore is equivalent to back, as the LXX also translate it. Thou givest me their back; that is, puttest them to flight. See Exo 23:27.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 18:40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
Ver. 40. Thou hast given me the necks of mine enemies ] sc. To chop them off at my pleasure; or to cut the throats.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 18:40-42
Psa 18:40-42
“Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me,
That I may cut them off that hate me.
They cried, but there was none to save;
Even unto Jehovah, but he answered them not.
Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind;
I did cast them out as the mire of the streets.”
David here acknowledge that his victories, even with all of his skills and strength, did not come of himself alone but were the gift of God.
“They cried … even unto Jehovah.” Here again we have a suggestion of the Final Judgment of the Great Day when earth’s kings, captains, and mighty men shall “cry for the rocks and the mountains to fall upon them” (Rev 6:16).
It is at this point that the psalm appears to drift into overtones that are Messianic.
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 18:1-50. I have made one paragraph of this whole chapter because it is practically identical with 2 Samuel 22. Detailed comments are made on the chapter which is at the regular place in this commentary and will not be repeated here. The reason for giving the comments at the other place is the fact that it came in more direct connection with the history belonging to it. I will call attention to one special circumstance in the differences between the two chapters. The statements that are placed as a heading here are included in the text in 2 Samuel 22. When the collection of the Psalms of David was made into one book, the one he wrote at the time of his conflicts with Saul and other enemies was brought and included in the document. Since the two occurrences of the psalm are alike, the reader of the commentary would have no advantage offered him were I to repeat the comments in this place. I therefore urge him to see my remarks in the other place.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Reciprocal: Gen 49:8 – thy hand Exo 23:27 – backs Jos 10:24 – put your feet Jdg 9:7 – Hearken 2Sa 22:41 – necks 1Ch 17:10 – Moreover Job 15:26 – even on Psa 18:17 – them Psa 107:12 – and there Act 2:35 – thy foes
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 18:40-42. Thou hast given me the necks, &c. That I might put my yoke upon their necks, or bring them into subjection. But Houbigant and some others render the clause, more agreeably to the Hebrew, As for my enemies, thou givest, or hast given, me their back: that is, hast made them turn their backs and flee from me. For the word , gnoreph, here rendered neck, signifies the back part of the neck, and therefore is put for the back, as the LXX. translate it, and as it is rendered Exo 23:27; Jos 7:8; Jos 7:12, and elsewhere. That I might destroy them that hate me That I might have opportunity to destroy them. They cried unto the Lord He speaks of his Israelitish enemies, who in their distresses prayed to God for help against him. I did beat them small as dust These are hyperbolical expressions, signifying that his enemies had been perfectly subdued, and deprived of all power to make any further resistance. I did cast them out as dirt, &c. As the mire in the streets I trampled them down. Chandler.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
18:40 Thou hast also {e} given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
(e) You have given them to my hands to be slain.