Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 31:11
I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbors, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.
11. Because of all mine adversaries I am become a reproach,
Yea, unto my neighbours exceedingly. (R.V.)
The original is as awkward as the translation, and we should probably connect because of all mine adversaries with the previous verse, and read, I am become a reproach unto my neighbours exceedingly: or else, with Lagarde, Cheyne, and others, read a shaking of head (Psa 44:14, cp. 13), in place of exceedingly. Cp. Psa 22:6-7; Jer 20:7-8.
they that did see me &c.] Those who met him in public avoided him, afraid of incurring persecution themselves by any sign of sympathy.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I was a reproach among all mine enemies – That is, he was subjected to their reproaches, or was calumniated and reviled by them. See the notes at Psa 22:6.
But especially among my neighbors – I was reproached by none more than by my neighbors. They showed special distrust of me, and manifested special unkindness, even more than my enemies did. They turned away from me. They abandoned me. They would not associate with me. They regarded me as a disgrace to them, and forsook me. Compare Job 19:13-15, and the notes at that passage.
And a fear to mine acquaintance – An object of dread or terror, so that they fled from me.
They that did see me without – In the streets, or in public – out of my own house. Not only those in my own dwelling – the members of my family – regarded me in this manner, but passers in the streets – those whom I accidentally met – turned from me and fled in disgust and horror. It is not possible now to determine at what time in the life of the psalmist this occurred, or to ascertain the exact circumstances. There were, doubtless, times when with the saddest feelings he could say that all this was true of him. His troubles in the time of his persecutions by Saul, and still more probably his trials in the time when Absalom rebelled against him, and when he was driven away from his throne and his capital, would furnish an occasion when this would be true. If the latter was the occasion, then we can see how naturally he would connect all this with his iniquity, and regard it as the consequence of his sin in the matter of Uriah – a sin which would probably be always in his recollection, and which he would ever onward regard as lying at the foundation of all his afflictions.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 11. I was a reproach] When proscribed at the court of Saul, my enemies triumphed, and loaded me with execrations; my neighbours considered me as a dangerous man, now deservedly driven from society; my acquaintance, who knew me best, were afraid to hold any communication with me; and they who saw me in my exile avoided me as if affected with a contagious disorder,
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
A reproach, i.e. the matter of their reproaches and scorns. This, said they, is David, anointed to be king of Israel, a goodly monarch indeed, forsaken by God and men, and in a perishing and desperate condition; he pretends great piety to God, and loyalty to Saul, but in truth he is a great impostor, and a traitor and rebel to his king. Especially among my neighbours; which aggravates their sin, and his misery, partly because they were obliged by the laws of neighbourhood to perform all friendly offices to him; and partly because they were daily witnesses of his integrity, and therefore sinned against their own knowledge. A fear; or, a terror. They were afraid to give me any countenance or assistance, or to be seen in my company; being warned by Ahimelechs punishment for it, 1Sa 22.
Fled from me; either loathing me as a monster of men, and an unlucky spectacle, and such a villain as mine enemies represented me, and they believed me to be; or to prevent their own danger and ruin, which might be occasioned by it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11. amongor, literally,”from,” or, “by” my enemies. The latter clausesdescribe the progress of his disgrace to the lowest degree, till,
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
I was a reproach among all mine enemies,…. This is a common case of the people of God; and though it may be the least of their afflictions, yet it is not grateful to the flesh; and it is as it is made: under divine supports saints rejoice, and take pleasure in reproaches, that they are counted worthy to bear them, and esteem them as great riches; at other times they seize and feed upon their spirits, and are ready to break their hearts;
but especially among my neighbours; who knew him, and knew he did not deserve to be so treated; and who ought, as neighbours, to have loved him, and done all good offices to him; so that this is an aggravation both of their sin and his distress;
and a fear to mine acquaintance; not that they were afraid that he should do them any mischief; but they were afraid to own him, and to do him any service; unless the sense is, that they were afraid that evil would befall him, that he should not escape with his life; which, though it may express the affectionate concern of his friends, yet shows the danger he was exposed to;
they that did see me without fled from me; as if he had something very pestilential and infectious about him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
11. I was a reproach by reason of all mine enemies. Others translate thus – more than mine enemies, and as the Hebrew letter מ , mem, is often used as a sign of comparison, they interpret this clause to mean that David’s friends and acquaintances reproached him more than all his enemies. But, in my opinion, he intended to express a different idea, namely, that as he was everywhere hated, and his enemies had induced almost the whole realm to take part with them against him, he had an evil name even among his friends and neighbors; just as popular opinion, like a violent tempest, usually carries all before it. I suppose, therefore, that the Hebrew copula ו , vau, is used for the sake of amplification, to show that David was an object of detestation, not only to strangers to whom he was formerly unknown, but also to his principal friends. He adds, likewise, that when they saw him abroad they fled from him By the adverb, abroad, he means to say, that they did not think the miserable man worthy of a near approach to them; nay, that they fled from the very sight of him, at however great a distance, lest the contagion of his misery should reach them, and because they reckoned it would be injurious and disgraceful to them to show him any sign of friendship.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(11) The adverb rendered especially seems out of place. It is therefore better to take it as a noun, in the sense of burden, a sense etymologically probable.
Because of all mine oppressors I have become a reproach,
And to my neighbours a burden,
And a fear to my acquaintance.
Fled.Literally, fluttered away like frightened birds.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. Among all mine enemies Literally, Because of all my oppressors, I have been a reproach. Psa 6:7. They had originated all his trouble and disgrace.
Especially among my neighbours, and acquaintance These who dwelt nearest to the places where, from time to time, he resorted. From the example of Nob, (1Sa 22:6-19,) it was death to them to harbour David, or give comfort and aid to his cause, or even to fail to give information to Saul if they knew of him. Thus he was a terror to them.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Because of all my adversaries I am become a reproach,
Yes, to my neighbours exceedingly,
And a fear to my acquaintance.
Those who saw me out of doors fled from me.
I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind,
I am like a broken vessel.
For I have heard the defaming of many,
Terror on every side,
While they took counsel together against me,
They devised to take away my life.
And this adversity is not only in the privacy of his own soul, but also involves the behaviour of others towards him. As a result of the activity of his adversaries he has become an especial reproach to those who are close to him, while even his acquaintances are afraid to be seen as connected with him and flee from him when he walks around in the open. He has become a marked man so that to be seen as acquainted with him is to risk having to suffer along with him. This is the common experience of Christians in some countries today, and has always been so.
He then describes himself in terms of being totally forgotten like someone who has died, and as being like a useless vessel that has been smashed and tossed away. Men no longer see him as having any significance, or want to have any dealings with him. Indeed many are defaming him, there is fear on every side, and there are even those who are taking counsel to put him to death, and are trying to think of ways of bringing it about.
We are reminded here of how true this was of Jesus. Disparaged, defamed on every side, deserted by disciples, and plotted against by the rulers of the people, He might well have thought in terms of this Psalm.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
If the Reader will mark the different expressions here, and turn to the scriptures concerning Christ, he will discover their plain and evident reference to Jesus. David was never so bitterly reproached as Christ: neither so great a fear to his acquaintance, neither did men flee from him so apprehensive of danger, as in the case of Jesus. But we find Jesus indeed reproached as a blasphemer, a deceiver, a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners, and even a devil. For fear of being involved in the same ruin, all his disciples forsook him, and fled: and at his death, though they had trusted that it was he which should have redeemed Israel, no sooner was he laid in the grave, than they were about to return to their usual occupations. Luk 24:21 ; Joh 21:3 . And never, surely, did men proceed with more slander, mingled with fear and apprehension, than when the chief priests and the council planned with the traitor Judas against the Lord of life and glory. Joh 11:47-48 ; Mat 26:59-63Mat 26:59-63 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 31:11 I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.
Ver. 11. I was a reproach among all mine enemies ] Such as Shimei, who now insulted lustily; Leoni mortuo vel mus insultat.
But especially among my neighbours
And a fear to mine acquaintance
They that did see me without (or, in the streets) fled from me] To shift for themselves; since to own me, whom they could not help, was bootless, and, besides, perilous.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
reproach = derision.
my neighbours. Compare 2Sa 6:16, 2Sa 6:20.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I was: Psa 22:6, Psa 69:19, Psa 69:20, Psa 89:50, Psa 89:51, Isa 49:7, Isa 53:4, Isa 53:5, Mat 27:39-44, Rom 15:3, Heb 11:36, Heb 13:13, 1Pe 4:14
especially: Psa 38:11, Psa 41:8, Psa 41:9, Psa 88:8, Psa 88:18, Job 19:13, Job 19:14, Jer 12:6, Mic 7:6, Mat 10:21, Mat 10:22
a fear: Psa 64:8, Job 6:21-23, Mat 26:56, Mat 26:74, 2Ti 4:16
Reciprocal: Psa 69:8 – become Psa 102:8 – Mine Psa 109:25 – a reproach Psa 142:4 – but there was Lam 1:2 – all her friends
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 31:11. I was a reproach among all mine enemies That is, the subject of their reproaches and scoffs. This, said they, is David, anointed to be king of Israel, a goodly monarch indeed! forsaken by God and men, and in a desperate and perishing condition. He pretends great piety to God, and loyalty to Saul; but, in truth, he is a great impostor, and a traitor and rebel to his king. But especially among my neighbours Though they have been witnesses of my integrity in all my actions. And a fear to mine acquaintance Hebrew, , pachad, a terror. They were afraid to give me any countenance or assistance, or to be seen in my company. They that did see me without That met me in the highway; fled from me To prevent their own danger and ruin, which might have been occasioned by their appearing to have any acquaintance with, or friendship for me.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
31:11 I was a {g} reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.
(g) My enemies had drawn all men to their part against me, even my chief friends.