Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 31:12
I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
12. As a dead man passes out of men’s minds, so he is forgotten. Cp. Job 19:14. He is like a broken (lit. perishing) vessel, flung aside contemptuously and no more remembered. Cp. (though the phrase there is different) Jer 22:28 (R.V.).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind – Like the man who is dead, and who has passed away from the recollection of mankind. Compare Psa 88:4-5. The Hebrew is, as a dead man from the heart; that is, from the memory or recollection of men, so as to be no more remembered; no more regarded. The expression is nearly the same in meaning as our common English proverb: out of sight, out of mind. The allusion is to the fact that a man who is dead is soon forgotten. He is missed at first by a few friends, while the rest of the world knows little about him, or cares little for him. He is no longer seen where he has been accustomed to be seen, at the place of business, in the social circle, in the scenes of amusement, in the streets, or in public assemblies. For a short period a vacancy is created which attracts attention and causes regret. But the world moves on. Another comes to fill his place, and soon his absence ceases to be a subject of remark, or a cause of regret; the world says little about him, and soon he altogether ceases to be remembered. At no distant time the rude board with his name written on it, or the marble sculptured with all the skill of art, falls down. The passing traveler casts an eye upon the name of him who slept his last sleep there, and neither knows nor cares who he was.
The gay will laugh
When thou art gone, the solemn brood of care
Plod on, and each one as before will chase
His favorite phantom
– Bryant
On my grassy grave
The men of future times will careless tread,
And read my name upon the sculptured stone;
Nor will the sound, familiar to their ears,
Recall my vanishd memory.
– Henry Kirke White
It is sad to reflect that this is to be our lot; but so it is. It would cast a most gloomy shade over life if this was to be the end of man, and if he passed from existence as soon as he passes from the recollection of the living. The idea of the psalmist here is, that, in the circumstances to which he referred, he had been forgotten by mankind, and he uses the most striking image which could be employed to convey that idea.
I am like a broken vessel – Margin, as in Hebrew, like a vessel that perisheth. That is, like a vessel made of clay – a piece of pottery – that is easily broken and rendered worthless. This is a favorite comparison with Jeremiah. See Jer 22:28; Jer 48:38; Lam 4:2. Compare also Psa 2:9; Isa 30:14; Hos 8:8.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 31:12
I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind.
Buried alive
This title would suggest to many, terrible ideas of an awful physical calamity, such as has taken place in mines, or in actual burials ere life was extinct. But there are other senses in which men are buried alive.
I. in an unfortunate sense.
1. For want of opportunities of mental development. The human mind is like seed in the vegetable kingdom. It contains life and unbounded possibilities of increase, but unless it finds suitable soil, shower and warmth, the vital principle is buried alive, buried in the shell. And so it is too often with thousands of men. There are multitudes possessing brilliant natural capacities–mute Miltons and Shakespeares–but buried for lack of opportunity. Hence, let us rejoice at the growing determination that our children shall be educated, however poor they may be, and thus shall possess the means of stimulating life and growth.
2. Through the infirmities of age. Their day is past. They once were prominent and well known, but now are forgotten as dead men out of mind.
3. Through the envy of their contemporaries. This, perhaps, is the meaning of the psalmists words. Malice bespreads a thick cloud over a name which once has shone brightly. Now many are thus kept in the background.
II. in a criminal sense. To be carnally minded is death.
III. in a virtuous sense. We are buried with Him by baptism into death. Not the baptism of water, of course, but the baptism of that holy fire that burns up all carnalities. What is buried here? Not the mind, but the old man with its lusts. Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ, etc. This is a virtuous burying alive. It means being dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto righteousness.
IV. conclusion. In which of these senses are you buried alive? Some of you may say that it is in the first sense. It may be so; ask God to guide you into a fit sphere. Or it may be by the infirmities of age. You cannot do what you once did and what you wish to do. But God accepts the will for the deed. He values service by its motive. But some of you are buried alive in the criminal sense. You are dead in the grave of depravity. Arise from the dead and Christ, etc. And others of you are so in the virtuous sense–dead to sin. You can say, God forbid that I should glory save . . . the world is crucified to me and I to the world. (D. Thomas, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 12. I am forgotten as a dead man] I am considered as a person adjudged to death. I am like a broken vessel – like a thing totally useless.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Whatsoever good service I have done to the king, or kingdom, or to any particular persons, neighbours, friends, or others, which sometimes they have acknowledged and highly commended, is now quite forgotten by all of them; or, at least, they carry themselves to me as if it were so.
As a dead man; whose name and memory is quite lost within a few days. See Psa 88:12; Ecc 9:5.
Like a broken vessel, made of earth; which is irreparable, and useless, and therefore despised by all.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12. he is forgotten as one dead,and contemned as a useless broken vessel.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind,…. Either by his friends, being out of sight, out of mind; as even the nearest relations and acquaintance are, in process of time, when dead, Ec 9:5; or by the Lord; which shows the weakness of his faith, the uncomfortable frame he was in, through darkness and desertion; see Ps 88:5;
I am like a broken vessel; or a “perishing vessel” c; or “a vessel of perdition” d: the Septuagint version renders it “a lost vessel” e; one entirely useless, wholly lost, and irrecoverably so; like a broken vessel, which can never be put together again, Isa 30:14; a most sad apprehension he had of himself, as if his case was desperate, and he a vessel of wrath; compare with this, Ro 9:22.
c “sicut vas periens”, Montanus, Cocceius, Gejerus. d So Ainsworth. e V. L. Pagninus, Musculus, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
12. I am forgotten as one dead. The Psalmist still pursues the same idea, and complains that he was as completely blotted out of all men’s remembrance as if he had been dead. The memory of some men after their death flourishes for a time among survivors, but it more frequently vanishes; for there is no longer any intercourse between the quick and the dead, nor can the living be of any farther service to the dead. David illustrates this idea by the metaphor of a broken vessel, (645) which denotes utter contempt and meanness; as if he had said, that he was accounted no longer worthy of any place or respect. He adds, in fine, that he was railed upon by the multitude, and agitated with terrors. I would, however, prefer translating the Hebrew word רבים, rabbim, by the great, (646) rather than by many. When great men, who are often as powerful in judgment as in authority, slander and defame us as wicked persons, this adds to the indignity with which we are treated, because, whatever they say in condemnation of us has the effect of prejudicing the common people against us. It will therefore be very suitable to understand the words as meaning that David was ignominiously condemned by the whole order of the nobility; and thus the innocence of this afflicted man was thrown into the shade by their greatness. This interpretation is confirmed by what immediately follows:— Fear encloseth me on every side, (647) while they consult together against me. As he is still speaking of the same persons, it is certain that this language applies more appropriately to the nobles than to the common people. Moreover, we see that the primary object of the wicked in the deceitful counsels by which they conspired to destroy David, was to create among the whole people hatred against him as a wicked and reprobate man. We also see that while they mangled his reputation, they did it in such a manner as that they covered their wickedness under the appearance of grave and considerate procedure, in consulting among themselves to destroy him as a man who no longer ought to be tolerated on the earth. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that his mind was wounded, as we have just seen, by so many and so sharp temptations.
(645) “I am become like a broken vessel;” that is, utterly neglected as being worthless.
(646) Horsley takes the same view. He reads, “the mighty.”
(647) “ Fearfulness on every side, or terror round about. In Heb., magor missabib, which name Jeremiah gave to Pashur the priest, signifying that he should be a terror to himself and to all his friends; Jer 20:3.” — Ainsworth. Horsley reads,
“
Truly I heard the angry muttering of the mighty, of them that are the general dread.”
On this he has the following note: ” מסביב מגור, I take this to be a phrase describing the mighty, whose malignant threats against him he overheard, as persons universally dreaded for their power and their cruelty.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(12) Broken vessel.A favourite image with Jeremiah (Jer. 19:11; Jer. 22:28; Jer. 25:34; Jer. 48:38), but not peculiar to him among the prophets. (Comp. Hos. 8:8, and see Introduction to this psalm.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
12. Out of mind Hebrew, Out of heart. Perished from the affections of the living. Compare, “No man cared for my soul,” (Psa 142:4,) and the phrase, “out of the mouths,” (cease to be repeated,) Deu 31:21
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 31:12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
Ver. 12. I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind ] How soon dead men are forgotten, even by those that promise to remember them longest of all, experience teacheth; trust not to protestations of best friends in that case.
I am like a broken vessel
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
am = became.
broken: or missing.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
forgotten: Psa 88:4, Psa 88:5, Isa 38:11, Isa 38:12
a broken vessel: Heb. a vessel that perisheth, Psa 2:9, Psa 119:83, Isa 30:14, Rom 9:21, Rom 9:22, Rev 2:27
Reciprocal: Gen 40:23 – but forgat him Psa 88:12 – in the land Psa 143:3 – made me Ecc 8:10 – they were Jer 22:28 – a despised
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 31:12-13. I am forgotten, &c. Whatsoever good service I have done to the king or kingdom, or to any particular persons, which they have sometimes acknowledged and highly commended, is now quite forgotten by them all: or at least they behave toward me as if it were so. As a dead man out of mind Whose name and memory are quite lost within a few days. I am like a broken vessel Made of earth, which is irreparable and useless, and therefore despised by all. For I have heard With my own ears, or learned by information from others, the slander of many Who reproach and defame me, as a turbulent and seditious person, an enemy to the public peace, and a conspirator against the kings life, or dignity. Fear was on every side Just cause for fear, even of the loss of my life; while they took counsel together against me , behiv-vasedam jachad, in their assembling together, and holding consultations; they devised, or plotted to take away my life Namely, unjustly and violently. This and the preceding verses are plainly applicable to the Lord Jesus, and to the life of sorrow and reproach which he led among men.