Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 31:13
For I have heard the slander of many: fear [was] on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
13. For I have heard the defaming of many,
Terror on every side (R.V.).
Jeremiah uses these very words to describe his plight (Jer 20:10). Terror on every side is a favourite phrase with him (Jer 6:25; Jer 20:3-4; Jer 46:5; Jer 49:29; Lam 2:22).
they devised &c.] Jer 11:19 ff; Jer 18:20 ff., supply an illustration.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For I have heard the slander of many – The reproach; the false accusations; the unjust aspersions. We are here more definitely informed as to another of the sources of the trouble that came upon him. It was slander. He had already referred to two sources of trouble; one Psa 31:11 that he was reproached by his friends and neighbors, and that his society was shunned by them; a second, that he was forgotten by those who ought to have remembered him, and that they treated him as though he were dead, Psa 31:12. The third is referred to now; to wit, that he was the subject of slander, or of false reports. What was the nature of those false charges we are not informed. But it is not needful that we should know precisely what they were. It is enough, in order to see the depth and aggravation of his trouble, to know that he was exposed to this; and that, to all that he had to endure from other sources, there was this added – that his name was reproached and cast out as evil – that he was subjected to slander,
Whose edge is sharper than the sword; whose tongue
Outvenoms all the worms of Nile; whose breath
Rides on the posting winds; and doth belie
All corners of the world.
Cymbeline, Act iii., Sc. iv.
Fear was on every side – From the causes already specified. He knew not whom to trust. He seemed to have no friend. He was afraid, therefore, of every one that he met.
While they took counsel together against me – See the notes at Psa 2:2. They entered into a conspiracy or combination.
They devised to take away my life – They devised measures, or they laid a plot, thus to kill me. These are the grounds of the earnest prayer which he urges in Psa 31:9 : Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 31:13
Fear was on every side.
The length and the breadth are equal
(with Psa 71:21):–Life is circumvented by peril; yet on every side we are promised assurance and safety.
I. the hinder side.
1. The world of the past clings to us, and in many ways alarms and embarrasses. We cannot rub out the blood stains. We can plead no Statute of Limitations.
2. But our God comforts us on this side, with pardoning and renewing grace.
II. The farther side.
1. How much of a deeply distressing order may happen to us in this new year. Changes, trials, disappointments, bereavements. We feel that we are like Nansen in the Arctic region–the ice is all around us holding us firmly in its threatening grip. We go up to the crows-nest and survey the scene, but there is no open sea, no inviting shore, only one iceberg jamming another until the last is lost in the dark horizon. We need not wonder that men look into the strange, uncertain, threatening future with deep seriousness.
2. Yet is there comfort on this side also. God goes before us, preparing us for the future, preparing the future for us. The trees on this winters day are being secretly prepared for the summer days of sunshine, so are the bulbs in the soil, so are the flies and butterflies, and the summer is on its way getting up its fires and showers; the two will meet at the right moment exactly ready for each other; in six months time again all these things will secretly undergo another great change, and although there is not a morsel of ice or flake of snow to be seen, they will be preparing for the winter, God is secretly equipping us for the trial that is to try us; He is quietly getting us ready for old age; He is establishing harmony between us and the circumstances He must introduce; He is already making it easy for us to die. Let us be of good heart. Many bright things and scenes are ahead for most of us; if our goodness is like the morning cloud and the early dew Gods goodness is not. And as to the evil things, Gods government shall soften them one by one and lead us out of them.
III. The outside.
1. Like the apostle (2Co 7:5), we all have our Macedonia, and sustain desperate fightings. It is vain to speak as some do of the smoothness and pleasantness of modern life as compared with life in the ancient days. The well-dressed congregation of to-day is fighting a battle as difficult and bitter as those noble saints fought in sheep-skins and goat-skins. We, too, bear in our bodies the marks of the Lord Jesus.
2. Yet here also we are comforted. Our flesh had no rest, says the apostle, but their spirit had. God shelters and strengthens us amid dilemmas and tribulations, making them to work out our salvation and glory.
IV. the inside. The apostle continues in the passage just quoted: Within were fears. We have, perhaps, most to fear here. The garrison itself is unsatisfactory, weak. We know the force within to be ten thousand, the investing army to be thousands of thousands. It is a sceptical garrison. It has little faith in itself–little faith in victory–it is fainthearted to begin with. It is a treacherous garrison–so much that is within us perfidiously allies itself with the alien army. But here also we are comforted. He Himself enters into our life; He makes us heroic and conquering by virtue of His presence manifested in our heart. The peace of God keeps our heart–garrisons our heart. Here is the victory of Mansoul–the great white flag of the Prince waves over it, and, weak as we are in ourselves, we are invincible in the power of purity and faith. This is the garrison on which we rely, and which shall keep us in the hour and power of darkness. (W. L. Watkinson.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 13. I have heard the slander of many] To this and the two foregoing verses the reader may find several parallels; Jer 18:18-19:15, and ten first verses of Jer 20:1-10. This has caused several to suppose that Jeremiah was the author of this Psalm.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I have heard, partly with my own ears, and partly by the information of others.
The slander of many, who reproach and defame me as a turbulent and seditious person, an enemy to the public peace, a conspirator against the kings life or dignity.
Fear, i.e. just cause of fear, even of the loss of my life, as appears from the next clause.
They devised to take away, to wit, unjustly and violently; as this word is used, Gen 34:2; 24:11.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
13. Forintroduces furtherreasons for his prayer, the unjust, deliberate, and murderouspurposes of his foes.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For I have heard the slander of many,…. Both enemies and neighbours;
fear [was] on every side; his enemies were a “Magormissabib” to him,
Jer 20:3; encompassed him around, so that he was in fear from every quarter;
while they took counsel together against me; how to apprehend him, and what to do with him;
they devised to take away my life; nothing short of that would satisfy; but life is in the hand of God; men may devise, but God disappoints, and his counsel stands; hence the psalmist was encouraged, after all, to trust in him, in this time of imminent danger, as follows.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(13) Again comp. Jer. 20:10, which reproduces word for word the first two clauses. The expression rendered fear on every side was actually a motto of the prophet (Jer. 6:25; Jer. 20:3, margin; Jer. 46:5; Jer. 49:29. Comp. Lam. 2:22). But the most probable derivation makes the noun mean not terror but conspiracy, while for slander here we must render whisper.
For I heard the whispering of the many,
Conspiracy all around.
Under cover of a pretended general panic they were really, as the psalmist saw, plotting evil against him.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
13. For He gives the reason of his sufferings, as in Psa 31:11.
Fear was on every side The Hebrew is simply Magor-missabib, and the force of the description is given in Jer 20:3: “The Lord hath not called thy name Pashur, (that is, Prosperity round about,) but Magor missabib, (that is, Fear round about,) for I will make thee a terror to thyself and to all thy friends.” So, also, Jer 20:10.
They took counsel together Compare Psa 2:2; Mat 27:1.
To take away my life The words have a Messianic application. Joh 11:47-53
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 31:13. For I have heard the slander, &c. For I hear the evil talk of the people: terror on every side: while they consult together against me, and plot to take away my life. This and the preceding verses are plainly applicable to our Redeemer, and to that life of sorrow and reproach which he led amongst men.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 31:13 For I have heard the slander of many: fear [was] on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
Ver. 13. For I have heard the slander of many ] Or, as Calvin, Mollerus, and others render it, magnorum, of the great ones, such as take counsel (so it followeth here), which the vulgar seldom do; and their tongues oft are no slander, as we say.
Fear was on every side
While they took counsel together against me
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
life-soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I have: Psa 55:10, Psa 101:5, 1Sa 22:8-10, 1Sa 24:9, Jer 20:10, Luk 23:1, Luk 23:2, Luk 23:5
fear: Psa 56:1-3, Psa 57:4, Jer 6:25, Jer 20:3, Jer 20:4, *marg. Lam 2:22
while: 1Sa 19:10-17, 1Sa 20:33, 1Sa 23:19, 1Sa 23:20, 2Sa 17:1-4, Jer 11:19, Mat 26:3, Mat 26:4, Mat 26:59, Mat 27:1
Reciprocal: Gen 32:7 – greatly Gen 37:18 – conspired Psa 21:11 – imagined Psa 35:20 – but Psa 41:7 – against Psa 64:1 – preserve Psa 109:2 – the mouth Psa 143:3 – made me Jer 49:29 – Fear Joh 11:53 – they Act 23:12 – that
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
31:13 For I have heard the slander of {i} many: fear [was] on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
(i) They who were in authority condemned me as a wicked doer.