Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 35:2
Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
2, 3. ‘Anthropomorphic’ language of remarkable boldness, expanding the idea of Jehovah as “a man of war” (Exo 15:3: cp. Deu 32:41 f.).
shield and buckler ] See note on Psa 5:12. The mention of both together is part of the poetical picture.
stand up for mine help ] Rather, Arise as my help. Arise (see notes on Psa 3:7; Psa 7:6) in the character and capacity of my helper (Psa 27:9).
Draw out ] From the armoury, or more probably from the spear-holder in which it was kept when not in use (Gr. , Hom. Od. i. 128). The word is used of drawing a sword from its sheath (Exo 15:9).
stop the way] All the ancient versions render the word s’gor as an imperative; and this gives a good sense. First the enemy are checked in their pursuit; then ( Psa 35:4 ff.) put to flight. But an ellipse of the way is harsh; the verb shut is not so used elsewhere; and the preposition against seems to imply attack. Hence many modem commentators regard the word as the name of a weapon not mentioned elsewhere in the O.T., battle-axe (R.V. marg.) or, dirk (Cheyne); the equivalent of the sagaris mentioned by Greek historians as the characteristic weapon of Persians, Scythians, and other Asiatics.
that persecute me ] Rather, that pursue me (R.V.). Cp. 1Sa 24:14; &c.
say unto my soul &c.] Give me the comforting assurance of thy interposition for my deliverance. Cp. Psa 3:2; Psa 3:8 and notes there. The primary meaning of the words is of course temporal not spiritual.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Take hold of shield and buckler – That is, Arm thyself as if for the contest. It is a prayer, in a new form, that God would interpose, and that he would go forth as a warrior against the enemies of the psalmist. On the word shield, see the notes at Psa 5:12. Compare the notes at Eph 6:16. On the word buckler, see the notes at Psa 18:2. These terms are derived from the armor of a warrior, and the prayer here is that God would appear in that character for his defense.
And stand up for my help – As a warrior stands up, or stands firm, to arrest the attack of an enemy.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. Take hold of shield and buckler] Let them be discomfited in battle who are striving to destroy my life. It is by the shield and buckler of others, not any of his own, that God overthrows the enemies of his people. This is spoken merely after the manner of men.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Take hold of shield and buckler; therewith to cover and defend me. Compare Psa 91:4; Pro 2:7.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Take hold of shield and buckler,…. Defensive weapons; not that the Lord stands in need of any of these to defend himself with: but the sense is, that he would be as these to David; as he was to him, and is to all his people; namely, their shield and buckler: he gives unto them the shield of salvation; he encompasses them about with his favour as with a shield, and keeps them by his power safe from all their enemies;
and stand up for mine help; for which the Lord arises, and stands by his people, and against their enemies, delivering them out of their hands.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
2. Take the shield. These words certainly cannot be applied, in the strict and proper sense, to God, who has no need of the spear or buckler: for by the breath of his mouth alone, or merely with his nod, he is able to overthrow all his enemies. But although such figures at first sight appear rude, yet the Holy Ghost employs them in accommodation to the weakness of our understanding, for the purpose of impressing more effectually upon our minds the conviction that God is present to aid us. When troubles and dangers arise, when terrors assail us on every side, when even death presents itself to our view, it is difficult to realize the secret and invisible power of God, which is able to deliver us from all anxiety and fear; for our understandings, which are gross and earthly, tend downward to the earth. That our faith, therefore, may ascend by degrees to the heavenly power of God, he is here introduced armed, after the manner of men, with sword and shield. In the same way, also, when he is in another place termed “a man of war,” it is doubtless in adaptation to the imperfection of our present state, because our minds, from their limited capacity, could in no other way comprehend the extent of that infinite power, which contains in itself every form of help, and has no need of aid from any other quarter. This, therefore, is a prayer that God, by the exercise of his secret and intrinsic power, would show that he alone is able to encounter the whole strength and forces of the ungodly. Some suppose that the Hebrew word צנה, tsinnah, here used, means a dart, or some other kind of weapon; but as we have already seen, in the fifth psalm, that it properly signifies a buckler, I see no reason why it should be differently interpreted in this place. Nor is there any thing at all inconsistent in connecting here, as is often done in other places, the buckler and the shield. (702) If the expression here employed had been designed to signify a dart, or a similar weapon, it would have been more natural to connect it with the spear, of which mention is made in the following verse. David, then, first makes mention of defensive armor, praying that God would sustain and repel the assaults of the enemy. The Hebrew word ריק , rik, which signifies to unsheath, or make bare, I take simply to mean, to draw out, or bring forth. The Hebrew word סגור, segor, which I have translated to oppose, literally signifies to shut or to close. But as David’s meaning is, that God, by setting himself as a wall or rampart, would prevent his enemies from approaching him, it appears to me that I have faithfully translated it. At the same time, if any should prefer the translation to shut, or close the way, or to impede it by some obstacle, the meaning; is substantially the same. The opinion of those who contend that it is a noun, (703) is not at all probable.
(702) The word rendered shield is in the Hebrew text מגך, magen, which was a short buckler intended merely for defense. The word rendered buckler is צנה, tsinnah, for an account of which see note, p. 64. The tsinnah was double the weight of the magen, and was carried by the infantry; the magen, being lighter and more manageable, was used by the cavalry. The tsinnah answered to the scutum, and the magen to the clypeus, among the Romans. — See Paxton’s Illustrations of Scripture, vol. 3, pp. 866, 867.
(703) Those who are of opinion that סגור, segor, is a noun, translate it “the scymitar,” and read, “Draw out the spear, and the scymitar, to oppose my persecutors.” According to Drusius, Vitringa, Michaelis, Dr Kennicott, and others, the word means σαγαρις, or scymitar, a sort of battle-axe, which was used by the Persians, Scythians, and other nations in ancient times.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(2) Shield and buckler.Better, buckler and shield, as the first (Heb., magen) suggests a small, the latter (tsinnah) a large shield covering the whole body. Greek, (see Note, Psa. 5:12.) Notice that the poet, in the intensity of his purpose, overlooks the anomaly of arming a warrior with two shields at once. The bold flight of imagination that could picture the Divine Being as a warrior, a picture common in Hebrew poetry, but here more vividly realised than anywhere else except Isa. 63:1, may well excuse such a lapse.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Take hold of shield and buckler “Shield” and “buckler” are not synonymous terms. The former was smaller, used mainly for the defence of the head, the latter covered the whole body. To “take hold,” or take strong hold, of these, indicates strength and resolution for the defence.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The last clause in these verses shows the blessedness in what goeth before. If the Lord speak pardon and peace to my soul, he will speak ruin and slaughter unto all mine enemies. Reader! what a precious thought is it that the Lord not only gives salvation, but is himself the soul’s salvation.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 35:2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
Ver. 2. Take hold of shield and buckler ] Jehovah is a man of war, Exo 15:3 , and so he is here stirred up to harness himself; not that he needeth weapons defensive, as here, or offensive, as Psa 35:3 , for he can destroy his enemies, solo nutu ac flatu, with a nod, or a blast; but this is spoken after the manner of men, and for our better apprehension of God’s readiness to relieve his distressed ones.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
shield, &c. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 7:12, Psa 7:13, Exo 15:3, Deu 32:41, Deu 32:42, Isa 13:5, Isa 42:13
Reciprocal: 2Sa 22:31 – a buckler Psa 18:37 – General Jer 11:20 – revealed
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
35:2 {b} Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
(b) Even though God can with his breath destroy all his enemies, yet the Holy Spirit attributes to him these outward weapons to assure us of his patient power.