Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 56:6
They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
6. they hide themselves ] I.e., lie in wait for me; or according to the Kthibh, set an ambush. Cp. Psa 59:3; Psa 10:8-9.
they mark my steps ] Like hunters tracking their game. “Go, I pray you,” said Saul to the men of Keilah, “and know and see his place where his haunt (lit. foot) is” (1Sa 23:22-23).
when they wait &c.] R.V., even as (marg. inasmuch as) they have waited for my soul; have been watching their opportunity to take my life. Cp. Psa 119:95.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
They gather themselves together – That is, they do not attack me singly, but they unite their forces; they combine against me.
They hide themselves – They lurk in ambush. They do not come upon me openly, but they conceal themselves in places where they cannot be seen, that they may spring upon me suddenly.
They mark my steps – They watch me whatever I do. They keep a spy upon me, so that I can never be sure that I am not observed.
When they wait for my soul – As they watch for my life; or, as they watch for opportunities to take away my life. I am never secure; I know not at what time, or in what manner, they may spring upon me. This would apply to David when he fled to Achish, king of Gath; when he was driven away by him; and when he was watched and pursued by Saul and his followers as he fled into the wilderness. 1Sa 21:1-15; 22.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 6. They gather themselves together] They form cabals; have secret meetings and consultations how they may most effectually destroy me, under the pretense of justice and safety to the state.
They hide themselves] They do all secretly.
They mark my steps] They are constantly at my heels.
They wait for my soul.] They lie in wait for my life. Our translators have missed the meaning of nephesh and , which generally signify the animal life, not the immortal spirit, – more than any other words in the Old or New Testament.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
They gather themselves together; after they have severally employed their thoughts against me, they meet together to compare their thoughts, and to put them in execution.
They hide themselves; they lurk secretly, either that they may pry into all my most private actions, or that they may surprise me with mischief unawares. Compare Psa 10:8; Pro 1:11.
They mark my steps, i.e. all my goings and doings, that they may find some occasion to reproach or entangle, and so destroy me.
My soul, or life, to wit, to take it away from me.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
They gather themselves together,…. And meet in some one place, to contrive ways and means to do hurt, and then assemble together again to put them in execution; as did the Jews with respect to Christ, Mt 26:3. Aben Ezra supposes a various reading without any reason; and that, instead of which Jarchi renders “they lodge”, and the Septuagint, and the versions following that, “they sojourn”, it should be read , “they assemble in troops”: because they were many: but the sense is, “they stay” x, or continue in some certain place:
they hide themselves; the Targum adds, “in ambush”: they lay in wait, and caused others to lie in wait for him, in order to take him; as did Saul and his men, and the servants of the king of Gath;
they mark my steps; they observed where he went, that they might seize him; or they observed his heels, as the old serpent did the Messiah’s, that he might bruise them; or they watched for his halting, as Jeremiah’s familiars did for his;
when they wait for my soul; to take away his life, to destroy him; see
Ps 119:95; they wanted not a will to do it, they only waited for an opportunity. The Targum is,
“as they waited, they did to my soul:”
or rather, “after they had hoped for my soul” y: when they had entertained hopes of taking him, this animated them to do the above things.
x “Commorabuntur”, Montanus; “simul ipsi morantur”, Vatablus; so Gussetius, p. 166. y Vid. Gusset. Ebr. Comment. p. 361.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(6) They hide themselves.Better, they set spies.
Mark my steps.Literally, watch my heels. (See Psa. 49:5; Psa. 89:51.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. They gather together They assemble for evil counsel. The word also signifies a temporary sojourn, or residence, as Gen 20:1; Isa 16:4; and it is not improbable that the chief men in the conspiracy had taken residence at Gath, for the greater convenience of concerted action. So the Septuagint: “They will dwell near, ( ,”) followed by the Vulgate, inhabitabunt. The version of the Liturgy has it, “they hold all together.”
They hide themselves They lurk in ambush, either literally, or figuratively by deeply concealing their real motives.
They mark my steps Literally, they watch my heels. See on Psa 49:5; Psa 89:51, “reproached the footsteps,” (Hebrew heels,) etc.
This watching the heels, like a serpent beside the path, to seize from behind, denotes a malicious and dastardly surveillance of the private acts of one’s life.
When they wait for my soul According as they strongly hoped for my life. The idea is, their extraordinary methods, past and present, agree well with their eager hope to destroy David. The “when” simply marks the agreement of all the several parts of their conduct with each other, and their whole scheme with their bloodthirsty desire. “Wait” literally denotes strong hope. They assuredly hoped to be avenged on David for the death of Goliath, and as the candidate for the sovereignty of Israel.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 56:6. They gather themselves together They secretly gather together to ensnare me: they observe my steps, for they wait for my life. That is, “they have their secret meetings and consultations how they may most effectually ensnare me, and work my ruin.”
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 56:6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
Ver. 6. They gather themselves together ] They convene and combine to do me mischief; and should not God’s people meet often together to counterplot such malignants, and to pray them down? Cum bent, cum probi coeunt, cum pii, cum casti congregantur, non est factio dicenda, sed curia: Et e contrario, illis nomen factionis accommodandum est, qui in odium bonorum et proborum conspirant, saith Tertullian (Apol. advers. Gentes, cap. 39, num 520).
They mark my steps
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
my soul = me. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
gather: Psa 2:1-3, Psa 59:3, Psa 71:10, Psa 140:2, Mat 26:3, Mat 26:4, Mat 26:57, Mat 27:1, Act 4:5, Act 4:6, Act 23:12-14
hide: Psa 10:8-10, Psa 64:2-6, Dan 6:4
mark: Psa 37:32, Psa 57:6, Psa 89:51, Job 14:16, Job 31:4, Jer 20:10, Luk 20:20
Reciprocal: Neh 4:11 – They shall not Psa 27:11 – mine enemies Psa 41:7 – against Psa 49:5 – heels Psa 59:10 – enemies Psa 83:3 – They Psa 142:3 – In the way Pro 1:11 – let us lay Pro 24:15 – Lay Dan 6:6 – assembled together Mar 12:13 – they send Luk 11:54 – seeking
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
56:6 {e} They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
(e) As all the world against one man, and cannot be satisfied unless they have my life.