Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 64:4
That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
4. That they may shoot ] Cp. Psa 11:2.
in secret ] R.V., in secret places, as Psa 10:8; Psa 17:12.
the perfect ] The upright, blameless man, an epithet often applied to Job (Job 1:1, &c.). Cp. Psa 37:37; Pro 29:10, and see note on the cognate word in Psa 15:2.
fear not ] They neither fear God nor regard man. Cp. Psa 55:19.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
That they may shoot in secret – From an unobserved quarter; from a place where they are so concealed that it cannot be known where the arrows come from. There was a purpose to ruin him, and at the same time to conceal themselves, or not to let him know from what source the ruin came. It was not an open and manly fight, where he could see his enemy, but it was a warfare with a concealed foe.
At the perfect – At the upright; at one who is perfect so far as his treatment of them is concerned. Compare Psa 18:20, note; Psa 18:23, note.
Suddenly do they shoot at him – At an unexpected time, and from an unlooked-for quarter. They accomplish what they intended; they carry out their design.
And fear not – They feel confident that they are not known, and that they will not be detected. They have no fear of God or man. Compare Psa 55:19.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. That they may shoot in secret] They lurk, that they may take their aim the more surely, and not miss their mark.
Suddenly] When there is no fear apprehended, because none is seen.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
In secret; lying in ambush, or hiding themselves in secret places, as fowlers commonly do.
The perfect; or, upright man; i.e. at me, who in spite of all their calumnies dare avow that my heart is perfect with God, and that I am blameless as to them, having given them no just provocation.
Suddenly; at the very first opportunity.
Fear not; neither men, because they conceal it from them, as appears from the foregoing and following words; nor God, whose judgments they despise.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. the perfectone innocent ofthe charges made (Ps 18:23).
fear not (Ps55:19), not regarding God.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
That they may shoot in secret at the perfect,…. Meaning himself, who though not without sin, and far from perfection in himself, in the sight of God and with respect to his righteous law, which was exceeding broad; and therefore he saw an end of all perfection, and desired that God would not enter into judgment with him; but yet, in the case of Saul, he was quite clear and innocent, and without fault. Likewise the Messiah, of whom David was a type, may be meant; who has all the perfections of the divine and human nature in him, and is without sin, holy, harmless, pure, and undefiled: and it may be applied to the church and people of God, who, though they are not perfect in themselves, far from it, sin being in them, and their graces weak; unless it be in a comparative sense; yet they are perfect in Christ Jesus, their souls being clothed with his righteousness, and so are the spirits of just men made perfect. And this character may also respect the truth and sincerity of grace in them, and the uprightness of their hearts and conversation; and such as these wicked men level their arrows at, and direct their spite and venom against, and that in the most private and secret manner;
suddenly do they shoot at him; as unseen by him, so unawares to him;
and fear not; neither God nor judgment to come. Though some understand this of the perfect who, though shot at in this manner are intrepid and courageous, and have no fear of their enemies; but the former sense seems best, which describes persons that neither fear God, nor regard man.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(4) And fear not.These are utterly unscrupulous, fearing neither God nor man.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Shoot in secret A mark at once of treachery, cowardice, and cruelty. See Psa 10:8-10 and Psa 11:2.
They fear not “They cast their arrows at men because they are not seen by them, and they are not afraid of God, who does see them.” Phillips, Psa 55:19
Psa 64:4. At the perfect The upright man. Houbigant and Mudge. David gives himself this high appellation, as referring to his integrity and uprightness; his perfect innocence of the crimes which his calumniators urged against him.
Psa 64:4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
Ver. 4. That they may shoot in secret at the perfect ] Innocence and integrity is no target against calumny; but every Zopyrus shall be sure of his Zoilus, who, right or wrong, will shoot him down if he can, Aliquid saltem adhaerebit (Machiavel).
Suddenly do they shoot at him
And fear not shoot. fear. Figure of speech Paronomasia. Hebrew. yoruhu. . yira’u.
shoot: Psa 10:8, Psa 10:9, Neh 4:11, Hab 3:14
the perfect: Psa 59:3, Psa 59:4, Joh 19:6, 1Pe 2:22, 1Pe 2:23
suddenly: Psa 64:7, 1Sa 18:11, 1Sa 19:10, 2Sa 15:14
Reciprocal: Gen 31:1 – Jacob Psa 11:2 – lo Psa 31:18 – speak Psa 35:7 – without Psa 35:20 – but Psa 94:4 – shall Psa 109:2 – the mouth Psa 140:3 – sharpened Pro 18:8 – words Pro 24:2 – General Isa 32:7 – deviseth Jer 9:3 – they bend Jer 9:8 – tongue Jer 18:22 – and hid Mat 2:7 – General Mat 26:3 – assembled Jam 3:8 – an unruly
64:4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and {e} fear not.
(e) To be without fear of God and reverence of man, is a sign of reprobation.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes