Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 69:29
But I [am] poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.
29. But as for me, who am afflicted and sore pained,
Thy salvation, O God, shall set me up on high.
The verb may be rendered as a prayer (A.V.), or as an expression of confidence (P.B.V.). God’s deliverance will set him as it were in a high fortress, out of the reach of his enemies. Cp. Psa 59:1 note.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
29 36. In contrast to the fate which his enemies deserve, the Psalmist looks forward to his own deliverance, and predicts the restoration of Jerusalem and the reestablishment there of the true people of God. Such a sudden change of tone is quite characteristic of Jeremiah, e.g. Jer 20:13.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But I am poor and sorrowful – I am afflicted and suffering. The word here rendered poor often means afflicted.
Let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high – Let thy help raise me up from my low condition, and exalt me to a place of safety.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 29. I am poor and sorrowful] Literally, I an laid low, and full of pain or grief. Hence the prayer, “Let thy salvation, O God set me on high!” My oppression has laid me low; thy salvation shall make me high!
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Out of the reach of mine enemies; or, lift me out of the deep waters, and the mire, in which I was sinking, Psa 69:14.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
29. poor and sorrowfultheafflicted pious, often denoted by such terms (compare Psa 10:17;Psa 12:5).
set me . . . highoutof danger.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But I [am] poor and sorrowful,…. The Messiah was poor in a literal sense, as it was foretold he should, Zec 9:9; so he was in his private life; born of poor parents, and brought up in a mean way: and in his public life, having no certain dwelling place, and ministered to by others; and when on the cross, being stripped of his garments; and nothing to eat and drink but gall and vinegar; and nothing to leave to his mother, but commits her to the care of his beloved disciple. Though this phrase in general may denote the low estate of Christ in his humiliation, being in the form of a servant, humbled and obedient to death; and the character of “sorrowful” well agrees with him, who was a man of sorrows all his days; and in the garden his soul was exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; and when on the cross he had sorrow enough; what with the sins of his people on him, the flouts and jeers of his enemies at him; the pains of body he endured, the wrath of God, the hidings of his face, and the curses of his righteous law. After this declaration of his low and distressed state, a petition follows:
let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high: meaning either the salvation of the Lord’s people, so called, because concerted and appointed of God, and is what he sent his Son to effect, and he approves of; this being wrought out was the way and, means of the exaltation of Christ; both by his divine Father, who on this account exalted him at his right hand; and by his people, who exalt him in their hearts, and with their tongues, and give him all the glory of their salvation. Or else this means the salvation of Christ out of the hands of all his enemies, whom he conquered on the cross; and particularly death, from which he was saved by his resurrection, and was the first step to his exaltation and glory; after which he ascended on high, and sat down at the right hand of God; where no mere creature, angels or men, were ever admitted; and where angels, principalities, and powers, are subject to him. The whole may be rendered thus; “though I am poor and sorrowful, thy salvation, O God, will set me up on high” o; and so is expressive of the Messiah’s faith in his resurrection and exaltation, notwithstanding his sorrows and sufferings; on account of which he determines to praise the Lord, as follows.
o “elevabit me”, Pagninus, Montanus; so Gejerus, Michaelis.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
29. As for me, I am poor and sorrowful. (97) From this verse we perceive more distinctly how David cast away from him the swelling and raging passion of those who, with ungovernable fury, pour forth imprecation and vengeance. He here, without doubt, offers himself to God with the sacrifice of a broken and humble heart, that by this meekness of spirit he may obtain favor with him. He therefore adds immediately after, Thy salvation shall exalt me. Those assuredly who are impelled to avenge themselves by their own ungovernable spirits are so far from being humbled, that they exalt themselves to a position to which they are not entitled. There is here a mutual relation stated between the sorrow with which he was oppressed, and the help of God by which he hoped to be lifted up. At the same time, he assures himself that the very thing which others considered as a ground for despair, would prove to him the cause of his salvation. This sentence might also be explained adversatively thus: Although I now mourn under the pressure of affliction, yet shall thy salvation, O Lord! exalt me. But for my part, I consider it certain that David brings forward his own affliction as a plea for obtaining mercy at the hand of God. Nor does he say simply that he will be raised up, but he expressly speaks of being exalted; and in this he alludes to fortresses which are set upon high places; for this is the proper signification of the Hebrew word שגב, sagab, here employed.
(97) Boothroyd reads, “humbled and afflicted!”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(29) Set me up on high.Or, lift me up, i.e., into a secure place out of the reach of enemies.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 69:29. But I am poor and sorrowful But as for me, though I am low and full of pain, thy salvation, O God, shall protect me. See Bishop Hare and Mudge.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Here is another engaging portrait of Jesus. And who of his redeemed but must love him, both on his cross and on his throne?
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 69:29 But I [am] poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.
Ver. 29. But I am poor and sorrowful ] The Church is usually so, and may sing, as here, Vaani gnani, &c., but her comfort is, 1. That Christ saith unto her, as Rev 2:9 , I know thy sorrow and poverty (but that is nothing), thou art rich. 2. That her poverty is not penal, but medicinal; God’s dispensation to fit her for better riches; as a wise physician purgeth a foul hody till he bring it almost to skin and bone; but why? that, having made it poor, there may be a spring of better blood and spirits.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 69:29-33
29But I am afflicted and in pain;
May Your salvation, O God, set me securely on high.
30I will praise the name of God with song
And magnify Him with thanksgiving.
31And it will please the Lord better than an ox
Or a young bull with horns and hoofs.
32The humble have seen it and are glad;
You who seek God, let your heart revive.
33For the Lord hears the needy
And does not despise His who are prisoners.
Psa 69:29-33 This strophe describes what the delivered psalmist will do because YHWH’s salvation has set him securely on high.
1. I will praise the name of God with song
2. I will magnify Him with thanksgiving
This implies a temple setting, as does Psa 69:31 (a sacrifice). Psa 69:9 is also an allusion to the temple (i.e., Your house and consumed as a sacrificial fire).
YHWH’s deliverance of the falsely accused and abused psalmist causes others to rejoice and trust in Him (cf. Psa 69:32-33).
Psa 69:29 afflicted From this term (BDB 776) and the rare word in Psa 69:20, sick or in despair, many commentators have asserted that the psalmist is ill, but I think the context denotes persecution and psychological distress, not physical illness, though they are often connected (i.e., cause and effect).
It is also possible that the metaphor of illness is used as another way to affirm the psalmist’s sense of sin (cf. Psa 69:5). Healing is often an idiom for forgiveness (cf. Psa 103:3; Isa 1:5-6).
Psa 69:31 This verse is used theologically by post a.d. 70 Judaism for the substitution of praise for sacrifice (cf. Psa 40:6; Psa 50:13-14; Psa 51:16-17). Praise pleases God.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
poor = afflicted. Hebrew ‘ani. See note on Pro 6:11. Not the same word as in Psa 69:33. Constantly used of Christ in the Psalms. Compare Psa 22:24 (afflicted); Psa 34:6, Psa 35:10; Psa 40:17; Psa 70:5; Psa 109:16, Psa 109:22.
Let. Omit.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 69:29
Psa 69:29
A SIGH FOR HELP
“But I am poor and sorrowful:
Let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.”
Here David longed to live on a higher plane than that which had been provided by the reciprocal hatred that brought only sorrow to his broken heart. Instinctively, this great Old Testament saint recognized that Divine help alone could benefit him; and here he did what all men should do, he prayed for God’s help. To live on that higher plane all of us desperately need the assistance of the Eternal God.
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 69:29. Poor and sorrowful is a phrase with mixed meaning. The first word is not literal, for David had much of this world’s goods. He was poor in that he was “depressed,” which is the leading word in Strong’s definition of the original. That would give to the last word of the phrase a literal meaning.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
I am poor: Psa 40:17, Psa 109:22, Psa 109:31, Isa 53:2, Isa 53:3, Mat 8:20, 2Co 8:9
let thy: Psa 18:48, Psa 22:27-31, Psa 89:26, Psa 89:27, Psa 91:14-16, Eph 1:21, Eph 1:22, Phi 2:9-11
Reciprocal: Psa 22:24 – For Psa 70:5 – I am Psa 109:21 – But do Pro 29:25 – safe Mat 5:4 – General Act 4:24 – they
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 69:29-31. But I am poor, &c. Bishop Hare reads it, But as for me, though I am low and full of pain, (Hebrew, , choeeb; rendered, in the plural, they were sore, Gen 34:25,) thy salvation, O God, shall protect me. I will praise, &c. I will not be unmindful of the benefit, but praise thy power and goodness in joyful hymns. This shall please the Lord better than an ox, &c. This sincere and hearty sacrifice of praise is, and shall be, more acceptable to God than the most costly legal sacrifices. So such moral and spiritual services ever were, (1Sa 15:22; Hos 6:6,) and such were to be offered, and would be accepted, when those ritual ones should be abolished. That hath horns and hoofs These are mentioned as being conspicuous in an ox going to be sacrificed; being probably gilded and adorned with flowers, as among the Romans and other people. Dodd.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
4. David’s resolution to praise God 69:29-36
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
Again David asked God to deliver him (cf. Psa 69:13). Assured of salvation, he vowed to praise the Lord, confident that that would please Him more than animal sacrifices. Bulls with horns and hoofs (Psa 69:31) were mature animals that made good offerings.
"There is a note of dry amusement in the glance at horns and hoofs-how useful to God!" [Note: Kidner, p. 248. Cf. Psalms 50:12-15.]
When the poor and needy, who also trusted in God as David did, saw God’s deliverance, they would rejoice. Such salvation would encourage them.