Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 94:17
Unless the LORD [had been] my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
17. Cp. Psa 124:1 ff.
almost ] R.V. soon.
dwelt in silence ] The stillness of the grave (Psa 115:17).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Unless the Lord had been my help – At the time referred to. If I had not had a God to whom I could have gone – if my mind had not been directed to him – if I had not actually found him a refuge and strength, I should have despaired altogether. There was no other one to whom I could go; there was nothing else but the help of God on which I could rely.
My soul had almost dwelt in silence – Margin, quickly. The original is, It was as it were but little; that is, there was little lacking to bring this about; a little heavier pressure – a little added to what I was then suffering – a little longer time before relief was obtained – would have brought me down to the land of silence – to the grave. The Latin Vulgate renders this, My soul had dwelt in inpherno. The Septuagint, in Hades – to Hade. See Psa 31:17. The grave is represented as a place of silence, or as the land of silence: Psa 115:17 : The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence. Compare Amo 8:3.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 17. Unless the Lord had been my help] Had not God in a strange manner supported us while under his chastising hand, we had been utterly cut off.
My soul had almost dwelt in silence.] The Vulgate has in inferno, in hell or the infernal world; the Septuagint, , in the invisible world.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
In the place of silence, to wit, the grave. Compare Job 3:17,18; Psa 88:12; 115:17.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17-19. a fact fully confirmed byhis past experience.
dwelt in silenceas inthe grave (Ps 31:17).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Unless the Lord had been my help,…. Against her enemies, which were so many and mighty, and her friends so few and feeble, and having no heart to defend her cause; especially this will be the case at the time of the slaying of the witnesses; but the Lord will appear, and help her; the Spirit of life, from him, shall enter into them, and cause them to live again, and to ascend up to heaven; and shall destroy great numbers of their enemies, and the rest shall be frightened, and give glory to God, Re 11:11,
my soul had almost dwelt in silence; or “within a little”, or “must quickly” e; not only have been, but must have dwelt, continued in silence, in the grave; see Ps 115:17 his case being desperate, like that of the apostles, when they had the sentence of death within themselves, 2Co 1:10, this is to be understood not of the soul precisely, and abstractly considered, which dies not, nor is it silent after death; but of the whole person, being a part for the whole; and of the person, with respect to the mortal part, the body, which only dies, and while in a state of separation, or in the grave, is silent, and ceases from all operations of life: perhaps this may have some respect to the silencing of the witnesses, which is a principal thing meant by the slaying of them; a stop put to their ministrations, partly by the edicts of their enemies, and partly by the discouragement of their friends, their shyness, and negligence of them; and which silence will be almost total, if not altogether; though it will last but for a short time; they shall not dwell or continue in silence, but will open their mouths again; signified by the angel flying through the midst of heaven, with the everlasting Gospel, Re 14:6.
e “quasi parum”, Montanus, Gejerus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(17) In silencei.e., of the grave, as in Psa. 31:17.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. My soul had almost dwelt in silence My soul had in a little time soon have inhabited silence; the land of silence, the region of the dead. We had quickly perished had not God been our help. On , little, almost, little time, etc., see Psa 81:14; Isa 26:20
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 94:17 Unless the LORD [had been] my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
Ver. 17. Unless the Lord had been my help ] He loveth to help at a pinch; he usually reserveth his hand for a dead lift. See 2Ti 4:16-17 .
My soul had almost dwelt in silence
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 94:17-23
17If the Lord had not been my help,
My soul would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.
18If I should say, My foot has slipped,
Your lovingkindness, O Lord, will hold me up.
19When my anxious thoughts multiply within me,
Your consolations delight my soul.
20Can a throne of destruction be allied with You,
One which devises mischief by decree?
21They band themselves together against the life of the righteous
And condemn the innocent to death.
22But the Lord has been my stronghold,
And my God the rock of my refuge.
23He has brought back their wickedness upon them
And will destroy them in their evil;
The Lord our God will destroy them.
Psa 94:17-23 This strophe is a series of statements and results.
1. YHWH has been my help, so I will not die, Psa 94:17
2. when I thought I would fail, YHWH’s steadfast covenant love sustained me, Psa 94:18
3. when I fret, YHWH consoles my soul, Psa 94:19
4. YHWH has been his stronghold and rock of refuge, Psa 94:22 (cf. Deu 32:15; Psa 18:1-2; Psa 62:6-7; see notes at Psa 5:11)
5. YHWH has brought back (same verb in Psa 94:2) upon the wicked their own evil, Psa 94:20-21; Psa 94:23 (#4 and 5 go together)
Psa 94:17
NASBin the abode of silence
NKJV, JPSOAin silence
NRSV, TEVin the land of silence
NJBin the silence
LXXin Hades
This is imagery for death (cf. Psa 115:17; i.e., Sheol, see Special Topic: Sheol ). Death was seen as a place of consciousness but silence (cf. Psa 6:5).
Psa 94:18 My foot has slipped In the Bible a person’s life is characterized as a path/road/way. Positively the path was smooth, level, straight with no obstruction. Negatively the path was dark, crooked, slippery, with many obstructions.
Psa 94:20
NASBa throne of destruction
NKJVthe throne of iniquity
NRSVwicked rulers
TEVcorrupt judges
NJBa destructive court
JPSOAthe seat of injustice
LXXa throne of lawlessness
The MT has BDB 490 construct BDB 217. BDB 490 means a seat or place of authority or honor for a king, High Priest, or governor. BDB 217, KB 241 means power, splendor, or majesty. This Psalm is a court scene; YHWH is the judge of the earth (Psa 94:1-2). Psa 94:16 also reflects a court scene. Psa 94:20 refers to wicked leaders (i.e., judges). YHWH cannot be associated with wicked leaders (cf. Psa 94:10-21). The throne, the temple, and the courts must reflect the character of YHWH. When they do not, which is so often the case, only YHWH Himself is a place of safety!
Psa 94:20 is the affirmation that YHWH will have no part in corrupt legal proceedings. God is light and in Him is no darkness (cf. 1 John 1:5 and no changing, cf. Mal 3:6; Jas 1:17).
One which devises mischief by decree The participle here is BDB 427, KB 428, Qal. It is used in Psa 94:9 of YHWH’s creative activity in forming the human eye. What a contrast! Humans create mischief; YHWH creates humans!
Psa 94:21 life This is literally nephesh (BDB 659). See note online at Psa 3:2.
Psa 94:23 The NASB has silence in both Psa 94:17; Psa 94:23, but they are different words in the MT. In Psa 94:23 (twice) it is YHWH will annihilate out (BDB 856, KB 1035, Hiphil imperfect). It occurs twice for emphasis.
Just a grammatical note. Notice that all three verbs in Psa 94:22 are imperfects, but they are translated into English as a past and two future verbs (NRSV, TEV all three future). Only context can determine the time element of Hebrew verbs.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.
1. What is the theological problem between Psa 94:1-3?
2. Who are the wicked of Psa 94:3?
3. How is Psa 94:6 like Deuteronomy?
4. Does Psa 94:10 refer to all humans or Israel?
5. Is Ps. 94 16 a court scene?
6. How many strophes are there in Psa 94:16-23?
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.
almost = quickly. See note on Pro 5:14.
dwelt in silence. Figure of speech Euphemy (App-6), for dying.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Unless: Psa 118:13, Psa 124:1, Psa 124:2, Psa 125:1, Psa 142:4, Psa 142:5, Joh 16:32, 2Co 1:8-10, 2Ti 4:16, 2Ti 4:17
almost: or, quickly
dwelt: Psa 13:3, Psa 31:17, Psa 115:17
Reciprocal: 2Ch 18:31 – the Lord Heb 13:6 – The Lord
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
94:17 Unless the LORD [had been] my {k} help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
(k) He complains of them who would not help him to resist the enemies, yet was assured that God’s help would not fail.