Articles on

Psalm 56

Psa. 56:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

+
1
<<To the chief Musician
natsach (Hebrew #5329)
properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); also (as denominative from 5331), to be permanent
KJV usage: excel, chief musician (singer), oversee(-r), set forward.
Pronounce: naw-tsakh'
Origin: a primitive root
upon Jonath-elem-rechokim
yownath (Hebrew #3128)
dove of (the) silence (i.e. dumb Israel) of (i.e. among) distances (i.e. strangers); the title of a ditty (used for a name of its melody)
KJV usage: Jonath-elem-rech okim.
Pronounce: 'elem
Origin: from 3123 and 482 and the plural of 7350
, σMichtam
miktam (Hebrew #4387)
an engraving, i.e. (techn.) a poem
KJV usage: Michtam.
Pronounce: mik-tawm'
Origin: from 3799
of David
David (Hebrew #1732)
Daviyd {daw-veed'}; from the same as 1730; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse
KJV usage: David.
Pronounce: daw-veed'
Origin: rarely (fully)
, whent the Philistines
Plishtiy (Hebrew #6430)
a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth
KJV usage: Philistine.
Pronounce: pel-ish-tee'
Origin: patrial from 6429
took
'achaz (Hebrew #270)
to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession)
KJV usage: + be affrighted, bar, (catch, lay, take) hold (back), come upon, fasten, handle, portion, (get, have or take) possess(-ion).
Pronounce: aw-khaz'
Origin: a primitive root
him in Gath
Gath (Hebrew #1661)
Gath, a Philistine city
KJV usage: Gath.
Pronounce: gath
Origin: the same as 1660
.>> Be merciful
chanan (Hebrew #2603)
properly, to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to implore (i.e. move to favor by petition)
KJV usage: beseech, X fair, (be, find, shew) favour(-able), be (deal, give, grant (gracious(-ly), intreat, (be) merciful, have (shew) mercy (on, upon), have pity upon, pray, make supplication, X very.
Pronounce: khaw-nan'
Origin: a primitive root (compare 2583)
unto me, O God
'elohiym (Hebrew #430)
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
KJV usage: angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.
Pronounce: el-o-heem'
Origin: plural of 433
: for man
'enowsh (Hebrew #582)
properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified 120); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively)
KJV usage: another, X (blood-)thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, X in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some ( X of them), + stranger, those, + their trade. It is often unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in apposition with another word . Compare 376.
Pronounce: en-oshe'
Origin: from 605
would swallowu me up
sha'aph (Hebrew #7602)
to inhale eagerly; figuratively, to cover; by implication, to be angry; also to hasten
KJV usage: desire (earnestly), devour, haste, pant, snuff up, swallow up.
Pronounce: shaw-af'
Origin: a primitive root
; he fighting
lacham (Hebrew #3898)
to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction)
KJV usage: devour, eat, X ever, fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring).
Pronounce: law-kham'
Origin: a primitive root
daily
yowm (Hebrew #3117)
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
KJV usage: age, + always, + chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, + (for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually, presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space, then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole (+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.
Pronounce: yome
Origin: from an unused root meaning to be hot
oppresseth
lachats (Hebrew #3905)
properly, to press, i.e. (figuratively) to distress
KJV usage: afflict, crush, force, hold fast, oppress(-or), thrust self.
Pronounce: law-khats'
Origin: a primitive root
me.

More on:

+

Cross References

+

Ministry on This Verse

+
1-8:  David, praying to God in confidence of his word, complains of his enemies.
9-13:  He professes his confidence in God's word, and promises to praise him.
A.M. 2942.
B.C. 1062.
(Title.)
upon {Jonath-elem-rechokim.} Or, as it may be rendered, "concerning the dumb dove, (or oppressed band) in distant places," i.e., David, or his companions; though some consider it as the name of a tune, and others a musical instrument.Michtam.
or, a golden Psalm.
when.
Be.
Psa. 31:9• 9Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. (Psa. 31:9)
;
Psa. 57:1‑3• 1<<To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.>> Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.
2I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.
3He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
(Psa. 57:1‑3)
;
Psa. 59:10• 10The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies. (Psa. 59:10)
;
Psa. 69:13‑16• 13But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
14Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
15Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
16Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.
(Psa. 69:13‑16)
;
Psa. 136:10,15,17‑20• 10To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
15But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
17To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
18And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
19Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:
20And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:
(Psa. 136:10,15,17‑20)
;
Psa. 143:12• 12And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant. (Psa. 143:12)
swallow.
Psa. 21:9• 9Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. (Psa. 21:9)
;
Psa. 27:2• 2When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. (Psa. 27:2)
;
Psa. 35:25• 25Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up. (Psa. 35:25)
;
Psa. 57:3• 3He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. (Psa. 57:3)
;
Psa. 106:17• 17The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram. (Psa. 106:17)
;
Psa. 124:3• 3Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: (Psa. 124:3)
;
Prov. 1:12• 12Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: (Prov. 1:12)
;
Lam. 2:2,5,16• 2The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied: he hath thrown down in his wrath the strong holds of the daughter of Judah; he hath brought them down to the ground: he hath polluted the kingdom and the princes thereof.
5The Lord was as an enemy: he hath swallowed up Israel, he hath swallowed up all her palaces: he hath destroyed his strong holds, and hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation.
16All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it.
(Lam. 2:2,5,16)
;
Hos. 8:8• 8Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure. (Hos. 8:8)
;
1 Cor. 15:54• 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (1 Cor. 15:54)
 Book 2, Series 2. The Great Tribulation. (“The Placement of the Psalms in Prophecy” by B. Anstey)
 The soul has got out of the depth of inward distress in which it was in psalm 55. For, though the faithful one's enemies lie in wait for him, it is not the unfaithfulness and treachery of friends. They are enemies who seek to wrong him. He is afraid, more than distressed, and looks through the difficulties to God. Faith is readily in activity. In the previous psalm his spirit was inwardly deeply depressed. Here he is only tried. (Practical Reflections on the Psalms: Psalms 55-58 by J.N. Darby)
 In psalm 55 it is only at the 19th verse and at the end he can bring God in. Here God is at once before his soul. In truth outward trials are little compared with inward breaches on the spirit. The spirit [even] of a man will bear his infirmities, but a wounded spirit who can bear? The saint's trust, then, is in God. (Practical Reflections on the Psalms: Psalms 55-58 by J.N. Darby)
 (vv. 1-3) Surrounded by enemies that daily oppose, oppress, and seek his life, the godly man finds relief from his fears by turning to God and trusting in Him. (Psalms 56 by H. Smith)
 Again, this psalm was written when David was outside the land (see heading). Gath is in the land of the Philistines. “Jonath-elem-recholsim” means “a silent dove in far off lands.” (Book 2. by B. Anstey)

J. N. Darby Translation

+
1
To the chief Musician. On Jonathelem-rechokimk. Of David. Michtaml; when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be gracious unto me, O God; for manm would swallow me upn: all the day long fighting he oppresseth me.

JND Translation Notes

+
k
"The mute dove in the distance," or "the dove of the distant terebinths."
l
See Ps. 16.
m
Enosh.
n
Strictly, "pant after me," like a wild beast thirsting for blood; and so Ps. 57.3; Amos 8.4.