Psalms 56:1
To the chief Musician upon Jonath–elem–rechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.
Psalms 56:1 in other translations
| BSB | For the choirmaster. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, O God, for men are hounding me; all day they press their attack. |
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| WEB | For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Silent Dove in Distant Lands.” A poem by David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up. All day long, he attacks and oppresses me. |
| ASV | For the Chief Musician; set to Jonath elem rehokim. A Psalm of David. Michtam; when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be merciful unto me, O God; for man would swallow me up: All the day long he fighting oppresseth me. |
| YLT | To the Overseer. --‘On the Dumb Dove far off.' --A secret treasure of David, in the Philistines' taking hold of him in Gath. Favour me, O God, for man swallowed me up, All the day fighting he oppresseth me, |
| DARBY | To the chief Musician. On Jonathelem-rechokim. Of David. Michtam; when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be gracious unto me, OGod; for man would swallow me up: all the day long fighting he oppresseth me. |
| BBE | Have mercy on me, O God, for man is attempting my destruction; every day he makes cruel attacks against me. |
| Webster | To the chief Musician upon Jonathelem-rechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be merciful to me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me. |
What does Psalms 56:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 56:1-2
Psa 56:1-13. Upon Jonath-elem-rechokim--literally, "upon the dove of silence" of distant places; either denoting a melody (see on Psa 9:1) of that name, to which this Psalm was to be performed; or it is an enigmatical form of denoting the subject, as given in the history referred to (1Sa 21:11, &c.), David being regarded as an uncomplaining, meek dove, driven from his native home to wander in exile. Beset by domestic and foreign foes, David appeals confidently to God, recites his complaints, and closes with joyful and assured anticipations of God's continued help.
1-2. would swallow--literally, "pants as a raging beast" (Ac 9:1).Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
David prays for support against his enemies, whose wickedness he describes, Psa 56:1-6; and foretells their destruction, Psa 56:7; expresses his confidence in God's mercy, expects deliverance, and promises thanksgiving and obedience, Psa 56:8-13. The title of this Psalm is very long: "To the conqueror, concerning the dumb dove in foreign places: golden Psalm of David." The Vulgate translates the original thus: "to the end. For the people who were afar off from holy things." "This inscription David placed here for a title when the Philistines - took him in Gath;" so the Septuagint and Ethiopic. The Chaldee is profuse: "To praise, for the congregation of Israel, which are compared to the silence of a dove, when they were afar off from their cities but being returned, they praise the Lord of the world, like David, contrite and upright, when the Philistines kept him in Gath." The Syriac: "A thanksgiving of the righteous man, because he was delivered from his enemy, and from the hand of Saul. Also concerning the Jews and Christ." Bochart translates, "To the tune of the dove in the remote woods." If the title be at all authentic, David may mean himself and his companions by it, when he escaped from the hands of the Philistines; particularly from the hands of Achish, king of Gath. אלם elem signifies to compress or bind together; also, a small band or body of men: and יונת yonath, from ינה yanah, to oppress or afflict, is properly applied to the dove, because of its being so defenseless, and often becoming the prey of ravenous birds. It is possible, therefore, that the title may imply no more than - "A prayer to God in behalf of himself and the oppressed band that followed him, and shared his misfortunes in distant places." Others will have it to mean a simple direction "To the master of the band, to be sung to the time of a well-known ode, called 'The dumb dove, in distant places.'" There is no end to conjectures, and all the titles in the whole book are not worth one hour's labor. Perhaps there is not one of them authentic. They may have been notices that such a Psalm was to be sung to such and such a tune; giving the catch-words of some well-known song or ode: a custom that prevails much among us in songs and hymns, and is to be found even among the Asiatics. Verse 1 Be merciful unto me - I am assailed both at home and abroad. I can go nowhere without meeting with enemies: unless thou who art the Fountain of mercy and the Most High, stand up in my behalf, my enemies will most undoubtedly prevail against me. They fight against me continually, and I am in the utmost danger of being swallowed up by them.Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 56:1-7
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Psalms 56:1 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Psalms 56:1
- 1 Samuel 29:4
And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?
- Psalms 16:1
Michtam of David. Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
- Psalms 31:9
Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.
- Psalms 59:1
To the chief Musician, Al–taschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
- Psalms 69:13-16
But 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. Deliver 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. Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.
- 1 Samuel 21:11-15
And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me? …
- 1 Corinthians 15:54
So 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.
- Psalms 143:12
And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.
- Psalms 60:1
To the chief Musician upon Shushan–eduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aram–naharaim and with Aram–zobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand. O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.
- Psalms 27:2
When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
- Psalms 124:3
Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
- Psalms 35:25
Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
9 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.
16:1; 57:1; 58:1; 59:1; 60:1; *titles
when.
1Sa 21:11-15; 29:4
Be.
31:9; 57:1-3; 59:10; 69:13-16; 136:10,15,17-20; 143:12
swallow.
21:9; 27:2; 35:25; 57:3; 106:17; 124:3; Pr 1:12; La 2:2,5,16; Ho 8:8
1Co 15:54
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Psalms 56:1
To the chief Musician upon Jonath–elem–rechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.
- Psalms 56:2
Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
Psalms 56:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Al Músico principal: sobre La paloma silenciosa en paraje muy distante. Michtam de David, cuando los Filisteos le prendieron en Gath. TEN misericordia de mí, oh Dios, porque me devoraría el hombre: me oprime combatiéndome cada día. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Au chef de musique. Sur Jonath-Élem-Rekhokim. De David. Mictam; quand les Philistins le prirent dans Gath. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Sei mir gnädig, o Gott! denn es schnaubt nach mir der Mensch; den ganzen Tag mich befehdend, bedrückt er mich. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | In finem, ne disperdas. David in tituli inscriptionem, cum fugeret a facie Saul in speluncam. |