Psalm 54:1
WEB
Save me, God, by your name. Vindicate me in your might.
BSB
Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your might!
KJV
Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
Title
H5329
v — glitter from afar, be eminent, be permanent
Derivation: a primitive root; also as denominative from 5331
properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanent
KJV: excel, chief musician (singer), oversee(-r), set forward.
vb — be pre-eminent
[נָצַח] vb. be pre-eminent, enduring
Niph. enduring
Piel = act as overseer, superintendent, director
H5058
n-f — instrumental music, stringed instrument, poem set to music, epigram
Derivation: or נְגִינַת; (Psalm 61:title), from 5059;
properly, instrumental music; by implication, a stringed instrument; by extension, a poem set to music; specifically, an epigram
KJV: stringed instrument, musick, Neginoth (plural), song.
n.f — music
[נְגִינָה] n.f. music
H4905
n-m — instructive, didactic
Derivation: from 7919;
instructive, i.e. a didactic poem
KJV: Maschil.
n.m — contemplative poem
מַשְׂכִּיל n.m. contemplative poem
H1732
n-pr-m — David
Derivation: rarely (fully); דָּוִיד; from the same as 1730; loving;
David, the youngest son of Jesse
KJV: David.
n.pr.m — David
דָּוִד, דָּוִיד 1066 n.pr.m. David
H935
v — go, come
Derivation: a primitive root;
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
KJV: abide, apply, attain, × be, befall, besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, × certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, × doubtless again, eat, employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, have, × indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, × (well) stricken (in age), × surely, take (in), way.
vb — come in
בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go
Qal
1. come in
2. come (approach, arrive)
3. go, i.e. walk, associate with
4. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
Hiph.
1. cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
2. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
Hoph.
a. be brought in (of pers. and things)
b. be brought
c. be introduced, put
H2130
n-m — Ziphite
Derivation: patrial from 2128;
a Ziphite or inhabitant of Ziph
KJV: Ziphim, Ziphite.
adj.gent — Ziphim
[זִיפִי] adj.gent.; only mpl. as n.pr.gent.
H559
v — say
Derivation: a primitive root;
to say (used with great latitude)
KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, × desire, determine, × expressly, × indeed, × intend, name, × plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), × still, × suppose, talk, tell, term, × that is, × think, use (speech), utter, × verily, × yet.
vb — utter
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
1. Say
2. Say in the heart (= think)
3. Promise
4. Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
H7586
n-pr-m — Shaul
Derivation: passive participle of 7592; asked;
Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites
KJV: Saul, Shaul.
n.pr.m — Saul
שָׁאוּל n.pr.m. (= asked)
1. 397 1st king of Isr.
2. a king of Edom
3. a son of Simeon
4. a Levite
H3808
adv — not, no
Derivation: or לוֹא; or לֹה; (Deuteronomy 3:11), a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
KJV: × before, or else, ere, except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (× as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, surely, as truly as, of a truth, verily, for want, whether, without.
adv — not
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
H5641
v — hide
Derivation: a primitive root;
to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively
KJV: be absent, keep close, conceal, hide (self), (keep) secret, × surely.
vb — hide
סָתַר vb. hide, conceal
Niph.
1. hide oneself
2. be hid, concealed
Pi. Imv. carefully hide (i.e. shelter) the outcasts
Pu. Pt. love carefully concealed
Hithp. hide oneself carefully
Hiph. conceal, hide
H5973
prep — with, equally with
Derivation: from 6004;
adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then usually unrepresented in English)
KJV: accompanying, against, and, as (× long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from (among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-) to, with(-al).
from with
מֵעִם 72 from with or beside
prep — with
עִם prep. with
1. of fellowship and companionship
a. of aid
b. Of actions done jointly with another
c. If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against
d. Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another
e. Of a common lot together with the wicked
f. Of equality or resemblance generally aid
g. Of time, as long as
2. Of a locality, close to, beside
3. Of persons, עִם is spec.
a. in the house or family or service of
b. In possession of
c. In the custody or care of
d. Beside = except
e. With = friendly with
4. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
5. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
H430
n-m — gods, God, magistrates
Derivation: plural of 433;
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: angels, × exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), × (very) great, judges, × mighty.
n.m.pl — gods
אֱלֹהִים 2570 n.m.pl.
1. pl. in number.
a. rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power
b. divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels
c. angels
d. gods
2. pl. intensive
a. god or goddess
b. godlike one
c. works of God, or things belongng to him
d. God
3. הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God
4. אֱלֹהִים = God
H8034
n-m — appellation, honor, authority, character
Derivation: a primitive word [perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare 8064];
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
KJV: base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.
n.m — name
שֵׁם 864 n.m. name (√ unknown)
1. of river, beasts, city, i.e. exact designation of it
2.
a. usu. of pers.
b. = reputation
c. esp. as giving a man a kind of posthumous life, esp. in his sons
3. name, as designation of God
4. of false gods, use forbidden
5. = memorial, monument
H3467
v — be open, wide, free, be safe, free, succor
Derivation: a primitive root;
properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor
KJV: × at all, avenging, defend, deliver(-er), help, preserve, rescue, be safe, bring (having) salvation, save(-iour), get victory.
vb — deliver
[יָשַׁע] vb. Hiph. deliver; Niph. intrans. and pass.
Niph.
1. be liberated, saved (prop. placed in freedom)
2. be saved in battle, victorious
Hiph.
1. deliver, save (prop. give width and breadth to, liberate)
2. save from moral troubles
3. give victory to
H1369
n-f — force, valor, victory
Derivation: feminine passive participle from the same as 1368;
force (literally or figuratively); by implication, valor, victory
KJV: force, mastery, might, mighty (act, power), power, strength.
n.f — strength
גְּבוּרָה 61 n.f. strength, might
1. strength
2. might, valour
3. might of God
H1777
v — rule, judge, strive
Derivation: or (Genesis 6:3) דּוּן; a primitive root;
to rule; by implication to judge (as umpire); also to strive (as at law)
KJV: contend contend execute (judgment) judge minister judgment plead (the cause) at strife strive.
vb — judge
דִּין vb. judge
Qal
1. act as judge, minister judgment
2. plead the cause
3. execute judgment, vindicate
4. execute judgment, requite
5. govern
6. he cannot contend with one mightier than he
Niph. and all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel
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Verses 1–3
Psalms 54:1–3
We may observe here, 1. The great distress that David was now in, which the title gives an account of. The Ziphim came of their own accord, and informed Saul where David was, with a promise to deliver him into his hand. One would have thought that when David had retired into the country he would not be pursued, into a desert country he would not be discovered, and into his own country he would not be betrayed; and yet it seems he was. Never let a good man expect to be safe an easy till he comes to heaven. How treacherous, how officious, were these Ziphim! It is well that God is faithful, for men are not to be trusted, Mic 7:5. 2. His prayer to God for succour and deliverance, Psa 54:1, Psa 54:2. He appeals to God's strength, by which he was able to help him, and to his name, by which he was engaged to help him, and begs he would save him from his enemies and judge him, that is, plead his cause and judge for him. David has no other plea to depend upon than God's name, no other power to depend upon than God's strength, and those he makes his refuge and confidence. This would be the effectual answer of his prayers (Psa 54:2), which even in his flight, when he had not opportunity for solemn address to God, he was ever and anon lifting up to heaven: Hear my prayer, which comes from my heart, and give ear to the words of my mouth. 3. His plea, which is taken from the character of his enemies, Psa 54:3. (1.) They are strangers; such were the Ziphites, unworthy the name of Israelites. "They have used me more basely and barbarously than the Philistines themselves would have done." The worst treatment may be expected from those who, having broken through the bonds of relation and alliance, make themselves strangers. (2.) They are oppressors; such was Saul, who, as a king, should have used his power for the protection of all his good subjects, but abused it for their destruction. Nothing is so grievous as oppression in the seat of judgment, Ecc 3:16. Paul's greatest perils were by his own countrymen and by false brethren (Co2 11:26), and so were David's. (3.) They were very formidable and threatening; they not only hated him and wished him ill, but they rose up against him in a body, joining their power to do him a mischief. (4.) They were very spiteful and malicious: They seek after my soul; they hunt for the precious life; no less will satisfy them. We may, in faith, pray that God would not by his providence give success, lest it should look like giving countenance, to such cruel bloody men. (5.) They were very profane and atheistical, and, for this reason, he thought God was concerned in honour to appear against them: They have not set God before them, that is, they have quite cast off the thoughts of God; they do not consider that his eye is upon them, that, in fighting against his people, they fight against him, nor have they any dread of the certain fatal consequences of such an unequal engagement. Note, From those who do not set God before them no good is to be expected; nay, what wickedness will not such men be guilty of? What bonds of nature, or friendship, or gratitude, or covenant, will hold those that have broken through the fear of God? Selah - Mark this. Let us all be sure to set God before us at all times; for, if we do not we are in danger of becoming desperate.
Cross-references: Mic 7:5 · Ps 54:1 · Ps 54:2 · Ps 54:3 · Eccl 3:16 · 2Cor 11:26