Bible Commentaries
Psalms 65

Verse 1

Title. A Psalm. Hebrew. mizmor. App-65 .

Song. Hebrew. shir. App-65 .

of David = by, or relating to David and the true David.

waiteth. As in Psalms 62:1 . Israel's silent waiting is now passed on to Zion. All is silent there as yet.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Sion. See App-68 . David's tabernacle was there. This spelling with "S" comes through the Septuagint and Vulgate Hebrew is always "Z".

Verse 2

flesh. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), for all mankind: i.e. the people.

Verse 3

Iniquities = iniquitous words. Hebrew. 'avah. App-44 .

transgressions. Hebrew. pasha'. App-44 .

purge them away = cover them by atonement.

Verse 4

Blessed = Happy. Figure of speech Beatitudo. App-63 .

Thou choosest. Only those whom He calls can truly worship. See Leviticus 1:1 , Leviticus 1:2 .

courts. Not the temple courts, but David's tabernacle on Zion.

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

temple. Hebrew. heykal = palace.

Verse 5

confidence. Hebrew. batah. See App-69 .

Verse 6

Which = Who.

Verse 7

the people = peoples.

Verse 8

and evening. Supply Ellipsis from preceding clause: "and [the incomings of the] evening".

to rejoice = to shout for joy.

Verse 9

river. Hebrew. peleg. Always plural, except here; and always connected with a garden. See notes on Psalms 1:3 and Proverbs 21:1 . Compare Revelation 22:1 , Revelation 22:2 .

Verse 10

makest it soft = dissolvest it. Until the early rains fall, the ground is as hard as a rock.

Verse 13

To the chief Musician. See App-64 .