Psalms 3:2
in Psalms 3Many say of me, “God will not deliver him.” Selah
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Many there are that say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. [Selah
KJV
Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
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This verse in Psalms 3
Commentary
5 notes on this verseMany there be which say of my soul,.... Or "to my soul" (u), the following cutting words, which touched to the quick, reached his very heart, and like a sword pierced through it: there is no help for him in God; or "no salvation" (w): neither in this world, nor in that which is to come, as Kimchi explains it. David's enemies looked upon his case to be desperate; that it was impossible he should ever extricate himself from it; yea, that God himself either could not or would not save him.
This site's exposition
how my foes have increased
on Psalms 3:1-2
The foes have increased, and the many say of the man who prays that God will not deliver him. Spurgeon read that taunt as the bitterest drop of David's distress, aimed at his hope in God. Selah closes the taunt.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Selah - This word is no where used but in this poetical book, and in the song of Habakkuk. Probably it was a musical note, directing the singer either to lift up his voice, to make a pause, or to lengthen the tune. But withal, it is generally placed at some remarkable passage; which gives occasion to think that it served also to quicken the attention of the singer and hearer.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
No help for him in God - These were some of the reproaches of his enemies, Shimei and others: “He is now down, and he shall never be able to rise. God alone can save him from these his enemies; but God has visibly east him off.” These reproaches deeply affected his heart; and he mentions them with that note which so frequently occurs in the Psalms, and which occurs here for the first time, סלה selah. Much has been said on the meaning of this word; and we have nothing but conjecture to guide us.
David complains before his loving God of the worst weapon of his enemies' attacks, and the bitterest drop of his distresses. "Oh!" saith David, "many there be that say of my soul, There is no help for him in God." Some of his distrustful friends said this sorrowfully, but his enemies exultingly boasted of it, and longed to see their words proved by his total destruction. This was the unkindest cut of all, when they declared that his God had forsaken him.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
Great men rise up against me Men great in Torah, great in wisdom, great in wealth, tall in stature, such as Saul; the children of Raphah; Doeg, and Ahitophel.
3 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
Lord, how many are my oppressors, many who arise against me!
A song of David, when he fled The Aggadists expounded many homilies on this matter. Our Sages said (Ber.
A psalm of David, when he fled from the presence of Absalom his son.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 1 further source is cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| רַבִּים֮ | rabim | many [people] | H7227 → | 454 times |
| אֹמְרִ֪ים | ʾomerim | [are] saying | H559 → | 5305 times |
| לְנַ֫פְשִׁ֥י | lenafshi | of self my | H5315 → | 754 times |
| אֵ֤ין | ʾein | there not | H369 → | 789 times |
| יְֽשׁוּעָ֓תָה | yeshuatah | [is] deliverance | H3444 → | 78 times |
| לּ֬וֹ | lo | for him | ||
| בֵֽאלֹהִ֬ים | velohim | in God | H430 → | 2601 times |
| סֶֽלָה׃ | selah | Selah | H5542 → | 74 times |
רַבִּים֮many [people]
rabimH7227 →454 times
אֹמְרִ֪ים[are] saying
ʾomerimH559 →5305 times
לְנַ֫פְשִׁ֥יof self my
lenafshiH5315 →754 times
אֵ֤יןthere not
ʾeinH369 →789 times
יְֽשׁוּעָ֓תָה[is] deliverance
yeshuatahH3444 →78 times
לּ֬וֹfor him
lo
בֵֽאלֹהִ֬יםin God
velohimH430 →2601 times
סֶֽלָה׃Selah
selahH5542 →74 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 4:4Be angry, yet do not sin; on your bed, search your heart and be still. Selah
it leads to
- Ephesians 4:26
“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,
- Psalms 77:6
At night I remembered my song; in my heart I mused, and my spirit pondered:
- Psalms 63:6
When I remember You on my bed, I think of You through the watches of the night.
- Psalms 46:10
“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.”
- Ephesians 4:26
Through
Psalms 42:3My tears have been my food both day and night, while men ask me all day long, “Where is your God?”
it leads to
- Joel 2:17
Let the priests who minister before the LORD weep between the portico and the altar, saying, “Spare Your people, O LORD, and do not make Your heritage a reproach, an object of scorn among…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 79:10
Why should the nations ask, “Where is their God?” Before our eyes, make known among the nations Your vengeance for the bloodshed of Your servants.
- Psalms 115:2
Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
- Joel 2:17
Through
Psalms 22:7All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads:
it leads to
- Mark 15:29
And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
- Mark 15:29
About Psalms
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 1; Jamieson Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament.