Parallel Verses English Standard Version You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep. King James Bible Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. American Standard Version Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in the deeps. Douay-Rheims Bible They have laid me in the lower pit: in the dark places, and in the shadow of death. English Revised Version Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in dark places, in the deeps. Webster's Bible Translation Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. Psalm 88:6 Parallel Commentary Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old TestamentInasmuch now as the nations come thus into the church (or congregation) of the children of God and of the children of Abraham, Zion becomes by degrees a church immeasurably great. To Zion, however, or of Zion (ל of reference to), shall it be said אישׁ ואישׁ ילּד־בּהּ. Zion, the one city, stands in contrast to all the countries, the one city of God in contrast to the kingdoms of the world, and אישׁ ואישׁ in contrast to זה. This contrast, upon the correct apprehension of which depends the understanding of the whole Psalm, is missed when it is said, "whilst in relation to other countries it is always only the whole nation that comes under consideration, Zion is not reckoned up as a nation, but by persons" (Hofmann). With this rendering the ילּד retires into the background; in that case this giving of prominence to the value of the individual exceeds the ancient range of conception, and it is also an inadmissible appraisement that in Zion each individual is as important as a nation as a whole. Elsewhere אישׁ אישׁ, Leviticus 17:10, Leviticus 17:13, or אישׁ ואישׁ, Esther 1:8, signifies each and every one; accordingly here אישׁ ואישׁ (individual and, or after, individual) affirms a progressus in infinitum, where one is ever added to another. Of an immeasurable multitude, and of each individual in this multitude in particular, it is said that he was born in Zion. Now, too, והוּא כוננה עליון has a significant connection with what precedes. Whilst from among foreign peoples more and more are continually acquiring the right of natives in Zion, and thus are entering into a new national alliance, so that a breach of their original national friendships is taking place, He Himself (cf. 1 Samuel 20:9), the Most High, will uphold Zion (Psalm 48:9), so that under His protection and blessing it shall become ever greater and more glorious. Psalm 87:6 tells us what will be the result of such a progressive incorporation in the church of Zion of those who have hitherto been far removed, viz., Jahve will reckon when He writeth down (כּתוב as in Joshua 18:8) the nations; or better - since this would more readily be expressed by בּכתבו, and the book of the living (Isaiah 4:3) is one already existing from time immemorial - He will reckon in the list (כתוב after the form חלום, חלו, פּקוד equals כּתב, Ezekiel 13:9) of the nations, i.e., when He goes over the nations that are written down there and chosen for the coming salvation, "this one was born there;" He will therefore acknowledge them one after another as those born in Zion. The end of all history is that Zion shall become the metropolis of all nations. When the fulness of the Gentiles is thus come in, then shall all and each one as well singing as dancing say (supply יאמרוּ): All my fountains are in thee. Among the old translators the rendering of Aquila is the best: καὶ ᾄδοντες ὡς χοροί· πᾶσαι πηγαὶ ἐν σοί, which Jerome follows, et cantores quasi in choris: omnes fontes mei in te. One would rather render cholaliym, "flute-players" (lxx ὡς ἐν αὐλοῖς); but to pipe or play the flute is חלּל (a denominative from חליל), 1 Kings 1:40, whereas to dance is חלל (Pilel of חוּל); it is therefore equals מחוללים, like לצצים, Hosea 7:5. But it must not moreover be rendered, "And singers as well as dancers (will say);" for "singers" is משׁררים, not שׁרים, which signifies cantantes, not cantores. Singing as dancing, i.e., making known their festive joy as well by the one as by the other, shall the men of all nations incorporated in Zion say: All my fountains, i.e., fountains of salvation (after Isaiah 12:3), are in thee (O city of God). It has also been interpreted: my looks (i.e., the object on which my eye is fixed, or the delight of my eyes), or: my thoughts (after the modern Hebrew עיּן of spiritual meditation); but both are incongruous. The conjecture, too, of Bttcher, and even before him of Schnurrer (Dissertationes, p. 150), כל־מעיני, all who take up their abode (instead of which Hupfeld conjectures מעיני, all my near-dwellers, i.e., those who dwell with me under the same roof) (Note: Hupfeld cites Rashi as having thus explained it; but his gloss is to be rendered: my whole inmost part (after the Aramaic equals מעי) is with thee, i.e., they salvation.)), is not Hebrew, and deprives us of the thought which corresponds to the aim of the whole, that Jerusalem shall be universally regarded as the place where the water of life springs for the whole of mankind, and shall be universally praised as this place of fountains. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lowest Psalm 86:13 For great is your mercy toward me: and you have delivered my soul from the lowest hell. darkness Proverbs 4:19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. Lamentations 3:2 He has led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light. Jude 1:6,13 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation... deeps Cross References Psalm 69:15 Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me. Psalm 74:20 Have regard for the covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence. Psalm 86:13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. Psalm 88:12 Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? Psalm 143:3 For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. Lamentations 3:6 he has made me dwell in darkness like the dead of long ago. Lamentations 3:55 "I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit; Jump to Previous Dark Darkest Darkness Deep Deeps Depths Laid Pit Places RegionsJump to Next Dark Darkest Darkness Deep Deeps Depths Laid Pit Places RegionsLinks Psalm 88:6 NIVPsalm 88:6 NLT Psalm 88:6 ESV Psalm 88:6 NASB Psalm 88:6 KJV Psalm 88:6 Bible Apps Psalm 88:6 Biblia Paralela Psalm 88:6 Chinese Bible Psalm 88:6 French Bible Psalm 88:6 German Bible Bible Hub ESV Text Edition: 2016. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. |