The book of Psalms. As poetry, the Psalms were used as worship material for the Hebrews and later Jews. Many of them list David as the author. With 150 songs, the book has both the shortest chapter in the Bible (ps. 117) and the longest (ps. 119).
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Does the Bible mention unicorns?
I was reading Psalm 22 (from this question) and I found this verse:
Psalms 22:21 (KJV)
Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
When I switched ...
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5answers
1k views
Pre-Christian, Jewish interpretation of Psalm 22
How was Psalm 22 understood by Jewish tradition before the birth of Jesus? Was it interpreted messianically? What pre-Christian sources discuss Psalm 22?
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Who are the “divine beings” in Psalm 82?
We read in Psalm 82:
I had taken you for divine beings,
sons of the Most High, all of you;
but you shall die as men do,
fall like any prince.—Psalm 82:6–7 (NJPS)
Some ...
4
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2answers
103 views
What is Paul's advice on anger?
Paul writes:
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.—Ephesians 4:26-27 (ESV)
The first issue I see is that the first clause ...
4
votes
1answer
97 views
Who is “I” in Psalm 4
Several verses in Psalm 4 are in the first person, for example in verse 1:
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and ...
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3answers
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To what extent is Psalm 51:4 poetic exaggeration?
The context of Psalm 51 is clear:
To the choirmaster. A psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
These events are described in 2nd Samuel ...
8
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3answers
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What is the judgment in Psalm 1?
The ending of Psalm 1 provides great hope for those who delight in the instruction of the Lord:
Not so the wicked;
rather, they are like chaff that wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked ...
6
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1answer
68 views
How should Psalm 22:16 read?
Psalm 22:16 seems textually quite difficult. The NET for example reads:
Yes, wild dogs surround me –
a gang of evil men crowd around me;
like a lion they pin my hands and feet.
Yet, they note that ...
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3answers
273 views
What are the “shields of the earth”?
The end of Psalm 47 reads:
God reigns over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
The princes of the peoples gather
as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth ...
4
votes
2answers
58 views
How should רָגַז be translated in Psalm 4?
A quick survey of English translations of Psalm 4:4 shows that there is little agreement about how ragaz should be rendered:
NIV
In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your ...
4
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1answer
202 views
How is Psalm 34 linked to 1st Samuel 21?
The annotation of Psalm 34 (ESV) reads:
Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.
Clearly this is a reference to 1 Samuel 21:10-15 ...
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1answer
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Have the “many” in Psalm 4 received blessings or were they already blessed?
Psalm 4 is a David psalm about prayer. It includes this stanza that seems to contrast the psalmist with other people:
There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of ...
2
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2answers
121 views
How can Psalms 68:18 be translated as in Ephesians 4:8?
In Psalms we have:
You ascended on high,
leading a host of captives in your train
and receiving gifts among men,
even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there. (Psalms 68:18, ...
2
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2answers
79 views
What does Psalm 68:18 refer to in context?
In the NIV, Psalm 68:18 reads:
When you ascended on high,
you led captives in your train;
you received gifts from men,
even from the rebellious—
that you, O Lord God, might ...
