King James Version
Psalms 3:2
2Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
Psalms 3:2 in other versions
- New International Version (NIV)Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)many are saying of my soul, "There is no salvation for him in God." Selah
- New King James Version (NKJV)Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah
- New Living Translation (NLT)So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!” Interlude
Context of Psalms 3:2
1Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. 3But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. 4I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
Read all of Psalms 3Psalms 3:2 word by word
רַבִּים֮ אֹמְרִ֪ים לְנַ֫פְשִׁ֥י אֵ֤ין יְֽשׁוּעָ֓תָה לּ֬וֹ בֵֽאלֹהִ֬ים סֶֽלָה׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Psalms 3:2
- Psalms 22:7All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
- Psalms 42:3My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
- Psalms 71:11Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.
- 2 Samuel 16:7And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:
- Matthew 27:42He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
- Psalms 3:4I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
- Psalms 4:2O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
- Habakkuk 3:3God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
Commentaries on Psalms 3:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2No 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Many there be which say of my soul - Or rather, perhaps, of his “life,” for so the word used here - נפשׁ nephesh - frequently means Leviticus 17:11; Deuteronomy 12:23; Genesis 9:4; Genesis 35:18; 1 Kings 17:21. The object of their persecution, as here stated, was not his soul, as such, in the sense in which we now understand the word, but his life; and they now said that they were secure of that, and that all things indicated that God would not now…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2A psalmist is the writer or speaker of a psalm. The psalmist here faces many enemies. Those enemies speak boldly and without respect (Psalm 4:6; 12:4; 40:15). They question whether the Lord can really save him (10:11; 22:7–8; 71:10). Their words trouble the psalmist because it seems the Lord will not answer his prayer. These enemies hold great power (compare Psalm 2:1–3). Unlike Psalm 2, this psalm does not resolve the crisis.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. say of my soul--that is, "of me" (compare Psa 25:3). This use of "soul" is common; perhaps it arose from regarding the soul as man's chief part. no help ... in God--rejected by Him. This is the bitterest reproach for a pious man, and denotes a spirit of malignant triumph. Selah--This word is of very obscure meaning. It probably denotes rest or pause, both as to the music and singing, intimating something emphatic in the sentiment (compare Psa 9:16).Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 3:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
King James Version — Public Domain except in the United Kingdom (Crown rights)
Commentaries