Bible Commentary

Psalms 4

Psalms 4 — Overview

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, a Psalm of David. This psalm is inscribed "to the chief musician", or "conqueror" : who excelled others in the art of music, and carried the glory from them; who was very skilful, and instructed others in it, and was the master of the song, as Chenaniah, 1Ch 15:22; who set the tune, led on the psalm, and had the whole direction and management of it; and so the Jewish doctors generally understand it of one that presided over the rest of the musicians and singers; and to such an one was this psalm sent, to be sung in public worship: for the psalms of David were not composed for private use only, but for public service; and were committed into the hands and care of the chief of the singers, as Asaph and others; see 1Ch 16:7; by whom they were preserved and transmitted to future ages for the use of the church, not only in the former but in the present dispensation.

The Septuagint interpreters, and after them the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions, render it "unto the end", or for ever; to this agrees the sense of R.

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