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Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Psalms 64:1–6. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
David, in these verses, puts in before God a representation of his own danger and of his enemies' character, to enforce his petition that God would protect him and punish them.
I.He earnestly begs of God to preserve him (Psa 64:1, Psa 64:2):
Hear my voice, O God! in my prayer; that is, grant me the thing I pray for, and this is it, Lord, preserve my life from fear of the enemy, that is, fro the enemy that I am in fear of. He makes request for his life, which is, in a particular manner, dear to him, because he knows it is designed to be very serviceable to God and his generation. When his life is struck at it cannot be thought he should altogether hold his peace, Est 7:2, Est 7:4. And, if he plead his fear of the enemy, it is no disparagement to his courage; his father Jacob, that prince with God, did so before him. Gen 32:11, Deliver me from the hand of Esau, for I fear him. Preserve my life from fear, not only from the thing itself which I fear, but from the disquieting fear of it; this is, in effect, the preservation of the life, for fear has torment, particularly the fear of death, by reason of which some are all their life-time subject to bondage. He prays, "Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked, from the mischief which they secretly consult among themselves to do against me, and from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity, who join forces, as they join counsels, to do me a mischief." Observe, The secret counsel ends in an insurrection; treasonable practices begin in treasonable confederacies and conspiracies. "Hide me from them, that they may not find me, that they may not reach me. Let me be safe under thy protection."
II.He complains of the great malice and wickedness of his enemies:
"Lord, hide me from them, for they are the worst of men, not fit to be connived at; they are dangerous men, that will stick at nothing; so that I am undone if thou do not take my part."
1.They are very spiteful in their calumnies and reproaches, Psa 64:3, Psa 64:4. They are described as military men, with their sword and bow, archers that take aim exactly, secretly, and suddenly, and shoot at the harmless bird that apprehends not herself in any danger. But,
(1.)Their tongues are their swords, flaming swords, two-edged swords, drawn swords, drawn in anger, with which they cut, and wound, and kill, the good name of their neighbours. The tongue is a little member, but, like the sword, it boasts great things, Jam 3:5. It is a dangerous weapon.
(2.)Bitter words are their arrows - scurrilous reflections, opprobrious nicknames, false representations, slanders, and calumnies, the fiery darts of the wicked one, set on fire to hell. For these their malice bends their bows, to send out these arrows with so much the more force.
(3.)The upright man is their mark; against him their spleen is, and they cannot speak peaceably either of him or to him. The better any man is the more he is envied by those that are themselves bad, and the more ill is said of him.
(4.)They manage it with a great deal of art and subtlety. They shoot in secret, that those they shoot at may not discover them and avoid the danger, for in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird. And suddenly do they shoot, without giving a man lawful warning or any opportunity to defend himself. Cursed be he that thus smites his neighbour secretly in his reputation, Deu 27:24. There is no guard against a pass made by a false tongue.
(5.)Herein they fear not, that is, they are confident of their success, and doubt not but by these methods they shall gain the point which their malice aims at. Or, rather, they fear not the wrath of God, which they will be the portion of a false tongue. They are impudent and daring in the mischief they do to good people, as if they must never be called to an account for it.
2.They are very close and very resolute in their malicious projects, Psa 64:5.
(1.)They strengthen and corroborate themselves and one another in this evil matter, and by joining together in it they make one another the more bitter and the more bold. Fortiter calumniari, aliquid adhaerebit - Lay on an abundance of reproach; part will be sure to stick. It is bad to do a wrong thing, but worse to encourage ourselves and one another in doing it; this is doing the devil's work for him. It is a sign that the heart is hardened to the highest degree when it is thus fully set to do evil and fears no colours. It is the office of conscience to discourage men in an evil matter, but, when that is baffled, the case is desperate.
(2.)They consult with themselves and one another how to do the most mischief and most effectually: They commune of laying snares privily. All their communion is in sin and all their communication is how to sin securely. They hold councils of war for finding out the most effectual expedients to do mischief; every snare they lay was talked of before, and was laid with all the contrivance of their wicked wits combined.
(3.)They please themselves with an atheistical conceit that God himself takes no notice of their wicked practices: They say, Who shall see them? A practical disbelief of God's omniscience is at the bottom of all the wickedness of the wicked.
3.They are very industrious in putting their projects in execution (Psa 64:6): "They search out iniquity; they take a great deal of pains to find out some iniquity or other to lay to my charge; they dig deep, and look far back, and put things to the utmost stretch, that they may have something to accuse me of;" or, "They are industrious to find out new arts of doing mischief to me; in this they accomplish a diligent search; they go through with it, and spare neither cost nor labour." Evil men dig up mischief. Half the pains that many take to damn their souls would serve to save them. They are masters of all the arts of mischief and destruction, for the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, are keep, deep as hell, desperately wicked, who can know it? By the unaccountable wickedness of their wit and of their will, they show themselves to be, both in subtlety and malignity, the genuine offspring of the old serpent.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
One surviving comment on this verse from the historical church.
"They told, in order that they might hide traps: they said, Who shall see them?" [Psalm 64:5]. They thought they would escape Him, whom they were killing, that they would escape God. Behold, suppose Christ was a man, like the rest of men, and knew not what was being contrived for Him: does God also know not? O heart of man! Wherefore have you said to yourself, Who sees me? When He sees that has made you? "They said, Who shall see them?" God did see, Christ also was seeing: because Christ is also God. But wherefore did they think that He saw not? Hear the words following.
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Summary
Psalms 64:5 profoundly exposes the sinister nature of the wicked, revealing their deliberate and self-fortifying resolve to commit evil, their secretive and collaborative plotting to ensnare others, and their audacious conviction that their malicious schemes will remain entirely hidden from any form of scrutiny, especially divine oversight. This verse encapsulates the dangerous delusion of those who operate in darkness, believing themselves immune to accountability, while simultaneously laying the groundwork for God's inevitable and inescapable judgment upon such hidden treachery.
Context
Literary Context
Psalm 64 is a fervent lament and prayer of David, where he earnestly appeals to God for deliverance from his clandestine enemies. The psalm commences with David's desperate cry for protection from the "noise of the enemy" and the "tumult of the wicked" found in Psalm 64:1-2. He vividly describes their malicious words as sharpened swords and bitter arrows, launched from concealed positions, as detailed in Psalm 64:3-4. Verse 5 marks a critical transition, shifting the focus from their outward verbal assaults to their internal machinations and conspiratorial planning. It meticulously details the deliberate malice and the arrogant belief in their own impunity that fuels their plots. This verse serves as a crucial narrative bridge, setting the stage for the dramatic shift in the psalm's latter half, where God's swift, public, and decisive judgment against these hidden schemers is confidently proclaimed in Psalm 64:7-9.
Historical & Cultural Context
As King of Israel, David frequently confronted threats from both external adversaries and internal conspirators, who often operated with great secrecy. His reign was punctuated by periods of intense persecution, flight, and betrayal, making the theme of hidden enemies particularly poignant and personal for him. The concept of "snares" (Hebrew: môqēš) was deeply ingrained in the ancient Near Eastern consciousness, referring to various traps set for animals, but also widely employed metaphorically to denote ambushes, deceptive plots, or schemes designed to entrap people. Such malicious plots were commonly hatched in "secret counsel" (sôd), underscoring the conspiratorial nature of the wicked's actions, a phenomenon all too common in royal courts and the broader political landscape of the time. The arrogant rhetorical question, "Who shall see them?", powerfully reflects a pervasive human delusion that deeds performed in darkness remain truly unseen. This belief directly challenges the foundational understanding of a just, omniscient, and omnipresent God who discerns all things, even the deepest secrets of the human heart and mind, a truth consistently affirmed throughout wisdom literature, as seen in Proverbs 15:3.
Key Themes
This verse significantly contributes to several profound themes within Psalm 64 and the broader collection of the Psalter. Firstly, it starkly illuminates the depravity of human wickedness, emphasizing its deliberate, self-encouraged, and conspiratorial dimensions, moving beyond mere impulsive sin to calculated malice. Secondly, it powerfully underscores the theme of divine omniscience and justice, presenting a striking contrast between the wicked's profound delusion of invisibility and God's perfect, all-seeing knowledge and ultimate accountability. The very question, "Who shall see them?", ironically functions to highlight God's inevitable revelation and judgment, reinforcing the biblical truth that "nothing is hidden from God" as declared in Hebrews 4:13. Finally, it develops the crucial theme of trust in God's unwavering protection amidst hidden dangers, offering profound assurance to the righteous that God is fully cognizant of every hidden plot and will ultimately vindicate His people, often by causing the wicked to become ensnared in their own meticulously crafted traps, a motif powerfully echoed elsewhere in the Psalms, such as in Psalm 7:15.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
The root H2388 (châzaq) fundamentally means "to be strong, firm, or courageous." In this context, used in the Hithpael stem (a reflexive form), it signifies that the wicked "strengthen themselves," "make themselves firm," or "harden their resolve" towards an evil objective. This is not a passive yielding to temptation but an active, deliberate, and self-willed commitment to wrongdoing. It implies a conscious effort to overcome any lingering moral qualms or hesitation, steeling their will to pursue their malicious intentions with unwavering determination. This points to a deep-seated, intentional wickedness.
The term H4170 (môwqêsh) refers to a noose, trap, or lure, typically employed for catching animals. Metaphorically, it denotes a deceptive plot, an ambush, or a cunning scheme designed to entrap or ensnare an unsuspecting victim. The use of this word vividly emphasizes the treacherous and deceptive nature of the wicked's plans, aiming to catch their target unawares and without recourse. It highlights their cunning, malicious intent, and the hidden danger they pose.
The word H2934 (ṭâman) means "to hide (by covering over)," "to lay privily," or "to conceal in secret." It directly describes the clandestine and conspiratorial nature of their plotting. They are not acting openly or transparently but in a hidden, secretive manner, often in private consultation with one another. This underscores their explicit desire to operate undetected, believing that by keeping their plans secret, they can evade exposure, accountability, and the consequences of their actions.
Verse Breakdown
"They encourage themselves in an evil matter"
This clause lays bare the internal disposition and active choice of the wicked. They are not merely susceptible to evil; they actively fortify their will and resolve to pursue it. This implies a conscious, determined decision to embrace and strengthen their commitment to malicious deeds, indicating a hardened heart and a deliberate rejection of righteousness. Their wickedness is not accidental or impulsive but is a matter of self-willed and resolute determination.
"they commune of laying snares privily"
This phrase describes the collaborative and highly secretive nature of their plotting. The word "commune" (derived from H5608 çâphar and H559 ʼâmar in the KJV, though the Strong's for "commune" is H5608, meaning to recount or declare) here implies intense discussion, consultation, and mutual agreement, indicating a deliberate conspiracy. They are not acting alone but are united in their sinister purpose to set traps, which are inherently deceptive and harmful schemes. The adverb "privily" (H2934 ṭâman) emphatically highlights the clandestine, hidden, and confidential nature of their operations, underscoring their profound desire to avoid detection and accountability.
"they say, Who shall see them?"
This rhetorical question powerfully exposes the profound arrogance and fundamental delusion of the wicked. It reveals their deeply ingrained belief that their secret plots will remain utterly hidden from all observers, including human authorities and, most significantly, God Himself. This question is a direct and audacious challenge to divine omniscience and omnipresence, showcasing an arrogant disregard for divine justice and ultimate accountability. It reflects a mindset that believes it can escape consequences, a common and dangerous characteristic of those who plot evil in secret.
Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound message. Imagery is central, particularly with the phrase "laying snares privily," which evokes a vivid mental picture of hidden traps and clandestine operations, highlighting the deceptive, dangerous, and underhanded nature of the wicked's plans. The phrase "encourage themselves in an evil matter" utilizes abstract personification, as "evil matter" is treated as a tangible entity within which one can actively strengthen oneself, giving the abstract concept a concrete, almost adversarial presence. Most significantly, the rhetorical question "Who shall see them?" is a powerful use of irony. The wicked pose this question with arrogant confidence, firmly believing they are unseen, yet the very act of the psalmist revealing their secret thoughts and intentions demonstrates unequivocally that they are indeed seen—first by the psalmist's prophetic insight, and ultimately and perfectly by God. This sets up a profound contrast between human delusion and divine omniscience, a central and recurring theological theme throughout the psalm.
Theological and Thematic Connections
This verse profoundly underscores the foundational biblical truth of God's perfect omniscience and the utter futility of any attempt to conceal sin or malicious intent from Him. The wicked's arrogant question, "Who shall see them?", stands in stark and irreconcilable contrast to the divine reality that "the eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good" as stated in Proverbs 15:3. It highlights the inherent human tendency to believe that what is done in secret remains secret, a dangerous delusion that the Bible consistently exposes and refutes. Furthermore, the verse powerfully foreshadows the principle of divine retribution, where those who meticulously dig a pit for others often fall into it themselves—a recurring theme of divine justice where the wicked's own devices become their inevitable downfall. This serves as an immense comfort to the righteous, assuring them that God is fully aware of every hidden scheme plotted against them and will, in His perfect timing, bring justice to light and vindicate His people.
Reflection and Application
Psalms 64:5 serves as a profound and challenging mirror, reflecting not only the insidious nature of the wicked but also compelling us to examine the hidden corners of our own hearts and minds. It serves as a potent reminder that true integrity is not merely about outward actions or public performance, but fundamentally about the inner disposition and the secret intentions we harbor. The wicked's self-encouragement in evil highlights the grave danger of allowing sinful thoughts, desires, or rationalizations to fester and strengthen within us, rather than immediately bringing them before God in confession and repentance. For those who feel targeted by unseen malice, secret plots, or underhanded schemes, this verse offers immense comfort and reassurance: God sees every hidden scheme, every whispered conspiracy, and every trap laid in the dark. Our confidence should not be in our own limited ability to uncover these plots, but in God's perfect omniscience and His unwavering commitment to justice. Ultimately, this verse calls us to live transparently and authentically before God, knowing that true freedom and peace come from walking in the light, rather than attempting to hide anything from the One who sees all.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why do the wicked believe they are unseen, despite God's omniscience?
The wicked's belief that they are unseen stems from a profound spiritual blindness, deep-seated arrogance, and often, a deliberate desire to escape accountability. This dangerous delusion is rooted in a practical atheism, where even if God's existence is nominally acknowledged, His active involvement, perfect knowledge, or imminent judgment of human affairs is effectively denied or ignored. They project their own limited human perception onto the divine, falsely assuming that because their plots are hidden from human eyes, they are thereby hidden from all eyes, including God's. This self-deception allows them to pursue their malicious intentions without immediate fear of consequence, fostering a false sense of security and impunity. It is a fundamental and perilous error that the Bible consistently refutes, emphasizing that God's eyes "run to and fro throughout the whole earth" as declared in 2 Chronicles 16:9 and that "there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account" in Hebrews 4:13.
How does God respond to those who plot evil in secret?
God's response to those who plot evil in secret is multifaceted, encompassing both His perfect knowledge and His righteous judgment and vindication. Firstly, as the psalmist powerfully implies, He sees and knows every hidden detail, every whispered conspiracy, and every secret intention. Secondly, God frequently orchestrates events to turn the wicked's own devices against them, causing them to fall into the very traps they meticulously set for others, a principle vividly illustrated in Psalms 7:15-16 and Psalms 9:15-16. Thirdly, God ultimately brings all hidden deeds to light, whether in this life through providential exposure or definitively on the Day of Judgment, ensuring that all secret things are revealed and every hidden counsel of the heart made known, as promised in Luke 12:2. This public exposure often brings profound shame and ruin to the wicked, while simultaneously vindicating the righteous. God's perfect justice ensures that no secret sin goes unaddressed and no hidden plot remains unpunished in His sovereign timing.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Psalms 64:5, with its stark portrayal of hidden evil and the wicked's profound delusion of unseen operations, finds its ultimate fulfillment, resolution, and comprehensive answer in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the divine Son of God, who perfectly embodies the omniscience of the Father, seeing not only the outward actions but also the deepest intentions, secret plots, and hidden counsels of the human heart. While the wicked in Psalm 64:5 plot in darkness, Jesus is the very Light of the World who exposes all darkness, revealing that "nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known" as proclaimed in Luke 12:2. His own earthly life was a profound testament to enduring countless hidden conspiracies, malicious accusations, and "snares" meticulously laid by religious and political enemies, yet He perfectly submitted to God's will, ultimately triumphing over all principalities and powers, disarming them and making a public spectacle of them by His victory on the cross, as described in Colossians 2:15. Furthermore, Christ is the righteous and ultimate Judge who will one day bring every secret thing into judgment, revealing the hidden counsels of the heart before His throne, as affirmed in Romans 2:16. Thus, the psalmist's profound confidence in God's ultimate justice against hidden evil is fully realized and perfectly demonstrated in the person and redemptive work of Jesus, who both exposes the darkness of sin and offers refuge, vindication, and eternal life to all who trust in Him.