Psalm 54 Study Notes
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Ps 54 title The historical setting for this psalm relates to the Ziphites, who lived southeast of Hebron and informed Saul of David’s hiding place (1Sm 23:19; 26:1). On Maskil, see note at Ps 32 title.
54:1 For vindicate see notes at 17:1-2; 35:27-28.
54:2-3 The word strangers (Hb zarim) denotes outsiders with regard to the Lord’s covenant and people (Is 1:7; 14:1; Eph 2:12). They do not let God guide them means that they do not think God’s instruction is worthwhile, which is similar to descriptions of the wicked who think God will not execute his justice (see notes at 10:3-6; 14:1).
qawah
| Hebrew pronunciation | [kah WAH] |
| CSB translation | hope, wait, put hope in |
| Uses in Psalms | 17 |
| Uses in the OT | 47 |
| Focus passage | Psalm 52:9 |
Qawah describes waiting for pay (Jb 7:2), expecting good grapes (Is 5:2), or hoping for peace (Jr 8:15). Showers wait for nobody (Mc 5:7). Qawah stands parallel with “seeking” (Lm 3:25) and “looking for” (Jb 6:19); it connotes expecting (Is 5:7). God is often the object (22x). Waiting for (Is 26:8) or putting hoping in (Ps 69:6) him involves trusting (Is 40:31). God is good to those who wait for him (Lm 3:25); they will inherit the land, not evildoers (Ps 37:9). Qawah need not imply godly hoping; the wicked hope to destroy the righteous (Ps 119:95). One motif concerns hoping for something that does not come (Jr 8:15). Qawah has a homonym meaning “gather” (Gn 1:9) that occurs twice. The noun tiqwah (32x) indicates hope except twice when translated expectation because of another word for “hope” (Pr 10:28; 11:7). Miqweh (5x: Jr 17:13) signifies hope.
54:4-5 Repay is a term used in contexts describing divine retribution (Dt 32:35).
54:6 Freewill offering is used instead of thank offering because there was no vow made in the request as in other cases (see note at 22:25-26). Instead, this is a voluntary and spontaneous offering that was not done out of obligation.
54:7 Looked down expresses the idea of triumph over one’s enemies (58:10; 59:10; 92:11).