Psa 3:2, 16:10 | JFB | STEP | 2. say of my soul-- that is, "of me" (compare ). 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 ).

‏ Psalms 3:2

2. 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).

‏ Psalms 16:10

10. soul--or, "self." This use of "soul" for the person is frequent (Ge 12:5; 46:26; Psa 3:2; 7:2; 11:1), even when the body may be the part chiefly affected, as in Psa 35:13; 105:18. Some cases are cited, as Le 22:4; Nu 6:6; 9:6, 10; 19:13; Hag 2:13, &c., which seem to justify assigning the meaning of body, or dead body; but it will be found that the latter sense is given by some adjunct expressed or implied. In those cases person is the proper sense.

wilt not leave ... hell--abandon to the power of (Job 39:14; Psa 49:10). Hell as (Ge 42:38; Psa 6:5; Jon 2:2) the state or region of death, and so frequently--or the grave itself (Job 14:13; 17:13; Ec 9:10, &c.). So the Greek Hades (compare Ac 2:27, 31). The context alone can settle whether the state mentioned is one of suffering and place of the damned (compare Psa 9:17; Pr 5:5; 7:27).

wilt ... suffer--literally, "give" or "appoint."

Holy One--(Psa 4:3), one who is the object of God's favor, and so a recipient of divine grace which he exhibits--pious.

to see--or, "experience"--undergo (Lu 2:26).

corruption--Some render the word, the pit, which is possible, but for the obvious sense which the apostle's exposition (Ac 2:27; 13:36, 37) gives. The sense of the whole passage is clearly this: by the use of flesh and soul, the disembodied state produced by death is indicated; but, on the other hand, no more than the state of death is intended; for the last clause of Psa 16:10 is strictly parallel with the first, and Holy One corresponds to soul, and corruption to hell. As Holy One, or David (Ac 13:36, 37), which denotes the person, including soul and body, is used for body, of which only corruption can be predicated (compare Ac 2:31); so, on the contrary, soul, which literally means the immaterial part, is used for the person. The language may be thus paraphrased, "In death I shall hope for resurrection; for I shall not be left under its dominion and within its bounds, or be subject to the corruption which ordinarily ensues."