THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
Evil challenges, though temporary, have surged upon Me like heavy rain that will soon diminish.
Psalm 18 (17):5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
The sorrows of death surrounded me: and the torrents of iniquity troubled me.
אֲפָפ֥וּנִי חֶבְלֵי־מָ֑וֶת וְֽנַחֲלֵ֖י בְלִיַּ֣עַל יְבַֽעֲתֽוּנִי׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
6 Church Fathers comment on this verse
- Augustine of Hippo
- Athanasius the Great
- Theodoret of Cyrus
- Euthymios Zigabenos
- Irenaeus (Klementjewsky)
- Psalter with Commentaries (Cave Monastery in Kiew)
Athanasius the Great
I have been overwhelmed by mortal afflictions. He is not speaking of any conflict with human adversaries, but rather the unseen forces that enveloped his spirit. And the torrents of wickedness have weighed heavily upon me.
Theodoret of Cyrus
He refers to the perils that pose a threat to life as mortal and hellish afflictions. Just as illnesses can arise from birth, these significant hazards draw us closer to death. He describes the relentless and unjust assaults of adversaries as ‘waves of wickedness’. Just as a stream, drawing from various sources, can overflow unexpectedly, so too did Saul and other foes launch their assaults.
Euthymios Zigabenos
The prophet continues by stating, ‘I am overtaken by mortal afflictions.’ These mortifications refer to the pains associated with childbirth, yet the term is applied here in an unconventional sense. The mortal afflictions of humanity correspond to the wounds of the spirit, resulting in the grief we endure, much like how the mortal afflictions of women relate to the suffering felt during labor. However, the latter can be described as life-giving processes rather than mortal, because through these pains, a new life is brought forth into existence from the womb. Conversely, the former afflictions are indeed mortal, as they can lead one into the shadows of death.
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In expressing this sentiment, the prophet conveys through his words a deep anguish he feels, experiencing the profound burden of overwhelming sorrow. He further illustrates, ‘The floods of wickedness have overwhelmed me.’ Here, the prophet refers to those sudden and aggressive incursions by the lawless nations that surged against the people of God during his time. He likens their onslaughts to torrents that spontaneously appear in the winter thaw, rushing and relentless. Such was the nature of these adversaries, who perpetually sought an opportunity to end his life. The term “crushed” captures his experience, as these overwhelming torrents sweep away everything in their path. Thus, he expresses that he, too, was besieged and distressed by the treacherous schemes of his foes, left in fear by the swift and unforeseen turn of events.
Irenaeus (Klementjewsky)
The Prophet begins to elaborate on the blessings bestowed by God. Primarily, he expresses how he has learned through countless experiences the might and power of God's hand in thwarting various forms of evil. It is not unusual for him to elaborate poetically on what could have been conveyed in simpler, more modest terms. The Holy Spirit, seeking to challenge the arrogant minds of the wicked, has equipped David with exaggerated denunciations to awaken the world from its slumber and encourage reflection on God's grace. Since God's assistance is often overshadowed by human wickedness, David emphasizes that the salvation prepared for him by God is visible throughout all creation. This is crucial to acknowledge, as it is easy to misinterpret his elevated language as a departure from reason.
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The essence of his message is that, in dire straits, David consistently turned to God for help and was marvelously safeguarded. In Hebrew, the term for afflictions and fatal snares encompasses anything that threatens a person's existence, suggesting that he was engulfed by life-threatening peril as if surrounded by nets. The diseases from the grave signify the perils of death, for before Christ's advent, those who died would descend into the grave, and the Prophets often equated death with the grave itself. By referring to the torrents of iniquity, he is alluding to the fierce assaults of his foes or the plots of the ungodly that led him toward destruction as a ship is drawn to disaster. He states that the snares of death have overtaken him, indicating that he was beset with such dangers that he lost hope for his life, suffering the torments typical of those who face imminent death. When he says the floods of iniquity have overwhelmed him, he means that these afflictions arose because lawless men attacked him, causing chaos akin to those swept away by raging waters. The subsequent phrases, “The diseases of hell have overtaken me,” and “The nets of death have preceded me,” reflect the same meaning as previously discussed, portraying the myriad afflictions brought by adversaries.
Psalter with Commentaries (Cave Monastery in Kiew)
Human afflictions are likened to mortal ailments, as reflected in Christ's lament, ‘My soul is sorrowful unto death’ (Mark 14:34). The grave afflictions of humanity stem from mortal transgressions. These torrents of wrongdoing originate from the sin of Adam, as it is written: in Adam all have sinned (Rom. 5:12). Yet through Christ, all shall be revitalized (Gregory).
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Ps 86 (85):13
- Ps 88 (87):3
- Ps 88 (87):8
- Acts 2:24Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the sorrows of hell, as it was impossible that he should be holden by it.
- Ps 116 (114/115):3
- Ps 88 (87):15
- Ps 88 (87):17
- Eccl 9:12Man knoweth not his own end: but as fishes are taken with the hook, and as birds are caught with the snare, so men are taken in the evil time, when it shall suddenly come upon them.