Psalm 37:15

Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(15) Their sword.—The lex talionis. (Comp. Psalm 7:15-16.)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

37:7-20 Let us be satisfied that God will make all to work for good to us. Let us not discompose ourselves at what we see in this world. A fretful, discontented spirit is open to many temptations. For, in all respects, the little which is allotted to the righteous, is more comfortable and more profitable than the ill-gotten and abused riches of ungodly men. It comes from a hand of special love. God provides plentifully and well, not only for his working servants, but for his waiting servants. They have that which is better than wealth, peace of mind, peace with God, and then peace in God; that peace which the world cannot give, and which the world cannot have. God knows the believer's days. Not one day's work shall go unrewarded. Their time on earth is reckoned by days, which will soon be numbered; but heavenly happiness shall be for ever. This will be a real support to believers in evil times. Those that rest on the Rock of ages, have no reason to envy the wicked the support of their broken reeds.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Their sword shall enter into their own heart - Their purposes will recoil on themselves; or they will themselves suffer what they had devised for others. See the same sentiment expressed in Psalm 7:15-16; Psalm 9:15; compare Esther 7:10.

And their bows shall be broken - They will be defeated in their plans. God will cut them off, and not suffer them to execute their designs.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

14, 15. sword, and … bow—for any instruments of violence.

slay—literally, "slaughter" (1Sa 25:11).

poor and needy—God's people (Ps 10:17; 12:5). The punishment of the wicked as drawn on themselves—often mentioned (compare Ps 7:15, 16; 35:8).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

God will not only defend the upright from their mischievous designs, but will make them to fall upon their own heads.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Their sword shall enter into their own heart,.... As Saul's did into his, 1 Samuel 31:4;

and their bows shall be broken; the meaning is, that their efforts shall be fruitless, and their attempts in vain; the mischief they have contrived and designed for others shall fall upon themselves; see Psalm 7:15; and therefore the saints should not be fretful and envious.

Geneva Study Bible

Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 15. - Their sword shall enter into their own heart. Such as "take the sword" often "perish by the sword" (Matthew 26:52). Absalom's rebellion cost him his life. Marauders would sometimes meet with a stout resistance, and be slain by those whom they had intended to plunder. And their bows shall be broken; i.e. they shall meet with failure. Psalm 37:15

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

That which corresponds to the "treading" or stringing of the bow is the drawing from the sheath or unsheathing of the sword: פּתח, Ezekiel 21:28, cf. Psalm 55:22. The combination ישׁרי־דּרך is just like תמימי־דוך, Psalm 119:1. The emphasis in Psalm 37:14 is upon the suffix of בלבּם: they shall perish by their own weapon. קשּׁתותם has (in Baer) a Shebג dirimens, as also in Isaiah 5:28 in correct texts.