Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 104:15

Albert Barnes Commentary

Psalms 104:15

1798–1870
Presbyterian
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes Commentary

Psalms 104:15

1798–1870
Presbyterian
SCRIPTURE

"And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, [And] oil to make his face to shine, And bread that strengtheneth man`s heart." — Psalms 104:15 (ASV)

And wine that maketh glad the heart of man ... - literally, “And wine (it) gladdens the heart of man to make his face to shine more than oil.” Margin, “to make his face shine with oil, or more than oil.” The latter expresses the idea most accurately. So DeWette renders it.

The meaning is, that the earth is made to produce wine (or grapes which produce wine), and this exhilarates the heart, so that the effect is seen on the countenance, making it more bright and cheerful than it is when anointed with oil. On the use of oil, see the notes at Psalms 23:5. The reference here, in the original, is not to wine and oil as produced by the earth, as would seem to be implied in our translation, but to wine that makes the heart glad, and the face brighter than if anointed with oil.

The psalmist here states a fact about the use of wine - a well-known fact that it exhilarates the heart, and brightens the countenance; and he states it merely as a fact. He says nothing on the question whether the use of wine as a beverage is, or is not, proper and safe. Compare the notes at John 2:10.

And bread which strengtheneth man’s heart - That is, Which sustains the heart - that being regarded as the seat of life. Compare Genesis 18:5.