Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 112:4

Charles Ellicott Commentary

Psalms 112:4

1819–1905
Anglican
Charles Ellicott
Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott Commentary

Psalms 112:4

1819–1905
Anglican
SCRIPTURE

"Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: [He is] gracious, and merciful, and righteous." — Psalms 112:4 (ASV)

Arises ... —The Hebrew verb is commonly used for the sunrise. (Isaiah 58:8.) For the good man, the darkest night of trouble and sorrow will have a dawn of hope.

He is gracious ... —The Authorized Version is right in making this a description of the upright man’s character. The construction certainly at first appears strange, since “the upright” is in the plural, while the epithets in this clause resume the singular of Psalms 112:3. This may be best explained by treating the first clause of this verse as a familiar proverbial saying, which the poet introduces as a quotation, without changing the number to suit his own construction.