John Calvin Commentary Psalms 119:113

"I hate them that are of a double mind; But thy law do I love." — Psalms 119:113 (ASV)

I have hated crooked thoughts. Those who are of the opinion that the word סעפום seaphim, the first in the verse and rendered crooked thoughts, is an appellate noun, translate it as those who think evil. But it is more correct to understand it as referring to the thoughts themselves, and this interpretation is very generally adopted.

The noun סעף, saeph, properly signifies a branch, but it is applied metaphorically to the thoughts, which, growing out of the heart like branches from the trunk of a tree, spread themselves in every direction. Since there is no doubt that in this passage the term is taken in a bad sense, I have added the epithet, crooked, which the etymology of the word requires.

Just as the branches of a tree shoot out transversely, entangled and intertwined, so the thoughts of the human mind are, in like manner, confusedly mingled together, turning and twisting about in all directions. Some Jewish interpreters understand it as referring to the laws of the heathen, which, they say, were cut off from the law of God, like branches from a tree; but although this is ingenious, it lacks soundness.

I therefore adhere to the simpler explanation: that the crooked inventions of the human heart, and whatever the wicked devise according to their own perverse understandings, are set in opposition to the law of God, which alone is right. And, assuredly, whoever would truly embrace the law of God must, as his first task, divest himself of all unhallowed and sinful thoughts, or rather, go out of his own nature.

Such is the meaning, unless, perhaps, preferring another metaphor, we understand סעפום, seaphim, to signify high thoughts, since the verb סעף, saaph, is taken to mean to lift up. Now we know that no sacrifice is more acceptable to God than obedience, when we think humbly of ourselves; and thus our docility begins with humility.

But as this exposition may also seem far-fetched, I will set it aside. Let what I have said suffice us: that since God acknowledges as disciples of His law only those who are well purified from all contrary imaginations which corrupt our understanding, the prophet here protests that he is an enemy to all crooked thoughts, which tend to draw people here and there.