John Calvin Commentary Psalms 31:12

"I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel." — Psalms 31:12 (ASV)

I am forgotten as one dead. The Psalmist still pursues the same idea and complains that he was as completely blotted out of all people's remembrance as if he had been dead. The memory of some people after their death flourishes for a time among survivors, but it more frequently vanishes; for there is no longer any interaction between the living and the dead, nor can the living be of any further service to the dead.

David illustrates this idea with the metaphor of a broken vessel, which denotes utter contempt and baseness, as if he had said that he was considered no longer worthy of any place or respect. He adds, finally, that he was reviled by the multitude and filled with terrors.

I would, however, prefer translating the Hebrew word רבים, rabbim, as the great, rather than as many. When influential people, who are often as powerful in judgment as in authority, slander and defame us as wicked persons, this adds to the indignity with which we are treated, because whatever they say in condemnation of us has the effect of biasing the common people against us.

It will therefore be appropriate to understand the words as meaning that David was ignominiously condemned by the whole order of the nobility, and thus the innocence of this afflicted man was overshadowed by their greatness. This interpretation is confirmed by what immediately follows: Fear encloseth me on every side, while they consult together against me. As he is still speaking of the same persons, it is certain that this language applies more appropriately to the nobles than to the common people.

Moreover, we see that the primary object of the wicked in the deceitful schemes by which they conspired to destroy David was to create hatred against him among all the people, portraying him as a wicked and reprobate man. We also see that while they mangled his reputation, they did it in such a way that they covered their wickedness under the appearance of a serious and thoughtful procedure, consulting among themselves to destroy him as a man who should no longer be tolerated on the earth. It is no wonder, therefore, that his mind was wounded, as we have just seen, by so many and so sharp trials.