Psalms 44:5 - Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Bible Comments

Through thee - By thy help. “Will we push down our enemies.” The word here rendered “push down” means literally to strike or push with the horns, spoken of horned animals, Exodus 21:28, Exodus 21:31-32. Then it is applied to a conqueror prostrating nations before him: Deu 33:17; 1 Kings 22:11.

Through thy name - That is, acting under thine authority and by thy help. If he gave the commandment Psalms 44:4, it would be certain that they would be able to overcome their adversaries.

Will we tread them under - Will we conquer or subdue them. The language is taken from the custom of treading on a prostrate foe. See Psalms 7:5, note; Psalms 18:40, note; compare Job 40:12, note; Isaiah 10:6, note; Isaiah 63:3, note; Daniel 7:23, note.

That rise up against us - Our enemies that have mustered their strength for war. The language would properly denote those who had rebelled against a government; but it seems here to be used in a more general sense, as referring to those who had waged war against them. See Psalms 18:39,

Psalms 44:5

5 Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.