Psalms 34:5 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

They looked; the humble, Psalms 34:2; or they that fear him, Psalms 34:7, when they were in distress. Or it is an indefinite expression. Unto him; either, 1. Unto the Lord, expressed Psalms 34:4, i.e. they sought and expected help from him. Or rather,

2. Unto this poor man, as it follows, Psalms 34:6, or unto David. So he speaks of himself in the third person, which is usual. So the sense is, when I was delivered, Psalms 34:4, men looked upon me with wonder and astonishment, as one saved in a prodigious manner. Lightened, i.e. comforted and encouraged by my example. But these and the foregoing words are by the ancient interpreters read imperatively, as an exhortation to others, to whom he oft addresseth his speech, as Psalms 34:3,8,9,11. Look unto him, (with an eye of faith and prayer,) and be ye enlightened, i.e. take comfort in the expectation of mercy from him. And then the last words they render thus, and your, Heb. their, (but the change of persons is very frequent in this book,) fear shall not be ashamed. Their faces were not ashamed; they were not disappointed of their hope, but found relief, as I did.

Psalms 34:5

5 They looked unto him, and were lightened:a and their faces were not ashamed.