Psalms 118:96
I have seen an end to all persecution: thy commandment is exceeding broad. MEM
Open Psalms 118:96 in the Motif Searcher, word by word across all five texts →Show on the spiral →The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Omnis consummationis vidi finem, latum mandatum tuum nimis.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- πάσης συντελείας εἶδον πέρας, πλατεῖα ἡ ἐντολή σου σφόδρα.
- Hebrew (WLC) shown from Psalms 119:96
- לְֽכָל תִּ֭כְלָה רָאִ֣יתִי קֵ֑ץ רְחָבָ֖ה מִצְוָתְךָ֣ מְאֹֽד
Haydock's commentary
Perfection, of a worldly nature. (Haydock)
All have their limits. But God's law bindeth for ever, as the rewards and punishments are eternal. (Worthington)
Broad. Charity, which extends both to God and our neighbour. (St. Augustine)
The law is above my comprehension, though I am able to discern its superiority over all created things. Some understand Jesus Christ, the end of the law; or martyrdom, the height of charity; or extreme distress, by the word perfection. (Berthier)
Literally, "consummation." (Haydock)
I have been exposed to the greatest misery: but thy law has set me at large, Sophonias i. 18. (Calmet)
From Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859, in the transcription made by Todd Easton and kept online by John Paul Wohlschied at johnblood.gitlab.io/haydock.
The Fathers on this verse
St Augustine Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, 1 John V. 1-3
6. See, brethren, how many things we pass, in which is not the end. These we use as by the way; we take as it were our refreshment at the halting places on our journey, and pass on. Where then is the end? “Beloved, we are sons of God, and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be;” here is this said, in this epistle. As yet then, we are on the way; as yet, wherever we come, we must pass on, until we attain unto some end. “We know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. That is the end; there perpetual praising, there Alleluia always without fail. This, then is the end he has spoken of in the Psalm: “I have seen the end of all perfection:” and as though it were said to him, What is the end thou hast seen? “Thy commandment, exceeding broad.” This is the end: the breadth of the commandment. …
St Augustine Expositions on the Book of Psalms, Lamed
96. Lastly, he next saith, “I have seen an end of all consummation: but Thy commandment is exceeding broad” ( ver. 96 ). For he had entered into the sanctuary of God, and had understood the end. Now “all consummation” appeareth to me in this place to signify, the striving even unto death for the truth, and the endurance of every evil for the true and chief good: the end of which consummation is to excel in the kingdom of Christ, which hath no end; and there to have without death, without pain, and with great honour, life, acquired by the death of this life, and by sorrows and reproaches. But in what he hath added, “Thy commandment is exceeding broad;” I understand only love. …
St Augustine Expositions on the Book of Psalms, Mem
97. We have frequently admonished you, that love was to be understood by that praiseworthy breadth, by means of which, while we do the commandments of God, we feel no straitness. On this account also after saying above in this great Psalm, “Thy commandment is exceeding broad:” in the following verse he showeth wherefore it is broad: “what love have I unto Thy law, O Lord!” ( ver. 97 ). Love is therefore the breadth of the commandment. For how can it be that what God commandeth to be loved, be loved, and yet the commandment itself be not loved? For this itself is the law; “in all the day,” he saith, “is my study in it.” Behold how I have loved it, that in the whole day my study is in it; or rather, as the Greek hath it, “all the day long,” which more fully expresses the continuance of meditation. Now that is to be understood through all time; which is, for ever. …