Origen
Patristic
c. A.D. 184–253
“You see steadfastness and vigor of the soul that keeps the commandments of God and has the confidence of uncreated liberty.”
The interpretation timeline
Ps 26:3
How this passage has been read — the sources, oldest to newest.
From the early Church Fathers to now.
5 Patristic · 1 Jewish · 1 Catholic
Ps 26:3 · Douay-Rheims
“If armies in camp should stand together against me, my heart shall not fear. If a battle should rise up against me, in this will I be confident.”
Patristic
before A.D. 750
254
A.D.
254
A.D.
Origen
Patristic
c. A.D. 184–253
“It may be that these words are spoken by the prophet of no one else but the Savior, who feared no one because of the light and salvation given from the Father and who was afraid of no one because of the protection with which God shielded him. And his heart was not at all fearful when the entire host of Satan encamped against him. His heart, filled with sacred teachings, hoped in God when war rose up against him.”
399
A.D.
Evagrius Ponticus
Patristic
c. A.D. 345–399
“One who follows the active life wages war by his own virtues with alien virtues. One who follows the contemplative life using true dogmas destroys every thought opposed to the knowledge of God.”
430
A.D.
Augustine of Hippo
Patristic
A.D. 354–430
“"If camps stand together against me, my heart will not fear." But if the multitude of gain-sayers conspire to stand together against me, my heart will not fear, so as to go over to their side. "If war rise up against me, in this will I trust" [Psalm 27:3]. If the persecution of this world arise against me, in this petition, which I am pondering, will I place my hope.”
457
A.D.
Theodoret of Cyrus
Patristic
c. A.D. 393–457
“Having such wonderful experience of assistance, he is saying, even should two or three times the number of enemies try to attack me, I would brave the difficulties, armed with this hope.”
648 years pass — nothing from this stretch is hosted yet
Scholastic
c. 1100 – 1500
1105
A.D.
Rashi
Jewish
1040–1105
“in this I trust In what is stated above: “The Lord is the stronghold of my life.””
169 years pass — nothing from this stretch is hosted yet
1274
A.D.
Thomas Aquinas
Catholic
1225–1274
“"If armies should stand." A man ought to have security in two respects. First, in the preparation of evils. Second, in their endurance, at "I shall rise up." He says therefore: the Lord is thus my light, because enemies fall before me. The Gloss says: "If armies should stand against me," camps are where soldiers have stood; "my heart shall not fear." As long as a man is in camp, he does not fight but plans and deliberates for fighting. By "camps" are understood the counsels and conspiracies of the wicked against someone. 2 Kgs. 19: "The angel of the Lord struck the camp of the Assyrians": Ex. 14: "It happened in the morning watch, and behold, the Lord rose above the camps and struck them." "My heart shall not fear," because the Lord is with me: Job 17: "Place me beside you, and let any man's hand fight against me." But "if battle should rise up against me," that is, if they should already attack me and fight against me, though they be many, "in this I shall hope": because as it is said in 1 Macc. 3: "Victory in battle is not in the multitude of the army, but strength comes from heaven." For it is the custom of friends to help their friends when they are attacked by enemies: Ps. 93: "Your consolations have gladdened my soul."”
Modern · 1953 →
The in-app commentary runs from the Fathers to the early-modern record, then stops — that's where the public-domain sources end, not where the reading does. For the modern reading, follow the sources directly.