muth-labben Summary and Overview

occurring only in the title of Psalm 9. Some interpret the words as meaning "on the death of Labben," some unknown person. Others render the word, "on the death of the son;" i.e., of Absalom (2 Sam. 18:33). Others again have taken the word as the name of a musical instrument, or as the name of an air to which the psalm was sung.

"To the chief musician upon Muth-labben" is the title of #Ps 9:1| which has given rise to infinite conjecture. It may be either upon the death (muth) of the fool (labben), as an anagram on Nabal or as Gesenius, "to be chanted by boys with virgins' voices," i.e. in the soprano.

MUTH-LAB'BEN , in the title to Ps 9, is thus explained by the Rev. A.R. Fausset: "Labben is an anagram for Nabal, 'the fool' or 'wicked,' concerning the dying (ninth) of the fool." This interpretation harmonizes well with the contents of the Psalm. But the titles to the Psalms are often enigmas.

Title of Psalm 9. Labben is an anagram for Nabal ("the fool" or wicked); "concerning the dying (muth) of the fool," as Psalm 9:12; Psalm 9:16-17, "Thou hast destroyed the wicked, Thou hast put out their name forever and ever." "The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands." Higgaion ("meditation"); Selah ("pause".) "The wicked shall be turned into hell," etc. Saul slain by the Philistines by whom he had sought to slay David, and receiving the last thrust from one of the Amalekites whom he ought to have destroyed, and Nabal ("fool") dying after his selfish surfeit when churlishly he had refused aught to David's men who had guarded him and his, are instances of the death of such world-wise "fools" (1 Samuel 25:26; 1 Samuel 25:38; 2 Samuel 3:33; Psalm 14:1). (See NABAL.) The Septuagint and Vulgate versions read concerning the mysteries of the Son," namely, the divine Son's death, the earnest of His final victory over the last "enemy" (Psalm 9:6).