A portent to many

[CyrilSebastian]

In Psalm 71, Verse 7 declares:
I have become a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge!

Please explain a portent to many.

 

[AnneElizabeth]

In Psalm 71, Verse 7 declares:
I have become a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge!

Please explain a portent to many.

I could be wrong, but I I think it means to be someone who carries many, someone to whom many people rely upon for needs. God is that person’s strength. His cup is full (because of God) , and runs over and attends to the needs of others. His strength is NOT in the pride in thinking about of all those who rely on him- that is not what lifts him up- Only God is what lifts him up. He merely gives freely what the Lord has given Him. God is His refuge and strength, his all.

Portent- Porter. Porter, a carrier.

 

[AnneElizabeth]

Hmm… I’m back again… (I said I could be wrong!)

Looked this up some more and found this:

Definition of portent

1
:  something that foreshadows a coming event :  omen, sign

2
:  prophetic indication or significance

3
:  marvel, prodigy

Could be that “portent to many” could mean that several people see that person stands for God, or that they speak for God, or that they are a marvel of God?

Will need to look at it in context more. Sorry if I spoke too soon. I guess the two definitions can go together in a sense, but I’m going to look it up some more, to be sure. (sick day for me today, feeling a bit better and have the time)

 

[AnneElizabeth]

This is from Bible Gateway, a list of translations… (kind of long, but it might help more)

Psalm 71:7
KJ21
I am as a wonder unto many, but Thou art my strong refuge.
ASV
I am as a wonder unto many; But thou art my strong refuge.
AMP
I am as a wonder to many, For You are my strong refuge.
AMPC
I am as a wonder and surprise to many, but You are my strong refuge.
BRG
I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.
CSB
I am like a miraculous sign to many, and you are my strong refuge.
CEB
I’ve become an example to many people because you are my strong refuge.
CJB
To many, I am an amazing example; but you are strong protection for me.
CEV
Many people think of me as something evil. But you are my mighty protector,
DARBY
I have been as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.
DRA
In his days shall justice spring up, and abundance of peace, till the moon be taken sway.
ERV
You are my source of strength, so I have been an example to others.
ESV
I have been as a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.
ESVUK
I have been as a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.
EXB
I am an ·example [portent] to many people, because you are my strong ·protection [refuge].
GNV
I am become as it were a monster unto many: but thou art my sure trust.
GW
I have become an example to many people, but you are my strong refuge.
GNT
My life has been an example to many, because you have been my strong defender.
HCSB
I have become an ominous sign to many, but You are my strong refuge.
ICB
I am an example to many people. You are my strong protection.
ISV
I have become an example to many that you are my strong refuge.
JUB
I am as a wonder unto many, but thou art my strong refuge.
KJV
I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.
AKJV
I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.
LEB
I have become a wonder to many, but you are my strong refuge.
TLB
My success—at which so many stand amazed—is because you are my mighty protector.
MSG
My God, free me from the grip of Wicked, from the clutch of Bad and Bully. You keep me going when times are tough— my bedrock, God, since my childhood. I’ve hung on you from the day of my birth, the day you took me from the cradle; I’ll never run out of praise. Many gasp in alarm when they see me, but you take me in stride.
MEV
I am like a wondrous sign to many; You are my strong refuge.
NOG
I have become an example to many people, but you are my strong Machseh.
NABRE
I have become a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge!
NASB
I have become a marvel to many, For You are my strong refuge.
NCV
I am an example to many people, because you are my strong protection.
NET
Many are appalled when they see me, but you are my secure shelter.
NIRV
To many people I am an example of how much you care. You are my strong place of safety.
NIV
I have become a sign to many; you are my strong refuge.
NIVUK
I have become a sign to many; you are my strong refuge.
NKJV
I have become as a wonder to many, But You are my strong refuge.
NLV
I have become a wonder and surprise to many. For You are my strong safe place.
NLT
My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection.
NRSV
I have been like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.
NRSVA
I have been like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.
NRSVACE
I have been like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.
NRSVCE
I have been like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.
OJB
I am as a mofet (portent) unto rabbim (many); but Thou art my strong refuge.
RSV
I have been as a portent to many; but thou art my strong refuge.
RSVCE
I have been as a portent to many; but thou art my strong refuge.
TLV
I am like an ominous sign to many, but You are my strong refuge.
VOICE
Many find me a mystery, but You are my rock and my shelter—my soul’s asylum.
WEB
I am a marvel to many, but you are my strong refuge.
WYC
I am made as a great wonder to many men; and thou art a strong helper. (I am made a great example to many men; but thou art my strong helper.)
YLT
As a wonder I have been to many, And Thou [art] my strong refuge.

 

[IsaiahSpirit]

Thank you for this post and wonderful answers.
~
Praying that we are in some way signs of His Benevolent Love to each other,
for Love of Him and all our neighbors endowed with the Sacredness of Life.
With a special prayer for those who are stewards over many in The Church,
The Government, and Families.
Amen.

 

[Todd977]

The footnote commentary on this psalm and verse in the New American Bible, Revised Edition, available online at the USCCB website, says:

• [Psalm 71] A lament of an old person (Ps 71:9, 18) whose afflictions are interpreted by enemies as a divine judgment (Ps 71:11). The first part of the Psalm pleads for help (Ps 71:1–4) on the basis of a hope learned from a lifetime’s experience of God; the second part describes the menace (Ps 71:9–13) yet remains buoyant (Ps 71:14–16); the third develops the theme of hope and praise.
• [71:7]** A portent to many:** the afflictions of the sufferer are taken as a manifestation of God’s anger, cf. Dt 28:46; Ps 31:12.

I checked the Haydock commentary on this verse and there the Catholic commentators mentioned seem to be divided as to whether the word “portent” is to be understood as a good thing or a bad thing, as a sign of God’s favor, referring to the psalmist’s exaltation, or as a sign of God’s disfavor, referring to the psalmist’s present misery.

Because the conjunction “but” is used in your translation, some sort of opposition is probably to be understood between the first half of the verse and the second half. Since the second half of the verse, “but you are my strong refuge,” is positive, it seems that the translator understood the first half of the verse, “I have become the portent to many,” to mean something negative, for instance, that many (wrongly) regarded the psalmist’s present misery as a sign of God’s disfavor with him, in much the same way that many people, including his wife and closest friends, wrongly thought that Job’s suffering was a sign of God’s disfavor with him.