The following is a list of medieval commentaries on the Book of Psalms that are available online. The list covers edited commentaries on Psalms (including some prefatory and homiletic works) from Western Christianity between 500 and 1500. Psalm numbers have been given according to the Hebrew numbering (used in most modern Bibles), not according to the Vulgate.
(Update August 2022: this list has been expanded with a – still incomplete – selection of patristic commentaries. Some rabbinic and medieval Jewish commentaries have been added in an appendix.)
Contents
- Early Church in General
- 4th Century
- 5th Century
- 6th Century
- 7th Century
- 8th Century
- 9th Century
- 10th Century
- 11th Century
- 12th Century
- 13th Century
- 14th Century
- 15th Century
- Appendix: Rabbinic and Medieval Jewish Commentaries
- References
Language abbreviations:
DE = German
EN = English
ES = Spanish
FR = French
IT = Italian
LA = Latin
NL = Dutch
PO = Polish
Series abbreviations:
ACW = Ancient Christian Writers
CCCM = Corpus Christianorum: Continuatio medievalis
CCSL = Corpus Christianorum: Series Latina
PL = Patrologia Latina
Symbols:
Ø = not available online; this symbol is followed by a link to the book record in WorldCat (WC)
$ = paid access and/or institutional subscription required
Abbreviations of online book repositories:
BEIC = Biblioteca Europea di Informazione e Cultura
GB = Google Books
IA = Internet Archive
MDZ = Münchener DigitalisierungsZentrum
SBB = Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin
WLB = Württembergische Landesbibliothek Stuttgart
Early Church in General
Selections
EN, Ps 1-50, ACCS 2008, IA
Studies
EN, McNamara, Psalms in the Early Irish Church, 2000, IA
DE, Mühlenberg, Untersuchungen zu den Psalmenkatenen, 1978, IA
4th Century
Ambrose (c. 339-c.397)
LA, Ps 1, 36-41, 44, 46, 48-49, 62, CSEL 64, 1919, IA
LA, Ps 119, CSEL 62, 1913, IA
Apollinaris of Laodicea (died 382)
GR, Ps 1-150 (Catenae), 1975, IA
Athanasius (c. 296-373)
DE, Letter to Marcellinus, BKV, 1875, BKV
DE, Ps 1-147, BKV, 1875, BKV
NL, Letter to Marcellinus, 1566, GB
Didymus the Blind (c. 313–c. 398)
GR+DE, Ps 21-22, 1968, IA
GR+DE, Ps 23-27, 1968, IA
GR+DE, Ps 36-40, 1968, IA
GR+DE, Ps 37, 41-45, 1968, IA
GR, Ps 1-51 (Catenae), 1975, IA
GR, Ps 52-150 (Catenae), 1977, IA
Diodore of Tarsus (died c. 392)
GR, Ps 1-51, CCSG 6, 1980, IA
EN, Ps 1-51, WGRW, 2005, IA
Eusebius
EN, selected psalms (translation is work in progress), academia
Gregory of Nyssa
EN, Ps 1-59, 1990, IA
Hilary of Poitiers (c. 310–c. 367)
LA, Ps 1-2, 6-7, 9-10, 14-16, 52-70, 92, 119-150, CSEL 22, 1891, IA
DE, Ps 1-2, 9-10, 14-15, 52-70, 92, 119-150, BKV, 1833, BKV
Burns on Hilary, 2012, IA
Goffinet, 1965, IA
Jerome (c. 345–420)
LA, Ps 1-147 (Commentarioli), CCSL 72, 1959, IA
LA, Homilies on Psalms (first and second series), CCSL 78, 1958, IA
EN, Homilies on Psalms (first series), FC 48, 1964, IA
EN, Homilies on Psalms (second series), FC 57, 1966, IA
LA, Ps 1–150, incorrect attribution (7th century?), PL 26:821–1346, IA, GB
LA+FR, Ps 1-101, incorrect attribution (7th century?), 1884, IA
LA+FR, Ps 102-150, incorrect attribution (7th century?), 1884, IA (this volume also contains some of Jerome’s shorter works on Psalms)
John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)
FR, Ps 3-6, 1867, IA
FR, Ps 7-13, 42-50, 109-150, 1868, IA
Theodore of Mopsuestia (c. 350 – c. 428)
GR+LA+EN, Ps 1-81, 2006, IA
LA, Ps 1-150 (tr. Iulianus Aeclanensis), CCSL 88A, 1977, IA
SY+FR, Ps 119, 139-148, CSCO 435+436, 1982, IA
Tyrannius Rufinus (c. 345–411), incorrect attribution
See Lietbert of St. Ruf (12th century).
5th Century
Arnobius the Younger (fl. 460)
LA, Ps 1-150, 1560 (ed. Erasmus), IA
Augustine (354–430)
LA, Ps 1-51, CCSL 38, 1956, IA
LA, Ps 52-101, CCSL 39, 1956, IA
LA, Ps 102-150, CCSL 40, 1956, IA
EN, Ps 31-38, ACW, 1961, IA
EN, Ps 1-33, WSA 1990, IA
EN, Ps 34-51, WSA 1990, IA
Prosper Aquitanus (c. 390–c. 455)
LA, Ps 101-150, CCSL 68A, 1972, IA
6th Century
Cassiodorus (c. 485–after 580)
LA, Ps 1–150, PL 70:9–1056, IA, GB
LA, Ps 1–71, CCSL 97, 1958, IA
LA, Ps 72–150, CCSL 98, 1958, IA
EN, Ps 1–150, ACW 51–53, $ Logos.
Gregory of Tours (538/39–593)
LA, two fragments of Psalms commentary, PL 71:1079–80, IA, GB
Gregory the Great (540–604), authorship disputed
LA, Ps 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143, PL 79:549–658, IA, GB
7th Century
Isidore of Seville (c. 560–636)
(1) LA, preface to Psalms, PL 81:971–72, IA, GB
(1) LA, preface to Psalms, Stuttgart Psalter, 1r, WLB
(2) LA, prooemium to Psalms, PL 83:163–164, IA, GB
8th Century
Alcuin of York (c. 730–804)
(1) LA, Ps 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143, 119–134, PL 100:569–639, IA, GB
(2) Ps 1–76, incorrect attribution, see Lietbert of St. Ruf (12th Century)
Bede (672/73–735), uncertain and incorrect attributions
(1, 2, 3) Ps 1–150, PL 93:477–1098, IA, GB; this commentary contains three sections for each Psalm: an argumentum (indirectly based on Theodore of Mopsuestia), an explanatio (by Bede?), and a commentarius (for Ps 1–122 only, attributed to Manegold of Lautenbach [11th century] or to an unknown author between 1140 and 1150, $ jstor).
(4) Ps 53, incorrectly attributed to Bede, see Otloh of Sankt Emmeram (11th century)
Glosses of the Mondsee Psalter (Montpellier, Faculté de Médecine, ms. 409)
LA, Ps 1–150, IA
Glosses on Psalms from North England (8th century)
LA, Ps 40–150, Vaticana Pal. lat. 68, manuscript
9th Century
Haymo of Halberstadt (?–853), incorrect attribution
See Anselm of Laon (12th century).
Īshōʻdād of Merv (9th cent.)
SY+DE, Ps 16, 22, 45, 68, 69, 72, 1902, IA
Paschasius Radbertus (c. 790–c. 860)
LA, Ps 45, PL 120:993–1060, IA, GB
LA, Ps 45, CCCM 94, Ø WC
Walafrid Strabo (808/9–849)
LA, Ps 1–21, PL 114:752–94, IA, GB
LA, Ps 22, 24, 34, 1977:152–68, Ø WC
10th Century
Notker Labeo (Notker the German) (c. 950–1021)
LA+DE, Ps 1-150, 1876, IA
LA+DE, Ps 1-150, TITUS
11th Century
Bruno of Cologne (c. 1030–1101)
LA, Ps 1–150, 1891, MDZ
FR, Ps 1–150, 2017, Ø WC
Bruno of Würzburg (c. 1005–1045), authorship disputed
LA, Ps 1–150, PL 142:49–530, IA, GB
Manegold of Lautenbach (c. 1030–1103), authorship disputed
LA, Ps 1–122, the commentarius sections in PL 93:477–1089, IA, GB
(Incorrectly attributed to Bede; also attributed to an unknown author between 1140 and 1150, $ jstor; for the argumentum and explanatio sections in PL 93:477–1098, see the note on Bede [8th century].)
Otloh of Sankt Emmeram (c. 1010–c. 1072)
LA, Ps 53, PL 93:1103–1128, IA, GB
(Incorrectly attributed to Bede)
12th Century
Alexander Neckam (1157–1217)
LA, Ps 14:1, 1990:26–27, $ jstor
Anselm of Laon (c. 1050–1117), authorship disputed
LA, Ps 1–150, PL 116:191–696, IA, GB
(Incorrectly attributed to Haymo of Halberstadt; an anonymous author who wrote between 1130 and 1150 has been proposed, $ jstor.)
Arnold of Bonneval (?–after 1156)
LA, Ps 133, PL 189:1569–90, IA, GB
Gerhoh of Reichersberg (1092/93–1169)
LA, Ps 1–31, PL 193:621–1316, IA, GB
LA, Ps 32–38, 1956, Ø WC, Ø WC
LA, Ps 39–64, PL 193:1371–1814, IA, GB
LA, Ps 65 (= Liber de corrupto ecclesiae statu), PL 194:9–118, IA, GB
LA, Ps 66–78, PL 194:117–486, IA, GB
LA, Ps 79–118, 1956, Ø WC
LA, Ps 119–150, PL 194:729–998, IA, GB
(Ps 32–38 and 79–118 in PL 193 and 194 are not by Gerhoh but by Honorius Augustodunensis.)
Gilbert of Poitiers (c. 1080–1154)
LA, Ps 128, Cahiers de l’Institut du Moyen-Âge Grec et Latin 62 (1992): 107, pdf
Herbert of Bosham (c. 1120–c. 1194)
(1) LA, Introduction, Ps 90, 99, 1953:44–77, $ jstor; 1953:159–92, $ jstor; 1953:275–98, $ jstor
(2) LA, prefatory letter to second and third parts of glosses on Psalms, PL 190:1475–76, IA, GB
Honorius Augustodunensis (Honorius ‘of Autun’, early 12th century)
LA, Ps 1, 51, 52, 101, 102, 150, PL 170:269–312, IA, GB
LA, Ps 32–38, PL 193:1315–72, IA, GB
LA, Ps 79–118, PL 194:485–730, IA, GB
Lietbert of St. Ruf (?–1110)
LA, Ps 1–76, PL 21:645–958, IA, GB
(Incorrectly attributed to Alcuin and to Tyrannius Rufinus)
Michel de Meaux (Michael Meldensis, late 12th century)
LA, Ps 1–150, 1668:72–153, 279–93, IA
(Incorrectly attributed to Bonaventura; the second commentary on Ps 119 in the 1668 edition is by Johannes Lemovicensis.)
Odo of Aste (?–1120/25?)
LA, Ps 1–45, 87–111, PL 165:1141–1298, IA, GB
Peter Lombard (c. 1100–1160)
LA, Ps 1–150, PL 191:55–1296, IA, GB
EN, Preface to commentary on Psalms, 1988:105–12, Ø WC
Richard of Saint Victor (?–1173)
LA, Ps 2, 4, 26, 29, 41, 45, 72, 75, 81, 85, 89, 91, 105, 114, 118, 119, 122, 135, 137, 139, 140, 144, PL 196:265–402, IA, GB
(PL 196:273 has a section entitled “Adnotatio in Psalmum XXX,” but this is about Ps 4.)
William de Montibus (c. 1140–1213)
LA, selection from lecture on Psalms, 1992:497–503, Ø WC
13th Century
Adenulf of Anagni (?–1289)
LA, Ps 1–51, 1892, IA
LA, Ps 52–101, 1892, IA, IA
LA, Ps 102–150, 1893, IA, IA
EN, Ps 1–150 (incomplete), html
(Incorrectly attributed to Albertus Magnus.)
Albertus Magnus (Albert the Great, c. 1193–1280), incorrect attribution
See Adenulf of Anagni (13th century).
Anthony of Padua (1195–1231), uncertain attribution
LA, Ps 1–150, 1880:6:575–1266, IA
(This work has also been attributed to John Halgren of Abbeville.)
Bonaventura (1221–1274), incorrect attribution
(1) Ps 1–150, see Michel de Meaux (12th century)
(2) Ps 119, see Johannes Lemovicensis (13th century)
Hugh of Saint-Cher (Hugo de Sancto Charo, c. 1200–1263)
LA, Ps 1–150, 1703, GB
Innocent III (Lothar of Segni, 1160/61–1216), uncertain attribution
LA, Ps 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143, PL 217:967–1130, IA, GB
Jiles of Rome (c. 1247–1316)
LA, Ps 45, 1555, GB; 1968, Ø WC
EN, Ps 45, 1998:209–250, Ø WC
Johannes Lemovicensis (early 13th century)
LA, Ps 119, 1668:153–279, IA
(Incorrectly attributed to Bonaventura)
John Halgren of Abbeville, uncertain attribution
See Anthony of Padua (13th century).
John of la Rochelle (?–1245)
LA, quotations from Intro, Ps 1, 14, 53, 1952:34:235–65, Ø WC
Nicholas of Gorran (1232–1295)
LA, Ps 1–80, manuscript
LA, Ps 81–150, manuscript
Philip the Chancellor (?–1236)
LA, Ps 1–150, 1523, GB; 1600, GB
Thomas Aquinas (1224/25–1274)
LA, Ps 1–52, 1863, IA, html
LA, Ps 53–55, 1880, html
EN, Ps 1–55 (incomplete), html
FR, Ps 1–55, pdf
Thomas of Jorz (?–1310), incorrect attribution
See Thomas Wallensis (14th century).
William of Saint-Amour (early 13th century–1272)
LA, Intro, Ps 1, 1632:1–7, IA, GB
14th Century
Armand de Belvézer (?–c. 1338)
LA, selected psalms, 1610, GB
Dante Alighieri (1265–1321), incorrect attribution
IT, Ps 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143, 1753, GB
Engelbert of Admont (1250–1331)
LA, preface to Ps 119, 1729:6–8, IA, GB
LA, two versions of preface to Ps 119, 1962:306–12, $ jstor
Heinrich von Mügeln (c. 1319–c. 1380)
(1) LA, paragraph on Psalms in Libris tocius Biblie, 2003:41, $ De Gruyter
(2) DE, poem on Psalms, 1959, Ø WC
(3) DE, Ps 1–150 (commentary based on Nicholas of Lyre; recently attributed to an anonymous Austrian translator), c. 1478, MDZ
Johannes von Sommerfeld (?–1348/61)
LA, Ps 1–3, 15, 22, 48, 150, 1956:38:344–60, Ø WC
John Wycliffe (c. 1330–1384)
LA, Ps 135, 1966:337–38, $ De Gruyter
(For a discussion of Wycliffe’s [mainly unedited] commentary on Psalms, see: Benrath 2011:23–42, $ De Gruyter.)
Ludolph of Saxony (c. 1300–1377)
LA, Ps 1–150, 1645, GB
LA, Ps 1–150, 1891, $ ATLA Historical Monographs Collection: Series 1; Ø WC
NL, Preface, Ps 6, 1978, pdf
Matthew of Kraków (c. 1345–1410)
LA, Ps 119, 1974:87–95, Ø WC
Michael Aiguani de Bononia (c. 1320–c. 1400)
LA, Ps 1–150, 1608, GB
Nicholas of Lyre (c. 1270–1349)
LA, Ps 1–150, 1545:3:83v–307r, GB; 1588:3:83v–307r, GB; 1603:3:415–1594, IA
DE, Ps 1–150, 1504, GB
FR, Ps 1–150, c. 1492, Ø WC
Petrus Aureolus (c. 1280–1322)
LA, Intro to Psalms in Compendium sensus litteralis totius divinae Scripturae, 1896:52–55, IA
Philipp von Rathsamhausen (?–1322)
LA(?), Ps 4, 1948, Ø WC
Richard Rolle (c. 1300–1349)
(1) LA, Ps 1–150, 1536, GB; 1929, Ø WC
(2) LA, Ps 21, 1536, GB; 1991, IA
(2) EN, Ps 21, 1984, Ø WC
(3) EN, Ps 1–150, 1884, IA
EN, Ps 1-35, 2012, IA
Thomas Maldonus (?–1404)
LA, Ps 119, 1982:29:193–235, Ø WC
Thomas Wallensis (?–shortly after 1349[1357?])
LA, Ps 1–38, 1611, GB
(Incorrectly attributed to Thomas of Jorz)
15th Century
Dionysius the Cartusian (1402/3–1471)
(1) LA, Ps 1–44, 1898:379–690, IA
(1) LA, Ps 45–150, 1898, IA
(1) DE, Ps 1–150, 1535 (includes comments from Dionysius), GB, MDZ
(2) LA, Ps 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143, 1901:383–463, IA
Girolamo Savonarola (1452–1498)
(1) IT, sermons on selected Psalms, 1543, GB; 1969–1974, Ø WC, WC
(2) IT, sermons on Ps 73, 1528, IA; 1544, GB; 1845, GB; 1999, WC
(3, 4, 5) LA, Ps 31, 51, 80, 1633, GB; 1976, Ø WC
Translations (of 3, 4, 5):
DE, Ps 31, 51, 1871, MDZ
DE, Ps 31, 51, 80, 1567, e-rara
DE, Ps 80, 1542, GB; 1597, SBB
EN(+LA), Ps 31, 51, 1900, IA
EN(+LA), Ps 31, 51, 1994, $ ProQuest Ebook Central; Ø WC
FR, Ps 31, 51, 80, 1880, GB
IT, Ps 31, 51, 1898, GB
IT, Ps 31, 51, 80, 1535, GB
NL, Ps 31, 51, 1548, GB
NL, Ps 31, 51, 1644, GB
PO, Ps 31, 1973:138–45, pdf
(For more editions and translations, see PRDL.)
Jaime Perez de Valencia (c. 1408–1490)
LA, Ps 1–150, 1581, IA, GB
Johannes van Bercht (?–1470)
LA, Ps 110–150, IA, GB
Juan de Torquemada (1388–1468)
LA, Ps 1–150, 1474, GB; 1476, GB;1485, GB; 1502, GB; 1524, GB
Paolo Attavanti (1445–1499)
LA, Ps 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143, 1479, IA
IT, Ps 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143, 1480, BEIC
LA+IT, Ps 91, 1495, BEIC
Pierre d’Ailly (1351–1420)
LA, Ps 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143, 1484, IA
LA, Ps 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143, 31, 43, 1548, GB
Dietrich Engelhus (c. 1362–1434)
LA, Ps 1–150, c. 1498, MDZ
Appendix: Rabbinic and Medieval Jewish Commentaries
Kimhi (c. 1160-1235)
HE, Ps 1-41, 1883, IA
HE, Ps 1-150, 1900 (Facsimile of the 1477 edition), IA
HE+EN, Ps 120-150, 1973, IA
EN, Ps 1-10, 15-17, 19, 22, 24, 1919, IA
Midrash on Psalms
HE, Introduction, 1891, GB
HE, Ps 1-72, 1891, GB
HE, Ps 73-150, 1891, GB
DE, Ps 1-150, 1892, IA
EN, Ps 1-72, 1959, IA
Rabbinic Bible (Targum, Rashi, Ibn Ezra, Kimhi, et al)
HE+AR, Ps 1-150, 1874, IA
Saadja
AR+DE, Ps 73-89, 1903, IA
AR+DE, Ps 125-150, 1904, IA
Targum
EN, Ps 1-150, 2001, site
References
Starting point for the compilation of this list was the list of commentaries on Psalms in the second edition of Repertorium edierter Texte des Mittelalters aus dem Bereich der Philosophie und angrenzender Gebiete (RETM2). In addition, Thorne Wittstruck, The Book of Psalms: An Annotated Bibliography has been used. For the English spelling of names and the dates of commentators, the third edition of the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church has been consulted as well as relevant Wikipedia articles.
See also:
Willem-Jan de Wit 