Let R be a commutative ring, and let l ≥ 2; for l = 2 it is assumed additionally that R has no residue fields of two elements. The subgroups of the general linear group GL(n, R) that contain the elementary symplectic group Ep(2l;R) are described. In the case where R = K is a field, similar results were obtained earlier by Dye, King, and Shang Zhi Li.