Psalms 64:3

Psalms 64:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
• New International Version (NIV)They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.
• English Standard Version (ESV)who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, And bend their bows to shoot their arrows—bitter words,

Context of Psalms 64:3

1Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint: Preserve my life from fear of the enemy. 2Hide me from the secret counsel of evil-doers, From the tumult of the workers of iniquity; Who have whet their tongue like a sword, And have aimed their arrows, even bitter words, 4That they may shoot in secret places at the perfect: Suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. 5They encourage themselves in an evil purpose; They commune of laying snares privily; They say, Who will see them?

Psalms 64:3 word by word

אֲשֶׁ֤ר שָׁנְנ֣וּ כַחֶ֣רֶב לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם דָּרְכ֥וּ חִ֝צָּ֗ם דָּבָ֥ר מָֽר׃Read the interlinear

Cross-references for Psalms 64:3

• Psalms 57:4My soul is among lions; I lie among them that are set on fire, Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.
• Proverbs 12:18There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword; But the tongue of the wise is health.
• Proverbs 30:14There is a generation whose teeth areasswords, and their jaw teethasknives, To devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
• Isaiah 54:17No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of Jehovah, and their righteousness which is of me, saith Jehovah.
• Jeremiah 9:3And they bend their tongue, as it were their bow, for falsehood; and they are grown strong in the land, but not for truth: for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith Jehovah.
• James 3:6And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.
• Psalms 11:2For, lo, the wicked bend the bow, They make ready their arrow upon the string, That they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart;
• Psalms 58:7Let them melt away as water that runneth apace: When he aimeth his arrows, let them be as though they were cut off.

Commentaries on Psalms 64:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Who whet their tongue like a sword - They devise the evil they shall speak, and meditate on the most provoking, injurious, and defamatory words; as the soldier whets his sword that he may thereby the better cut down his enemies. Their arrows - bitter words - Their defamatory sayings are here represented as deadly as poisoned arrows; for to such is the allusion here made.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Who whet their tongue like a sword - Who sharpen their tongue; that is, they utter words that will cut deep, or penetrate the soul. The idea is that of slander or reproach - the same idea which we have in Shakespeare (Cymbeline): “Tis slander; Whose edge is sharper than the sword.” This comparison is a favorite one with David. Compare Psalm 52:2; Psalm 57:4; Psalm 59:7. And bend their bows … - That is, they prepare for this - as they make ready to shoot…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3their tongues … bitter words: Liars use their words to harm others. This description might also refer to practicing magic.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-43-4. Similar figures for slander (Psa 57:4; 59:7). bend--literally, "tread," or, "prepared." The allusion is to the mode of bending a bow by treading on it; here, and in Psa 58:7, transferred to arrows.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 64:3

• Malice
• Slander
• Speaking
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Arrow
• Arrows
• Attend
• Bow
• Psalms
• Regard
• Sword
• Bitter; Bitterness
• Psalms, Book of
• Tongue

Commentaries on Psalms 64

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings