Psalms 16:4

Psalms 16:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.
• New International Version (NIV)Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god; Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, Nor take up their names on my lips.

Context of Psalms 16:4

2I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.” 3As for the saints in the land, they are the excellence in whom all my delight resides. Sorrows will multiply to those who chase other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood, or speak their names with my lips. 5The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure. 6The lines of my boundary have fallen in pleasant places; surely my inheritance is delightful.

Psalms 16:4 word by word

יִרְבּ֥וּ עַצְּבוֹתָם֮ אַחֵ֪ר מָ֫הָ֥רוּ בַּל־אַסִּ֣יךְ נִסְכֵּיהֶ֣ם מִדָּ֑ם וּֽבַל־אֶשָּׂ֥א אֶת־שְׁ֝מוֹתָ֗ם עַל־שְׂפָתָֽי׃Read the interlinear

• Sorrowsעַצֶּ֫בֶת‛atstsebeth · injuryH6094
• will multiplyרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• to those who chaseמָהַרmâhar · to hastenH4116
• other godsאַחֵר'achêr · anotherH312
• I will notבַּלbal · notH1077
• pour outנָסַךְnâsak · to pourH5258
• their libationsנֶ֫סֶךְnesek nêsek · drink offeringH5262
• of bloodדָּםdâm · bloodH1818
• speakנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: raiseH5375
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• their namesשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
• withעַל‛al · uponH5921
• my lipsשָׂפָהώâphâh ώepheth · lipsH8193

Cross-references for Psalms 16:4

• Psalms 32:10Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but loving devotion surrounds him who trusts in the LORD.
• Psalms 97:7All worshipers of images are put to shame— those who boast in idols. Worship Him, all you gods!
• Jonah 2:8Those who cling to worthless idols forsake His loving devotion.
• Revelation 14:9And a third angel followed them, calling out in a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on his forehead or on his hand,
• Revelation 18:4Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plagues.
• Genesis 35:14So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where God had spoken with him—a stone marker—and he poured out a drink offering on it and anointed it with oil.
• Leviticus 23:13along with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil—a food offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering of a quarter hin of wine.
• Isaiah 57:6Your portion is among the smooth stones of the valley; indeed, they are your lot. Even to them you have poured out a drink offering and offered a grain offering. Should I relent because of these?
• Isaiah 65:11But you who forsake the LORD, who forget My holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny,
• Isaiah 66:3Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations.
• Jeremiah 7:18The sons gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven; they pour out drink offerings to other gods to provoke Me to anger.
• Exodus 23:13Pay close attention to everything I have said to you. You must not invoke the names of other gods; they must not be heard on your lips.
• Joshua 23:7So you are not to associate with these nations that remain among you. You must not call on the names of their gods or swear by them, and you must not serve them or bow down to them.
• Hosea 2:16In that day,” declares the LORD, “you will call Me ‘my Husband,’ and no longer call Me ‘my Master.’

Commentaries on Psalms 16:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god - The Chaldee has: "They multiply their idols, and afterwards hasten that they may offer their gifts." In the Hebrew text there is no word for God, and therefore Messiah or Savior might be as well substituted; and then the whole will refer to the unbelieving Jews. They would not have the true Christ; they have sought, and are seeking, another Messiah; and how amply fulfilled has the prophetic…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Their sorrows shall be multiplied - The word here rendered “sorrows - עצבוּת ‛atstsebôth - may mean either idols or sorrows. Compare Isaiah 48:5; Psalm 139:24; Job 9:28; Psalm 147:3. Some propose to render it, “Their idols are multiplied;” that is, many are the gods which others worship, while I worship one God only. So Gesenius understands it. So also the Aramaic Paraphrase renders it. But the common construction is probably the correct one, meaning that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4The psalmist separates himself from unholy worship, rituals, and words (see Psalm 15:3–5).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. He expresses his abhorrence of those who seek other sources of happiness or objects of worship, and, by characterizing their rites by drink offerings of blood, clearly denotes idolaters. The word for "sorrows" is by some rendered "idols"; but, though a similar word to that for idols, it is not the same. In selecting such a term, there may be an allusion, by the author, to the sorrows produced by idolatrous practices.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 16:4

• Idolatry

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Corruption
• Drinkoffering
• Hell
• Michtam
• Resurrection of Christ
• Accommodation
• Blood
• Give

Commentaries on Psalms 16

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings