Psalms 55:21

Psalms 55:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
• New International Version (NIV)His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.
• English Standard Version (ESV)His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, But war was in his heart; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.

Context of Psalms 55:21

19God will hear, and afflict them: he that is seated of old, (Selah) ...because there is no change in them, and they fear not God. 20He hath put forth his hands against such as are at peace with him; he hath profaned his covenant. Smooth were the milky [words] of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet are they drawn swords. 22Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: he will never suffer the righteous to be moved. 23And thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days. But as for me, I will confide in thee.

Psalms 55:21 word by word

חָלְק֤וּ׀ מַחְמָאֹ֣ת פִּיו֮ וּֽקֲרָב־לִ֫בּ֥וֹ רַכּ֖וּ דְבָרָ֥יו מִשֶּׁ֗מֶן וְהֵ֣מָּה פְתִחֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear

Cross-references for Psalms 55:21

• Psalms 28:3Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbours, and mischief is in their heart.
• Psalms 57:4My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down [among] them that breathe out flames, the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
• Psalms 62:4They only consult to thrust [him] down from his excellency; they delight in lies; they bless with their mouth, but in their inward part they curse. Selah.
• Psalms 64:3Who have sharpened their tongue like a sword, [and] have aimed their arrow, a bitter word;
• Proverbs 5:3For the lips of the strange woman drop honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil;
• Proverbs 12:18There is that babbleth like the piercings of a sword; but the tongue of the wise is health.
• Proverbs 26:24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
• Matthew 26:25And Judas, who delivered him up, answering said, Is it I, Rabbi? He says to him, Thou hast said.
• Luke 20:20And having watched [him], they sent out suborned persons, pretending to be just men, that they might take hold of him in [his] language, so that they might deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor.
• John 13:2And during supper, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas [son] of Simon, Iscariote, that he should deliver him up,

Commentaries on Psalms 55:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Were smoother than butter - He was a complete courtier, and a deep, designing hypocrite besides. His words were as soft as butter, and as smooth as oil, while he meditated war; and the fair words which were intended to deceive, were intended also to destroy: they were drawn swords. This is a literal description of the words and conduct of Absalom, as we learn from the inspired historian, 2 Samuel 15:2, etc. He was accustomed to wait at the gate; question…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21The words of his mouth were smoother than butter - Prof. Alexander renders this, “Smooth are the butterings of his mouth.” This is in accordance with the Hebrew, but the general meaning is well expressed in our common version. The idea is, that he was a hypocrite; that his professions of friendship were false; that he only used pleasant words - words expressive of friendship and love - to deceive and betray. We have a similar expression when we speak of…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-23Verses 16-23 In every trial let us call upon the Lord, and he will save us. He shall hear us, and not blame us for coming too often; the oftener the more welcome. David had thought all were against him; but now he sees there were many with him, more than he supposed; and the glory of this he gives to God, for it is he that raises us up friends, and makes them faithful to us. There are more true Christians, and believers have more real friends, than in…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-21God is good and faithful, but the psalmist’s enemies and so-called friend are deceitful and wicked.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2120-21. The treachery is aggravated by hypocrisy. The changes of number, Psa 55:15, 23, and here, enliven the picture, and imply that the chief traitor and his accomplices are in view together.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 55:21

• Falsehood
• Friends
• Hypocrisy
• Sincerity
• Words

In the dictionaries

• Counsel
• Equal
• Escape
• Hasted
• Neginoth
• Psalms
• Faint
• Oil
• Psalms, Book of
• Maschil

Commentaries on Psalms 55

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings