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, O God, my voice in my plaint; preserve my life from fear of the enemy: 2Hide me from the secret counsel of evil-doers, from the tumultuous crowd of the workers of iniquity, Who have sharpened their tongue like a sword, [and] have aimed their arrow, a bitter word; 4That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. 5They encourage themselves in an evil matter, they concert to hide snares; 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 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.
• Proverbs 12:18There is that babbleth like the piercings of a sword; but the tongue of the wise is health.
• Proverbs 30:14— a generation whose teeth are swords, and their jaw-teeth knives, to devour the afflicted from off the earth, and the needy from [among] men.
• Isaiah 54:17No weapon that is prepared against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that riseth against thee in judgment, thou shalt condemn. This is the inheritance of the servants of Jehovah; and their righteousness is of me, saith Jehovah.
• Jeremiah 9:3And they bend their tongue, their bow of falsehood, and not for fidelity are they valiant in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith Jehovah.
• James 3:6and the tongue [is] fire, the world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set in our members, the defiler of the whole body, and which sets fire to the course of nature, and is set on fire of hell.
• Psalms 11:2For behold, the wicked bend the bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may in darkness shoot at the upright in heart.
• Psalms 58:7Let them melt away as waters that flow off; when he aimeth his arrows, let them be as blunted:

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