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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods. I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood or even speak the names of their gods.

Context of Psalms 16:4

2I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you." 3As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. 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. 5The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. 6The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

Psalms 16:4 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Their sorrowsעַצֶּ֫בֶת‛atstsebeth · injuryH6094
• shall be multipliedרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• hastenמָהַרmâhar · to hastenH4116
• anotherאַחֵר'achêr · anotherH312
• their drink offeringsנֶ֫סֶךְnesek nêsek · drink offeringH5262
• of bloodדָּםdâm · bloodH1818
• will I not offerנָסַךְnâsak · to pourH5258
• norבַּלbal · notH1077
• take upנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: raiseH5375
• their namesשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
• into my lipsשָׂפָהώâphâh ώepheth · lipsH8193

Cross-references for Psalms 16:4

• Psalms 32:10Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
• Psalms 97:7All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods!
• Jonah 2:8Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.
• Revelation 14:9And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,
• Revelation 18:4Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues;
• Genesis 35:14And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it.
• Leviticus 23:13And the grain offering with it shall be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, a food offering to the Lord with a pleasing aroma, and the drink offering with it shall be of wine, a fourth of a hin.
• Isaiah 57:6Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they, are your lot; to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have brought a grain offering. Shall I relent for these things?
• Isaiah 65:11But you who forsake the Lord, who forget my holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny,
• Isaiah 66:3"He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog's neck; he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig's blood; he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol. These have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations;
• Jeremiah 7:18The children gather wood, the fathers kindle fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven. And they pour out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke me to anger.
• Exodus 23:13"Pay attention to all that I have said to you, and make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips.
• Joshua 23:7that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them,
• Hosea 2:16"And in that day, declares the Lord, you will call me 'My Husband,' and no longer will you call me 'My Baal.'

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