English Standard Version
Psalms 58:4
4They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear,
Psalms 58:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;
- New International Version (NIV)Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Their poison is like the poison of a serpent; They are like the deaf cobra that stops its ear,
- New Living Translation (NLT)They spit venom like deadly snakes; they are like cobras that refuse to listen,
Context of Psalms 58:4
2No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your hands deal out violence on earth. 3The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies. They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear, 5so that it does not hear the voice of charmers or of the cunning enchanter. 6O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!
Read all of Psalms 58Psalms 58:4 word by word
חֲמַת־לָ֗מוֹ כִּדְמ֥וּת חֲמַת־נָחָ֑שׁ כְּמוֹ־פֶ֥תֶן חֵ֝רֵ֗שׁ יַאְטֵ֥ם אָזְנֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 58:4
- Psalms 140:3They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's, and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah
- Ecclesiastes 10:11If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer.
- Romans 3:13"Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips."
- James 3:8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
- Matthew 3:7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
- Matthew 23:33You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?
- Jeremiah 8:17For behold, I am sending among you serpents, adders that cannot be charmed, and they shall bite you," declares the Lord.
- Job 20:14yet his food is turned in his stomach; it is the venom of cobras within him.
- Isaiah 11:8The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.
Commentaries on Psalms 58:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Their poison is like the poison of a serpent - When they bite, they convey poison into the wound, as the serpent does. They not only injure you by outward acts, but by their malevolence they poison your reputation. They do you as much evil as they can, and propagate the worst reports that others may have you in abhorrence, treat you as a bad and dangerous man; and thus, as the poison from the bite of the serpent is conveyed into the whole mass of blood…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Their poison - Their malignity; their bad spirit; that which they utter or throw out of their mouth. The reference here is to what they speak or utter Psalm 58:3, and the idea is, that it is penetrating and deadly. Like the poison of a serpent - Margin, as in Hebrew, “according to the likeness.” In this expression no particular class of serpents is referred to except those which are “poisonous.” Like the deaf adder - Margin, “asp.” The word may refer…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Venom here means harmful speech (see Psalm 140:3).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-53-5. describe the wicked generally, who sin naturally, easily, malignantly, and stubbornly.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 58:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 58
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries