Psalms 57:4

Psalms 57:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
• New International Version (NIV)I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts— men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
• English Standard Version (ESV)My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
• New King James Version (NKJV)My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.

Context of Psalms 57:4

2I call to God Most High, to the God who does everything for me. 3He sends his help from heaven and saves me. He disgraces the one who is harassing me. Selah God sends his mercy and his truth! My soul is surrounded by lions. I must lie down with man-eating lions. Their teeth are spears and arrows. Their tongues are sharp swords. 5May you be honored above the heavens, O God. Let your glory extend over the whole earth. 6⌞My enemies⌟ spread out a net to catch me. (My soul is bowed down.) They dug a pit to trap me, but then they fell into it. Selah

Psalms 57:4 word by word

נַפְשִׁ֤י׀ בְּת֥וֹךְ לְבָאִם֮ אֶשְׁכְּבָ֪ה לֹ֫הֲטִ֥ים בְּֽנֵי־אָדָ֗ם שִׁ֭נֵּיהֶם חֲנִ֣ית וְחִצִּ֑ים וּ֝לְשׁוֹנָ֗ם חֶ֣רֶב חַדָּֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• My soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
• amongתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
• lionsלְבִיlâbîy' lebîyâ' lebâ'îym lebâ'ôth · lionH3833
• I lieשָׁכַבshâkab · to lie down: lay downH7901
• them that are set on fireלָהַטlâhaţ · to kindleH3857
• the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• whose teethשֵׁןshên · toothH8127
• spearsחֲנִיתchănîyth · spearH2595
• and arrowsחֵץchêts · arrowH2671
• and their tongueלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongueH3956
• a sharpחַדchad · sharpH2299
• swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719

Cross-references for Psalms 57:4

• Psalms 10:9He lies in his hiding place like a lion in his den. He hides there to catch oppressed people. He catches oppressed people when he draws them into his net.
• Psalms 17:12Each one of them is like a lion eager to tear ⌞its prey⌟ apart and like a young lion crouching in hiding places.
• Psalms 22:13They have opened their mouths to attack me like ferocious, roaring lions.
• Psalms 35:17O Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue me from their attacks. Rescue my precious life from the lions.
• Psalms 58:6O God, knock the teeth out of their mouths. Break the young lions’ teeth, O Lord.
• Proverbs 28:15⌞Like⌟ a roaring lion and a charging bear, ⌞so⌟ a wicked ruler is a threat to poor people.
• Daniel 6:22My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they couldn’t hurt me. He did this because he considered me innocent. Your Majesty, I haven’t committed any crime.”
• Judges 9:20But if that’s not the case, let fire come out of Abimelech and burn up citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo. Also let fire come out of citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo and burn up Abimelech.”
• James 3:6The tongue is that kind of flame. It is a world of evil among the parts of our bodies, and it completely contaminates our bodies. The tongue sets our lives on fire, and is itself set on fire from hell.
• John 4:10Jesus replied to her, “If you only knew what God’s gift is and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked him for a drink. He would have given you living water.”
• Proverbs 30:14A certain kind of person, whose teeth are like swords and whose jaws are ⌞like⌟ knives, devours oppressed people from the earth and people from among humanity.
• Psalms 52:2Your tongue makes up threats. It’s like a sharp razor, you master of deceit.
• Psalms 55:21His speech is smoother than butter, but there is war in his heart. His words are more soothing than oil, but they are like swords ready to attack.
• Psalms 64:3They sharpen their tongues like swords. They aim bitter words like arrows
• Proverbs 12:18Careless words stab like a sword, but the words of wise people bring healing.
• Proverbs 25:18⌞Like⌟ a club and a sword and a sharp arrow, ⌞so⌟ is a person who gives false testimony against his neighbor.

Commentaries on Psalms 57:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4My soul is among lions - לבאם בתוך bethoch lebaim . I agree with Dr. Kennicott that this should be translated, "My soul dwells in parched places," from לאב laab, he thirsted. And thus the Chaldee seems to have understood the place, though it be not explicit. I lie even among them that are set on fire - I seem to be among coals. It is no ordinary rage and malice by which I am pursued: each of my enemies seems determined to have my life.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4My soul is among lions - That is, among people who resemble lions; men, fierce, savage, ferocious. And I lie even among them that are set on fire - We have a term of similar import in common use now, when we say that one is “inflamed” with passion, referring to one who is infuriated and enraged. So we speak of “burning” with rage or wrath - an expression derived, perhaps, from the inflamed “appearance” of a man in anger. The idea here is not that he…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4These verses are a prayer for rescue from strong enemies. The metaphor of fierce lions describes human foes. The psalmist feels unable to escape them without God's help (see also Psalms 35:11–21; 124:6).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. The mingled figures of wild beasts (Psa 10:9; 17:12) and weapons of war (Psa 11:2) heighten the picture of danger. whose ... tongue--or slanders.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 57:4

• Arrow
• Enemy
• Malice
• Sword

In the dictionaries

• Altaschith
• Michtam
• Psalms
• Sword
• Psalms, Book of
• Song
• Lion

Commentaries on Psalms 57

• 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