God’s Word Translation
Psalms 58:4
4They have poisonous venom like snakes. They are like a deaf cobra that shuts its ears
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,
- English Standard Version (ESV)They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Their poison is like the poison of a serpent; They are like the deaf cobra that stops its ear,
Context of Psalms 58:4
2No, you invent new crimes on earth, and your hands spread violence. 3⌞Even⌟ inside the womb wicked people are strangers ⌞to God⌟. From their birth liars go astray. They have poisonous venom like snakes. They are like a deaf cobra that shuts its ears 5so that it cannot hear the voice of a snake charmer or of anyone trained to cast spells. 6O God, knock the teeth out of their mouths. Break the young lions’ teeth, 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 tongues as sharp as a snake’s ⌞fang⌟. Their lips hide the venom of poisonous snakes. Selah
- Ecclesiastes 10:11If a snake bites before it has been charmed, then there is no advantage in being a snake charmer.
- Romans 3:13Their throats are open graves. Their tongues practice deception. Their lips hide the venom of poisonous snakes.
- James 3:8Yet, no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil filled with deadly poison.
- Matthew 3:7But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he said to them, “You poisonous snakes! Who showed you how to flee from God’s coming anger?
- Matthew 23:33“You snakes! You poisonous snakes! How can you escape being condemned to hell?
- Jeremiah 8:17“I am going to send snakes among you, vipers that can’t be charmed. They will bite you,” declares the Lord.
- Job 20:14the food in his belly turns sour. It becomes snake venom in his stomach.
- Isaiah 11:8Infants will play near cobras’ holes. Toddlers will put their hands into vipers’ nests.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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