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 cry out for help to the sovereign God, to the God who vindicates me. 3May he send help from heaven and deliver me from my enemies who hurl insults! (Selah) May God send his loyal love and faithfulness! I am surrounded by lions; I lie down among those who want to devour me; men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are a sharp sword. 5Rise up above the sky, O God! May your splendor cover the whole earth! 6They have prepared a net to trap me; I am discouraged. They have dug a pit for me. They will fall 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 ambush in a hidden place, like a lion in a thicket; he lies in ambush, waiting to catch the oppressed; he catches the oppressed by pulling in his net.
• Psalms 17:12He is like a lion that wants to tear its prey to bits, like a young lion crouching in hidden places.
• Psalms 22:13They open their mouths to devour me like a roaring lion that rips its prey.
• Psalms 35:17O Lord, how long are you going to just stand there and watch this? Rescue me from their destructive attacks; guard my life from the young lions!
• Psalms 58:6O God, break the teeth in their mouths! Smash the jawbones of the lions, O Lord!
• Proverbs 28:15Like a roaring lion or a roving bear, so is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
• Daniel 6:22My God sent his angel and closed the lions’ mouths so that they have not harmed me, because I was found to be innocent before him. Nor have I done any harm to you, O king.”
• Judges 9:20But if not, may fire blaze from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo! May fire also blaze from the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo and consume Abimelech!”
• James 3:6And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence – and is set on fire by hell.
• John 4:10Jesus answered her, “If you had known the gift of God and who it is who said to you, ‘Give me some water to drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
• Proverbs 30:14There is a generation whose teeth are like swords and whose molars are like knives to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among the human race.
• Psalms 52:2Your tongue carries out your destructive plans; it is as effective as a sharp razor, O deceiver.
• Psalms 55:21His words are as smooth as butter, but he harbors animosity in his heart. His words seem softer than oil, but they are really like sharp swords.
• Psalms 64:3They sharpen their tongues like a sword; they aim their arrow, a slanderous charge,
• Proverbs 12:18Speaking recklessly is like the thrusts of a sword, but the words of the wise bring healing.
• Proverbs 25:18Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow, so is the one who testifies against his neighbor as a false witness.

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