New English Translation
Psalms 64:3
3They sharpen their tongues like a sword; they aim their arrow, a slanderous charge,
Psalms 64:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
- New International Version (NIV)They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.
- English Standard Version (ESV)who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, And bend their bows to shoot their arrows—bitter words,
Context of Psalms 64:3
1Listen to me, O God, as I offer my lament! Protect my life from the enemy’s terrifying attacks. 2Hide me from the plots of evil men, from the crowd of evildoers. They sharpen their tongues like a sword; they aim their arrow, a slanderous charge, 4in order to shoot down the innocent in secluded places. They shoot at him suddenly and are unafraid of retaliation. 5They encourage one another to carry out their evil deed. They plan how to hide snares, and boast, “Who will see them?”
Read all of Psalms 64Psalms 64:3 word by word
אֲשֶׁ֤ר שָׁנְנ֣וּ כַחֶ֣רֶב לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם דָּרְכ֥וּ חִ֝צָּ֗ם דָּבָ֥ר מָֽר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 64:3
- Psalms 57:4I 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.
- Proverbs 12:18Speaking recklessly is like the thrusts of a sword, but the words of the wise bring healing.
- 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.
- Isaiah 54:17No weapon forged to be used against you will succeed; you will refute everyone who tries to accuse you. This is what the Lord will do for his servants – I will vindicate them,” says the Lord.
- Jeremiah 9:3The Lord says, “These people are like soldiers who have readied their bows. Their tongues are always ready to shoot out lies. They have become powerful in the land, but they have not done so by honest means. Indeed, they do one evil thing after another and do not pay attention to me.
- 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.
- Psalms 11:2For look, the wicked prepare their bows, they put their arrows on the strings, to shoot in the darkness at the morally upright.
- Psalms 58:7Let them disappear like water that flows away! Let them wither like grass!
Commentaries on Psalms 64:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Who whet their tongue like a sword - They devise the evil they shall speak, and meditate on the most provoking, injurious, and defamatory words; as the soldier whets his sword that he may thereby the better cut down his enemies. Their arrows - bitter words - Their defamatory sayings are here represented as deadly as poisoned arrows; for to such is the allusion here made.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Who whet their tongue like a sword - Who sharpen their tongue; that is, they utter words that will cut deep, or penetrate the soul. The idea is that of slander or reproach - the same idea which we have in Shakespeare (Cymbeline): “Tis slander; Whose edge is sharper than the sword.” This comparison is a favorite one with David. Compare Psalm 52:2; Psalm 57:4; Psalm 59:7. And bend their bows - That is, they prepare for this - as they make ready to shoot…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3their tongues … bitter words: Liars use their words to harm others. This description might also refer to practicing magic.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-43-4. Similar figures for slander (Psa 57:4; 59:7). bend--literally, "tread," or, "prepared." The allusion is to the mode of bending a bow by treading on it; here, and in Psa 58:7, transferred to arrows.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 64:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 64
- 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
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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