Psalms 16:4

Psalms 16:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god; Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, Nor take up their names on my lips.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods. I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood or even speak the names of their gods.

Context of Psalms 16:4

2I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” 3I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.” Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips. 5Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. 6The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.

Psalms 16:4 word by word

יִרְבּ֥וּ עַצְּבוֹתָם֮ אַחֵ֪ר מָ֫הָ֥רוּ בַּל־אַסִּ֣יךְ נִסְכֵּיהֶ֣ם מִדָּ֑ם וּֽבַל־אֶשָּׂ֥א אֶת־שְׁ֝מוֹתָ֗ם עַל־שְׂפָתָֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Their sorrowsעַצֶּ֫בֶת‛atstsebeth · injuryH6094
• shall be multipliedרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• hastenמָהַרmâhar · to hastenH4116
• anotherאַחֵר'achêr · anotherH312
• their drink offeringsנֶ֫סֶךְnesek nêsek · drink offeringH5262
• of bloodדָּםdâm · bloodH1818
• will I not offerנָסַךְnâsak · to pourH5258
• norבַּלbal · notH1077
• take upנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: raiseH5375
• their namesשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
• into my lipsשָׂפָהώâphâh ώepheth · lipsH8193

Cross-references for Psalms 16:4

• Psalms 32:10Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.
• Psalms 97:7All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols— worship him, all you gods!
• Jonah 2:8“Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.
• Revelation 14:9A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand,
• Revelation 18:4Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “ ‘Come out of her, my people,’ so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
• Genesis 35:14Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it.
• Leviticus 23:13together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil—a food offering presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering of a quarter of a hin of wine.
• Isaiah 57:6The idols among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion; indeed, they are your lot. Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings and offered grain offerings. In view of all this, should I relent?
• Isaiah 65:11“But as for you who forsake the Lord and forget my holy mountain, who spread a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny,
• Isaiah 66:3But whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a person, and whoever offers a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever makes a grain offering is like one who presents pig’s blood, and whoever burns memorial incense is like one who worships an idol. They have chosen their own ways, and they delight in their abominations;
• Jeremiah 7:18The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven. They pour out drink offerings to other gods to arouse my anger.
• Exodus 23:13“Be careful to do everything I have said to you. Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips.
• Joshua 23:7Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them.
• Hosea 2:16“In that day,” declares the Lord, “you will call me ‘my husband’; you will no longer call me ‘my master.’

Commentaries on Psalms 16:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god - The Chaldee has: "They multiply their idols, and afterwards hasten that they may offer their gifts." In the Hebrew text there is no word for God, and therefore Messiah or Savior might be as well substituted; and then the whole will refer to the unbelieving Jews. They would not have the true Christ; they have sought, and are seeking, another Messiah; and how amply fulfilled has the prophetic…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Their sorrows shall be multiplied - The word here rendered “sorrows - עצבוּת ‛atstsebôth - may mean either idols or sorrows. Compare Isaiah 48:5; Psalm 139:24; Job 9:28; Psalm 147:3. Some propose to render it, “Their idols are multiplied;” that is, many are the gods which others worship, while I worship one God only. So Gesenius understands it. So also the Aramaic Paraphrase renders it. But the common construction is probably the correct one, meaning that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4The psalmist separates himself from unholy worship, rituals, and words (see Psalm 15:3–5).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. He expresses his abhorrence of those who seek other sources of happiness or objects of worship, and, by characterizing their rites by drink offerings of blood, clearly denotes idolaters. The word for "sorrows" is by some rendered "idols"; but, though a similar word to that for idols, it is not the same. In selecting such a term, there may be an allusion, by the author, to the sorrows produced by idolatrous practices.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 16:4

• Idolatry

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Corruption
• Drinkoffering
• Hell
• Michtam
• Resurrection of Christ
• Accommodation
• Blood
• Give

Commentaries on Psalms 16

• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings