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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)I am surrounded by fierce lions who greedily devour human prey— whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows, and whose tongues cut like swords.

Context of Psalms 57:4

2I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. 3He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me— God sends forth his love and his faithfulness. 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. 5Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. 6They spread a net for my feet— I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path— but they have fallen into it themselves.

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 10:9like a lion in cover he lies in wait. He lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
• Psalms 17:12They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover.
• Psalms 22:13Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me.
• Psalms 35:17How long, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.
• Psalms 58:6Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!
• Proverbs 28:15Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
• Daniel 6:22My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”
• Judges 9:20But if you have not, let fire come out from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!”
• James 3:6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
• John 4:10Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
• Proverbs 30:14those whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among mankind.
• Psalms 52:2You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor.
• Psalms 55:21His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.
• Psalms 64:3They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.
• Proverbs 12:18The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
• Proverbs 25:18Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a 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