New International Version
Psalms 58:4
4Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped 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;
- 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,
- New Living Translation (NLT)They spit venom like deadly snakes; they are like cobras that refuse to listen,
Context of Psalms 58:4
2No, in your heart you devise injustice, and your hands mete out violence on the earth. 3Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies. Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears, 5that will not heed the tune of the charmer, however skillful the enchanter may be. 6Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!
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 serpent’s; the poison of vipers is on their lips.
- Ecclesiastes 10:11If a snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer receives no fee.
- Romans 3:13“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
- James 3:8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
- Matthew 3:7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
- Matthew 23:33“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?
- Jeremiah 8:17“See, I will send venomous snakes among you, vipers that cannot be charmed, and they will bite you,” declares the Lord.
- Job 20:14yet his food will turn sour in his stomach; it will become the venom of serpents within him.
- Isaiah 11:8The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
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
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