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.
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• 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 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

2O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.” 3As for the saints who are on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” 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. 5O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. 6The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good 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 sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.
• Psalms 97:7Let all be put to shame who serve carved images, Who boast of idols. Worship Him, all you gods.
• Jonah 2:8“Those who regard worthless idols Forsake their own Mercy.
• Revelation 14:9Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand,
• Revelation 18:4And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.
• Genesis 35:14So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it.
• Leviticus 23:13Its grain offering shall be two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to the Lord, for a sweet aroma; and its drink offering shall be of wine, one-fourth of a hin.
• Isaiah 57:6Among the smooth stones of the stream Is your portion; They, they, are your lot! Even to them you have poured a drink offering, You have offered a grain offering. Should I receive comfort in these?
• Isaiah 65:11“But you are those who forsake the Lord, Who forget My holy mountain, Who prepare a table for Gad, And who furnish a drink offering for Meni.
• Isaiah 66:3“He who kills a bull is as if he slays a man; He who sacrifices a lamb, as if he breaks a dog’s neck; He who offers a grain offering, as if he offers swine’s blood; He who burns incense, as if he blesses an idol. Just as they have chosen their own ways, And their soul delights in their abominations,
• Jeremiah 7:18The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger.
• Exodus 23:13“And in all that I have said to you, be circumspect and make no mention of the name of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth.
• Joshua 23:7and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them,
• Hosea 2:16“And it shall be, in that day,” Says the Lord, “That you will call Me ‘My Husband,’ And 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