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.
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• 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 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 will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me. 3He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah God shall send forth His mercy and His truth. 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. 5Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth. 6They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah

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 10:9He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den; He lies in wait to catch the poor; He catches the poor when he draws him into his net.
• Psalms 17:12As a lion is eager to tear his prey, And like a young lion lurking in secret places.
• Psalms 22:13They gape at Me with their mouths, Like a raging and roaring lion.
• Psalms 35:17Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue me from their destructions, My precious life from the lions.
• Psalms 58:6Break their teeth in their mouth, O God! Break out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!
• Proverbs 28:15Like a roaring lion and a charging bear Is a wicked ruler over poor people.
• Daniel 6:22My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”
• Judges 9:20“But if not, let fire come from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and Beth Millo; and let fire come from the men of Shechem and from Beth Millo and devour Abimelech!”
• James 3:6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
• John 4:10Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
• Proverbs 30:14There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, And whose fangs are like knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, And the needy from among men.
• Psalms 52:2Your tongue devises destruction, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
• Psalms 55:21The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, But war was in his heart; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.
• Psalms 64:3Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, And bend their bows to shoot their arrows—bitter words,
• Proverbs 12:18There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.
• Proverbs 25:18A man who bears false witness against his neighbor Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.

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