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 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.

Context of Psalms 16:4

2I said to the Lord, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.” 3The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them! 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. 5Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. 6The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful 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 come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.
• Psalms 97:7Those who worship idols are disgraced— all who brag about their worthless gods— for every god must bow to him.
• Jonah 2:8Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies.
• Revelation 14:9Then a third angel followed them, shouting, “Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or on the hand
• Revelation 18:4Then I heard another voice calling from heaven, “Come away from her, my people. Do not take part in her sins, or you will be punished with her.
• Genesis 35:14Jacob set up a stone pillar to mark the place where God had spoken to him. Then he poured wine over it as an offering to God and anointed the pillar with olive oil.
• Leviticus 23:13With it you must present a grain offering consisting of four quarts of choice flour moistened with olive oil. It will be a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. You must also offer one quart of wine as a liquid offering.
• Isaiah 57:6Your gods are the smooth stones in the valleys. You worship them with liquid offerings and grain offerings. They, not I, are your inheritance. Do you think all this makes me happy?
• Isaiah 65:11“But because the rest of you have forsaken the Lord and have forgotten his Temple, and because you have prepared feasts to honor the god of Fate and have offered mixed wine to the god of Destiny,
• Isaiah 66:3But those who choose their own ways— delighting in their detestable sins— will not have their offerings accepted. When such people sacrifice a bull, it is no more acceptable than a human sacrifice. When they sacrifice a lamb, it’s as though they had sacrificed a dog! When they bring an offering of grain, they might as well offer the blood of a pig. When they burn frankincense, it’s as if they had blessed an idol.
• Jeremiah 7:18No wonder I am so angry! Watch how the children gather wood and the fathers build sacrificial fires. See how the women knead dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven. And they pour out liquid offerings to their other idol gods!
• Exodus 23:13“Pay close attention to all my instructions. You must not call on the name of any other gods. Do not even speak their names.
• Joshua 23:7Make sure you do not associate with the other people still remaining in the land. Do not even mention the names of their gods, much less swear by them or serve them or worship them.
• Hosea 2:16When that day comes,” says the Lord, “you will call me ‘my husband’ instead of ‘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