New Living Translation
Psalms 58:4
4They spit venom like deadly snakes; they are like cobras that refuse to listen,
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;
- New International Version (NIV)Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
- 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,
Context of Psalms 58:4
2No! You plot injustice in your hearts. You spread violence throughout the land. 3These wicked people are born sinners; even from birth they have lied and gone their own way. They spit venom like deadly snakes; they are like cobras that refuse to listen, 5ignoring the tunes of the snake charmers, no matter how skillfully they play. 6Break off their fangs, O God! Smash the jaws of these lions, O Lord!
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 140:3Their tongues sting like a snake; the venom of a viper drips from their lips. Interlude
- Ecclesiastes 10:11If a snake bites before you charm it, what’s the use of being a snake charmer?
- Romans 3:13“Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies.” “Snake venom drips from their lips.”
- James 3:8but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.
- Matthew 3:7But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath?
- Matthew 23:33Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?
- Jeremiah 8:17I will send these enemy troops among you like poisonous snakes you cannot charm. They will bite you, and you will die. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
- Job 20:14But suddenly the food in their bellies turns sour, a poisonous venom in their stomach.
- Isaiah 11:8The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.
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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