Psalms 64:4

Psalms 64:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
• New International Version (NIV)They shoot from ambush at the innocent; they shoot suddenly, without fear.
• English Standard Version (ESV)shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear.
• New King James Version (NKJV)That they may shoot in secret at the blameless; Suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear.

Context of Psalms 64:4

2Hide me from the plots of this evil mob, from this gang of wrongdoers. 3They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows. They shoot from ambush at the innocent, attacking suddenly and fearlessly. 5They encourage each other to do evil and plan how to set their traps in secret. “Who will ever notice?” they ask. 6As they plot their crimes, they say, “We have devised the perfect plan!” Yes, the human heart and mind are cunning.

Psalms 64:4 word by word

לִיר֣וֹת בַּמִּסְתָּרִ֣ים תָּ֑ם פִּתְאֹ֥ם יֹ֝רֻ֗הוּ וְלֹ֣א יִירָֽאוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• That they may shootיָרָאyârâh yârâ' · to shootH3384
• in secretמִסְתָּרmistâr · hidingH4565
• at the perfectתָּםtâm · completeH8535
• suddenlyפִּתְאֹםpith'ôm pith'ôm · suddenlyH6597
• at him, and fearיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372

Cross-references for Psalms 64:4

• Psalms 10:8They lurk in ambush in the villages, waiting to murder innocent people. They are always searching for helpless victims.
• Nehemiah 4:11Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.”
• Habakkuk 3:14With his own weapons, you destroyed the chief of those who rushed out like a whirlwind, thinking Israel would be easy prey.
• Psalms 59:3They have set an ambush for me. Fierce enemies are out there waiting, Lord, though I have not sinned or offended them.
• John 19:6When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” “Take him yourselves and crucify him,” Pilate said. “I find him not guilty.”
• 1 Peter 2:22He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.
• Psalms 64:7But God himself will shoot them with his arrows, suddenly striking them down.
• 1 Samuel 18:11and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice.
• 1 Samuel 19:10Saul hurled his spear at David. But David dodged out of the way, and leaving the spear stuck in the wall, he fled and escaped into the night.
• 2 Samuel 15:14“Then we must flee at once, or it will be too late!” David urged his men. “Hurry! If we get out of the city before Absalom arrives, both we and the city of Jerusalem will be spared from disaster.”

Commentaries on Psalms 64:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4That they may shoot in secret - They lurk, that they may take their aim the more surely, and not miss their mark. Suddenly - When there is no fear apprehended, because none is seen.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4That they may shoot in secret - From an unobserved quarter; from a place where they are so concealed that it cannot be known where the arrows come from. There was a purpose to ruin him, and at the same time to conceal themselves, or not to let him know from what source the ruin came. It was not an open and manly fight, where he could see his enemy, but it was a warfare with a concealed foe. At the perfect - At the upright; at one who is perfect so far as…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-6These verses form a prayer for rescue from bold and powerful liars.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-43-4. Similar figures for slander (Psa 57:4; 59:7). bend--literally, "tread," or, "prepared." The allusion is to the mode of bending a bow by treading on it; here, and in Psa 58:7, transferred to arrows.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 64:4

• Malice
• Speaking
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Arrow
• Attend
• Bow
• Psalms
• Regard
• Perfect; Perfection
• Psalms, Book of

Commentaries on Psalms 64

• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings