Revised Literal Translation
Psalms 64:3
3Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
Psalms 64:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
- New International Version (NIV)They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.
- English Standard Version (ESV)who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, And bend their bows to shoot their arrows—bitter words,
Context of Psalms 64:3
1Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy. 2Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: 4That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. 5They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
Read all of Psalms 64Psalms 64:3 word by word
אֲשֶׁ֤ר שָׁנְנ֣וּ כַחֶ֣רֶב לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם דָּרְכ֥וּ חִ֝צָּ֗ם דָּבָ֥ר מָֽר׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Psalms 64:3
- Psalms 57:4My 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.
- Proverbs 12:18There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
- Proverbs 30:14There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
- Isaiah 54:17No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of Yhwh, and their righteousness is of me, saith Yhwh.
- Jeremiah 9:3And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith Yhwh.
- James 3:6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
- Psalms 11:2For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
- Psalms 58:7Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.
Commentaries on Psalms 64:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Who whet their tongue like a sword - They devise the evil they shall speak, and meditate on the most provoking, injurious, and defamatory words; as the soldier whets his sword that he may thereby the better cut down his enemies. Their arrows - bitter words - Their defamatory sayings are here represented as deadly as poisoned arrows; for to such is the allusion here made.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Who whet their tongue like a sword - Who sharpen their tongue; that is, they utter words that will cut deep, or penetrate the soul. The idea is that of slander or reproach - the same idea which we have in Shakespeare (Cymbeline): “Tis slander; Whose edge is sharper than the sword.” This comparison is a favorite one with David. Compare Psalm 52:2; Psalm 57:4; Psalm 59:7. And bend their bows - That is, they prepare for this - as they make ready to shoot…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3their tongues … bitter words: Liars use their words to harm others. This description might also refer to practicing magic.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 64:3
In the dictionaries
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
Revised Literal Translation — © 2018 Michael W. Jones, Sr. — GPL
Commentaries