Tree of Life Version
Psalms 120:4
4sharp arrows of the mighty, with burning coals of a broom tree!
Psalms 120:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.
- New International Version (NIV)He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom bush.
- English Standard Version (ESV)A warrior's sharp arrows, with glowing coals of the broom tree!
- New King James Version (NKJV)Sharp arrows of the warrior, With coals of the broom tree!
Context of Psalms 120:4
2Adonai, deliver my soul from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. 3What can be given to you, and what more can be done to you, O deceitful tongue?— sharp arrows of the mighty, with burning coals of a broom tree! 5Woe to me, for I sojourn in Meshech, for I dwell among the tents of Kedar! 6My soul has too long dwelt with those who hate shalom.
Read all of Psalms 120Psalms 120:4 word by word
חִצֵּ֣י גִבּ֣וֹר שְׁנוּנִ֑ים עִ֝֗ם גַּחֲלֵ֥י רְתָמִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 120:4
- Psalms 57:4He will send from heaven and save me. He rebukes the one trampling on me. Selah God is sending His mercy and His truth.
- Psalms 59:7They return at evening, snarling like a dog, prowling about the city.
- Proverbs 11:9With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
- Proverbs 16:27A wicked scoundrel digs up evil, and on his lips is a scorching fire.
- Proverbs 18:8The words of a gossip are tasty morsels, going down into one’s innermost being.
- James 3:5So also the tongue is a small member—yet it boasts of great things. See how so small a fire sets a blaze so great a forest!
- Psalms 7:13If He does not relent, He will sharpen His sword. He has bent His bow and made it ready.
- Psalms 52:5You love evil instead of good, lying rather than speaking right. Selah
- Psalms 140:9Grant not, Adonai, the desires of the wicked. Do not let their evil plan succeed, or they will exalt themselves. Selah
- Deuteronomy 32:23I will heap calamities upon them. With My arrows I will finish them.
- Proverbs 12:22Lying lips are detestable to Adonai, but those who act faithfully are His delight.
- Proverbs 19:5A false witness will not go unpunished, one who breathes lies will not escape.
- Revelation 21:8But for the cowardly and faithless and detestable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars—their lot is in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Commentaries on Psalms 120:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Sharp arrows - The Chaldee has, "The strong, sharp arrows are like lightning from above, with coals of juniper kindled in hell beneath." On the juniper, see the note on Job 30:4, where this passage is explained. Fiery arrows, or arrows wrapped about with inflamed combustibles, were formerly used in sieges to set the places on fire. See my notes on Ephesians 6:16; (note).Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Sharp arrows of the mighty - This is an answer to the question in Psalm 120:3. The consequence - the effect - of such a use of the tongue must be like sharp and piercing arrows, or like intensely burning coals. The “sharp arrows of the mighty” are the arrows of the warrior - as war was conducted mainly by bows and arrows. Those arrows were, of course, sharpened to make them piercing, penetrating, more deadly. With coals of juniper - On the word here…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4The psalmist speaks with the liars around him. He feels confident that the Lord will judge them. The Divine Warrior (see Psalms 7:12–13; 11:4–6) will attack the liars with sharp arrows and burning coals.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Sharp arrows of the mighty--destructive inflictions. coals of juniper--which retain heat long. This verse may be read as a description of the wicked, but better as their punishment, in reply to the question of Psa 120:3.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 120:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 120
- 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
Tree of Life Version — © 2015 The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
Commentaries