Psalms 52:4

Psalms 52:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.
• New International Version (NIV)You love every harmful word, you deceitful tongue!
• English Standard Version (ESV)You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.
• New King James Version (NKJV)You love all devouring words, You deceitful tongue.

Context of Psalms 52:4

2when Doeg the Edomite came and reported to Saul telling him, “David went to Ahimelech’s house.” 3Why do you brag about evil, mighty man? God’s lovingkindness is every day. Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceit. 5You love evil instead of good, lying rather than speaking right. Selah 6You love only devouring words— treacherous tongue!

Psalms 52:4 word by word

אָהַ֥בְתָּ כָֽל־דִּבְרֵי־בָ֗לַע לְשׁ֣וֹן מִרְמָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thou lovestאָהֵב'âhab 'âhêb · to love: loverH157
• all devouringבֶ֫לַעbela‛ · swallowingH1105
• wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• deceitfulמִרְמָהmirmâh · deceitH4820
• tongueלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongueH3956

Cross-references for Psalms 52:4

• 1 Samuel 22:18So the king said to Doeg, “You, turn around and kill the kohanim!” So Doeg the Edomite turned and fell upon the kohanim and on that day killed 85 men who wore the linen ephod.
• James 3:6And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is a world of evil placed among our body parts. It pollutes the whole body and sets on fire the course of life—and is set on fire by Gehenna.

Commentaries on Psalms 52:4

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Thou lovest all devouring words - All words that tend to devour or “swallow up” reputation and happiness. Luther, “Thou speakest gladly all things (anything) that will serve to destruction.” Anything, everything, that will serve to ruin people. The word rendered “devouring” - בלע bela‛ - occurs only here and in Jeremiah 51:44, though the verb from which it is derived occurs frequently: Isaiah 28:4; Exodus 7:12; Jonah 2:1 Jonah 1:17; Genesis 41:7, Genesis…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-4Liars deceive themselves by thinking they can be heroes with their words. They see themselves as innocent, even though they love evil and cause harm. Those who speak curses, sarcasm, bitterness, arrogant boasting, and lies (Psalms 31:18; 34:13; 59:7, 12; 120:2–3; 140:3, 9) create chaos, isolation, and destruction (James 3:5). Their sharp words cut like swords and daggers (Psalms 55:21; 57:4; 64:3), the fangs of a snake (140:3), or a razor.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. all-devouring--literally, "swallowing," which utterly destroy (compare Psa 21:9; 35:25).Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 52:4

• Falsehood
• Hypocrisy
• Rich, the
• Slander
• Speaking
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• David
• Mischief
• Psalms
• Doeg
• Psalms, Book of
• Maschil

Commentaries on Psalms 52

• 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