Psalms 57:4

Psalms 57:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)My 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.
• New International Version (NIV)I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts— men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
• English Standard Version (ESV)My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
• New King James Version (NKJV)My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.

Context of Psalms 57:4

2Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for in You my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of Your wings I take refuge, until destruction passes by. 3I will cry out to El Elyon, to God who accomplishes it for me. He will send from heaven and save me. He rebukes the one trampling on me. Selah God is sending His mercy and His truth. 5My soul is in the midst of lions. I lie among those breathing fire— sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongue is a sharp sword. 6Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let Your glory be over all the earth!

Psalms 57:4 word by word

נַפְשִׁ֤י׀ בְּת֥וֹךְ לְבָאִם֮ אֶשְׁכְּבָ֪ה לֹ֫הֲטִ֥ים בְּֽנֵי־אָדָ֗ם שִׁ֭נֵּיהֶם חֲנִ֣ית וְחִצִּ֑ים וּ֝לְשׁוֹנָ֗ם חֶ֣רֶב חַדָּֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• My soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
• amongתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
• lionsלְבִיlâbîy' lebîyâ' lebâ'îym lebâ'ôth · lionH3833
• I lieשָׁכַבshâkab · to lie down: lay downH7901
• them that are set on fireלָהַטlâhaţ · to kindleH3857
• the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• whose teethשֵׁןshên · toothH8127
• spearsחֲנִיתchănîyth · spearH2595
• and arrowsחֵץchêts · arrowH2671
• and their tongueלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongueH3956
• a sharpחַדchad · sharpH2299
• swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719

Cross-references for Psalms 57:4

• Psalms 10:9He lurks in a hiding place like a lion in a thicket. He lies in wait to catch the helpless. He catches the unfortunate one, dragging him away in his net.
• Psalms 17:12like a lion eager to tear to pieces, like a young lion crouching in cover.
• Psalms 22:13Many bulls have surrounded me. Strong bulls of Bashan encircled me.
• Psalms 35:17My Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages— my solitary existence from the lions.
• Psalms 58:6not hearing the voice of charmers, or a cunning spell binder.
• Proverbs 28:15Like a roaring lion or a prowling bear is a wicked ruler over helpless people.
• Daniel 6:22Daniel spoke to the king: “May the king live forever!
• Judges 9:20But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the lords of Shechem and Beth-millo, and let fire come out from the lords of Shechem and from Beth-millo and devour Abimelech!”
• 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.
• John 4:10Yeshua replied to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who is saying to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
• Proverbs 30:14There is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose molars are knives, to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among humanity.
• Psalms 52:2when Doeg the Edomite came and reported to Saul telling him, “David went to Ahimelech’s house.”
• Psalms 55:21My companion put forth his hands against those at peace with him, as he violates his covenant.
• Psalms 64:3Hide me from the conspiracy of evildoers, from the tumult of workers of iniquity,
• Proverbs 12:18Reckless speech is like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
• Proverbs 25:18Like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow is one who bears false witness against his neighbor.

Commentaries on Psalms 57:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4My soul is among lions - לבאם בתוך bethoch lebaim . I agree with Dr. Kennicott that this should be translated, "My soul dwells in parched places," from לאב laab, he thirsted. And thus the Chaldee seems to have understood the place, though it be not explicit. I lie even among them that are set on fire - I seem to be among coals. It is no ordinary rage and malice by which I am pursued: each of my enemies seems determined to have my life.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4My soul is among lions - That is, among people who resemble lions; men, fierce, savage, ferocious. And I lie even among them that are set on fire - We have a term of similar import in common use now, when we say that one is “inflamed” with passion, referring to one who is infuriated and enraged. So we speak of “burning” with rage or wrath - an expression derived, perhaps, from the inflamed “appearance” of a man in anger. The idea here is not that he…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4These verses are a prayer for rescue from strong enemies. The metaphor of fierce lions describes human foes. The psalmist feels unable to escape them without God's help (see also Psalms 35:11–21; 124:6).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. The mingled figures of wild beasts (Psa 10:9; 17:12) and weapons of war (Psa 11:2) heighten the picture of danger. whose ... tongue--or slanders.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 57:4

• Arrow
• Enemy
• Malice
• Sword

In the dictionaries

• Altaschith
• Michtam
• Psalms
• Sword
• Psalms, Book of
• Song
• Lion

Commentaries on Psalms 57

• 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