Psalms 64:3
in Psalms 64who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Who have whet their tongue like a sword, And have aimed their arrows, even bitter words,
KJV
Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
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This verse in Psalms 64
Commentary
9 notes on this verseWho whet their tongue like a sword. Slander has ever been the master weapon of the good man's enemies, and great is the care of the malicious to use it effectively. As warriors grind their swords, to give them an edge which will cut deep and wound desperately, so do the unscrupulous invent falsehoods which shall be calculated to inflict pain, to stab the reputation, to kill the honour of the righteous. What is there which an evil tongue will not say? What misery will it not labour to inflict?
This site's exposition
sharpen their tongues like swords
on Psalms 64:3-6
Their speech is the weapon. They sharpen the tongue to a sword, shoot the bitter word like an arrow, and ambush the innocent in seclusion, asking who will see them. Gill takes the deep heart of verse 6 as a plan no one outside the man can trace.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"For they have whet like a sword their tongues" [Psalm 64:3]. Which says another Psalm also, "Sons of men; their teeth are arms and arrows, and their tongue is a sharp sword." Let not the Jews say, we have not killed Christ. For to this end they gave Him to Pilate the judge, in order that they themselves might seem as it were guiltless of His death....But if he is guilty because he did it though unwillingly, are they innocent who compelled him to do it? By no means. But he gave sentence against Him, and commanded Him to be crucified: and in a manner himself killed Him; ye also, O you Jews, killed Him. Whence did ye kill Him? With the sword of the tongue: for you did whet your tongues. And when did ye smite, except when you cried out, "Crucify, Crucify"? [Luke 23:21]
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
But, (1.) Their tongues are their swords, flaming swords, two-edged swords, drawn swords, drawn in anger, with which they cut, and wound, and kill, the good name of their neighbours. The tongue is a little member, but, like the sword, it boasts great things, Jam. iii. It is a dangerous weapon.
Who whet their tongue like a sword,....
By the spirit of prophecy he foretels their destruction, which would redound to the glory of God and the encouragement of his people,
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Who whet their tongue like a sword. Slander has ever been the master weapon of the good man's enemies, and great is the care of the malicious to use it effectively. As warriors grind their swords, to give them an edge which will cut deep and wound desperately, so do the unscrupulous invent falsehoods which shall be calculated to inflict pain, to stab the reputation, to kill the honour of the righteous. What is there which an evil tongue will not say? What misery will it not labour to inflict? And bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words. Far off they dart their calumnies, as archers shoot their poisoned arrows. They studiously and with force prepare their speech as bent bows, and then with cool, deliberate aim, they let fly the shaft which they have dipped in bitterness. To sting, to inflict anguish, to destroy, is their one design. Insult, sarcasm, taunting defiance, nicknaming, all these were practised among Orientals as a kind of art; and if in these Western regions, with more refined manners, we are less addicted to the use of rough abuse, it is yet to be feared that the less apparent venom of the tongue inflicts none the less poignant pain. However, in all cases, let us fly to the Lord for help. David had but the one resource of prayer against the twofold weapons of the wicked, for defence against sword or arrow he used the one defence of faith in God.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Who 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.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Who 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 Psa 52:2; Psa 57:4; Psa 59:7. And bend their bows ... - That is, they prepare for this - as they make ready to shoot who bend their bows, and fix their arrows on the string. The idea here is, that this was deliberate, or was the result of counsel and purpose. It was not an outbreak of mere passion and excitement; it was by fixed design and careful preparation. See Psa 11:2, note; Psa 58:7, note. Even bitter words - We apply the same term bitter now to words of malice and reproach.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
from the gathering of workers of iniquity For they gather seeking against him a pretext of death, as it is written (Dan.:7): “..assembled about the king, etc.”
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
Hear, O God, my voice in my prayer The authors of Aggadoth Tehllim (Mid. Ps.) interpreted this psalm as referring to Daniel, who was cast into the lions’ den. The language of the psalm fits the Aggadah very well.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 6 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אֲשֶׁ֤ר | ʾasher | who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| שָׁנְנ֣וּ | shanenu | they sharpen | H8150 → | 9 times |
| כַחֶ֣רֶב | khacherev | like <the> sword | H2719 → | 413 times |
| לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם | leshonam | tongue their | H3956 → | 117 times |
| דָּרְכ֥וּ | darekhu | they bend | H1869 → | 62 times |
| חִ֝צָּ֗ם | chitzam | arrow their | H2671 → | 53 times |
| דָּבָ֥ר | davar | a word | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| מָֽר׃ | mar | bitter | H4751 → |
אֲשֶׁ֤רwho
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
שָׁנְנ֣וּthey sharpen
shanenuH8150 →9 times
כַחֶ֣רֶבlike <the> sword
khacherevH2719 →413 times
לְשׁוֹנָ֑םtongue their
leshonamH3956 →117 times
דָּרְכ֥וּthey bend
darekhuH1869 →62 times
חִ֝צָּ֗םarrow their
chitzamH2671 →53 times
דָּבָ֥רa word
davarH1697 →1440 times
מָֽר׃bitter
marH4751 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 57:4My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts— with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
it leads to
- Psalms 58:6
O God, shatter their teeth in their mouths; O LORD, tear out the fangs of the lions.
- Proverbs 30:14
there is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are knives, devouring the oppressed from the earth and the needy from among men.
- Psalms 35:17
How long, O Lord, will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.
- Psalms 58:6
Through
Jeremiah 9:3“They bend their tongues like bows; lies prevail over truth in the land. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not take Me into account,” declares the LORD.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 4:22
“For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.”
- Jeremiah 9:8
Their tongues are deadly arrows; they speak deception. With his mouth a man speaks peace to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him.
- Judges 2:10
After that whole generation had also been gathered to their fathers, another generation rose up who did not know the LORD or the works that He had done for Israel.
- Isaiah 59:13–15
rebelling and denying the LORD, turning away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering lies from the heart.
- Jeremiah 4:22
Through
Psalms 58:7May they vanish like water that runs off; when they draw the bow, may their arrows be blunted.
it leads to
- Joshua 7:5
And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarries and striking them down on the slopes. So the hearts of the people…
- Joshua 7:5
About Psalms
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 64; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 3; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.