TRV
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Psalms 120:1–4. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
Here is, I. Deliverance from a false tongue obtained by prayer. David records his own experience of this.
1.He was brought into distress, into great distress, by lying lips and a deceitful tongue. There were those that sought his ruin, and had almost effected it, by lying.
(1.)By telling lies to him. They flattered him with professions and protestations of friendships, and promises of kindness and service to him, that they might the more securely and without suspicion carry on their designs against him, and might have an opportunity, by betraying his counsels, to do him a mischief. They smiled in his face and kissed him, even when they were aiming to smite him under the fifth rib. The most dangerous enemies, and those which it is most hard to guard against, are such as carry on their malicious designs under the colour of friendship. The Lord deliver every good man from such lying lips.
(2.)By telling lies of him. They forged false accusations against him and laid to his charge things that he knew not. This has often been the lot not only of the innocent, but of the excellent ones, of the earth, who have been greatly distressed by lying lips, and have not only had their names blackened and made odious by calumnies in conversation, but their lives, and all that is dear to them in this world, endangered by false-witness-bearing in judgment. David was herein a type of Christ, who was distressed by lying lips and deceitful tongues.
2.In this distress he had recourse to God by faithful and fervent prayer: I cried unto the Lord. Having no fence against false tongues, he appealed to him who has all men's hearts in his hand, who has power over the consciences of bad men, and can, when he pleases, bridle their tongues. His prayer was, "Deliver my soul, O Lord! from lying lips, that my enemies may not by these cursed methods work my ruin." He that had prayed so earnestly to be kept from lying (Psa 119:29) and hated it so heartily in himself (Psa 119:163) might with the more confidence pray to be kept from being belied by others, and from the ill consequences of it.
3.He obtained a gracious answer to this prayer. God heard him; so that his enemies, though they carried their designs very far, were baffled at last, and could not prevail to do him the mischief they intended. The God of truth is, and will be, the protector of his people from lying lips, Psa 37:6.
II.The doom of a false tongue foretold by faith, Psa 120:3, Psa 120:4.
As God will preserve his people from this mischievous generation, so he will reckon with their enemies, Psa 12:3, Psa 12:7. The threatening is addressed to the sinner himself, for the awakening of his conscience, if he have any left: "Consider what shall be given unto thee, and what shall be done unto thee, by the righteous Judge of heaven and earth, thou false tongue." Surely sinners durst not do as they do if they knew, and would be persuaded to think, what will be in the end thereof. Let liars consider what shall be given to them: Sharp arrows of the Almighty, with coals of juniper, that is, they will fall and lie for ever under the wrath of God, and will be made miserable by the tokens of his displeasure, which will fly swiftly like arrows, and will strike the sinner ere he is aware and when he sees not who hurts him. This is threatened against liars, Psa 64:7. God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded. They set God at a distance from them, but from afar his arrows can reach them. They are sharp arrows, and arrows of the mighty, the Almighty; for they will pierce through the strongest armour and strike deep into the hardest heart. The terrors of the Lord are his arrows (Job 6:4), and his wrath is compared to burning coals of juniper, which do not flame or crackle, like thorns under a pot, but have a vehement heat, and keep fire very long (some say, a year round) even when they seem to be gone out. This is the portion of the false tongue; for all that love and make a lie shall have their portion in the lake that burns eternally, Rev 22:15.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
One surviving comment on this verse from the historical church.
And your Lord says unto you, "What shall be given you, or what shall be set before you, against the deceitful tongue?" [Psalm 120:3]. What shall be given you, that is, as a weapon to oppose to the deceitful tongue, to guard yourself against the deceitful tongue? "Or what shall be set before you?" He asks to try you: for He will answer His own question. For He answers following up his own inquiry, "even sharp arrows of the Mighty One, with coals that desolate, or that lay waste" [Psalm 120:4]. They that desolate, or that lay waste (for it is variously written in different copies), are the same, because by laying waste, as you may observe, they easily lead unto desolation. What are these coals? First, beloved brethren, understand what are arrows. The "sharp arrows of the Mighty One," are the words of God...What then are the "coals that lay waste?" It is not enough to plead with words against a deceitful tongue and unrighteous lips: it is not enough to plead with words; we must plead with examples also...The word coals, then, is used to express the examples of many sinners converted to the Lord. Thou hear men wonder, and say, I knew that man, how addicted he was to drinking, what a villain, what a lover of the circus, or of the amphitheatre, what a cheat: now how he serves God, how innocent he has become! Wonder not; he is a live coal. You rejoice that he is alive, whom you were mourning as dead. But when you praise the living, if you know how to praise, apply him to the dead, that he may be inflamed; whosoever is still slow to follow God, apply to him the coal which was extinguished, and have the arrow of God's word, and the coal that lays waste, that you may meet the deceitful tongue and the lying lips.
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Summary
Psalms 120:3 poses a profound rhetorical question to the "false tongue," encapsulating the psalmist's deep distress and fervent plea for divine judgment against those who propagate deceit, slander, and malicious speech. As the inaugural psalm of the Songs of Ascents, it immediately establishes a tone of profound anguish and a yearning for deliverance from a hostile environment permeated by falsehood, thereby underscoring the severe pain and societal disruption wrought by verbal treachery and anticipating God's certain and just retribution.
Context
Literary Context
Psalm 120 serves as the powerful introduction to the "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), a collection of fifteen psalms traditionally recited by pilgrims on their journey to Jerusalem for the annual festivals. The psalm opens with the psalmist's desperate cry to the Lord in Psalms 120:1-2, lamenting his protracted dwelling among people who are hostile to peace. Verse 3, "What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?", functions as a direct, rhetorical imprecation aimed squarely at the source of this profound distress—the "false tongue." This pointed question sets the stage for the explicit answer provided in Psalms 120:4, which vividly describes the specific and severe judgment awaiting the deceitful: "sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper." The psalm concludes with the psalmist's heartfelt longing for peace amidst the pervasive strife, powerfully reinforcing the central theme of verbal conflict and its destructive consequences.
Historical & Cultural Context
The "Songs of Ascents" imply a setting of pilgrimage, a journey that was often fraught with peril. Pilgrims would traverse diverse territories, some of which might be hostile, rendering them vulnerable to bandits, false accusations, or the slander of rival groups. In ancient Near Eastern societies, verbal integrity was not merely a virtue but a foundational pillar of social order; one's word, oaths, and public reputation carried immense weight and legal consequence. A "false tongue" possessed the power to utterly destroy a person's standing, incite tribal or national conflict, or lead to grave legal injustice, as vividly illustrated in cases of false witness (e.g., Deuteronomy 19:16-19). The psalmist's profound distress therefore reflects a societal context where malicious speech was far from a minor annoyance; it was a deeply destructive force, often without immediate human recourse, thus necessitating a fervent appeal for divine intervention and justice.
Key Themes
This verse contributes significantly to several overarching theological and narrative themes within the Psalter and the broader biblical canon. Firstly, it powerfully underscores The Destructive Power of the Tongue, portraying malicious speech not merely as words but as a potent weapon that inflicts profound pain, disrupts social harmony, and shatters peace, a truth echoed profoundly in Proverbs 18:21. Secondly, it highlights the theme of Divine Justice and Retribution, expressing a deep and unwavering conviction that God, in His righteousness, will not leave wickedness unpunished, especially the egregious misuse of speech. The rhetorical question anticipates God's certain and severe judgment, a pervasive theme found throughout the prophetic books and wisdom literature. Finally, the verse implicitly reveals the psalmist's profound Longing for Truth and Peace, starkly contrasting the desired environment of integrity with the current, painful reality of strife caused by pervasive falsehood. This yearning for shalom, or holistic peace, is a recurring and central motif in the psalms, particularly in the context of Jerusalem as the very "city of peace" (e.g., Psalms 122:6).
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
A primitive root meaning "to give," used with the greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.). In this context, it implies a recompense or consequence that will be "given" to the false tongue, signifying the inevitable divine response to its destructive actions. The broadness of the term suggests a comprehensive and fitting retribution.
Meaning "remissness, treachery." It denotes deceit(-ful, -fully), guile, or being idle/slack. Here, it specifically describes the nature of the tongue's actions—not merely mistaken, but characterized by deliberate treachery, fraud, and malicious intent. It highlights the moral culpability and the destructive, misleading nature of the speech.
Referring to the tongue of man or animals, used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech) and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water). In this verse, "tongue" is used figuratively to represent speech itself, emphasizing its capacity for both good and evil. Coupled with "false," it personifies the instrument of deceitful communication.
Verse Breakdown
"What shall be given unto thee?"
This opening rhetorical question, directed with righteous indignation at the "false tongue," serves as a powerful expression of the psalmist's demand for justice. It implies an impending recompense or consequence that will be meted out, suggesting that the nature of this "giving" will be punitive—a direct and negative consequence for the harm inflicted by deceitful speech.
"or what shall be done unto thee?"
This parallel question intensifies the first, moving beyond the concept of mere "giving" to emphasize the active execution of judgment. The repetition underscores the certainty of retribution and the psalmist's fervent plea for divine intervention, highlighting a desire for God to actively intervene and bring about a just outcome against the purveyor of falsehood.
"thou false tongue?"
This direct and confrontational address personifies the very source of the psalmist's anguish. By speaking to the "false tongue" as if it were a sentient entity capable of receiving judgment, the psalmist vividly highlights the agency, moral culpability, and destructive intent of those who wield deceitful speech. It functions as a potent indictment of both the instrument and the malicious purpose behind the words.
Literary Devices
Psalms 120:3 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of righteous indignation and anticipated divine justice. The most prominent is the Rhetorical Question, "What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee?" These questions are not posed to elicit information but to express the psalmist's fervent desire for divine retribution and to emphatically imply the certainty and severity of the impending judgment. The very act of asking underscores the psalmist's profound anguish and unwavering conviction that justice must prevail. Closely related to this is Imprecation, where the psalmist, through these questions, implicitly invokes divine judgment upon the "false tongue." While not a direct command to God, the questions serve as a powerful plea for God to act justly against the wicked. Furthermore, the verse utilizes striking Personification by directly addressing the "false tongue" as if it were a sentient being capable of receiving and enduring punishment. This device vividly portrays the tongue as an active, culpable agent of harm, making the indictment more potent and personally impactful. The inherent Parallelism in the two questions ("What shall be given... or what shall be done...") also serves to intensify the plea and emphasize the comprehensive and inescapable nature of the desired judgment.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Psalms 120:3 profoundly articulates the biblical understanding of the gravity of speech and God's unwavering commitment to justice. The psalmist's cry for retribution against the "false tongue" is not merely a personal outburst of frustration but reflects a deep theological conviction that God is a God of truth who abhors deceit and will hold individuals stringently accountable for their words. This verse serves as a stark reminder that words are never neutral; they carry immense power for either good or ill, and their misuse is a serious offense against God's character and His created order. While the New Testament calls believers to love their enemies and bless those who persecute them, the psalmist's plea here captures the righteous indignation that arises when truth is trampled and peace is shattered by malicious falsehood. It affirms with certainty that God sees, hears, and will ultimately respond to such wickedness, providing a firm foundation for trust in divine sovereignty even when human justice seems absent or delayed.
Reflection and Application
Psalms 120:3 serves as a potent and timeless reminder for contemporary believers about the profound and far-reaching impact of our words, as well as the immutable nature of divine justice. In an age saturated with information, misinformation, and often careless or even malicious communication, this verse challenges us to pause and deeply consider the ethical and spiritual implications of every word we utter. It calls us to cultivate unwavering integrity in our own tongues, recognizing that gossip, slander, deceit, and careless falsehood are not trivial matters but destructive forces that grieve the Holy Spirit, erode trust, and inflict profound harm upon others and the fabric of community. When we find ourselves as the unfortunate recipients of a "false tongue," this psalm encourages us to bring our pain, our anguish, and our desire for justice directly to God, trusting that He is the ultimate and righteous arbiter who sees all, knows all, and will act righteously in His perfect timing. It invites us to pray not for personal vengeance, but for God's truth and peace to prevail, both in our personal interactions and in the broader world, while simultaneously spurring us to be active agents of truth, reconciliation, and grace in a world desperately in need of authentic communication.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Is this verse advocating for personal vengeance against those who speak falsely?
No, this verse is emphatically not advocating for personal vengeance. Instead, it expresses the psalmist's deep anguish and a fervent, righteous plea for divine justice. The rhetorical questions "What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee?" are directed to God, implicitly asking Him to execute judgment and bring about a just recompense. The psalmist is crying out to the Lord for deliverance from a hostile environment, trusting that God, in His perfect righteousness, will ultimately deal with the deceitful. This aligns perfectly with broader biblical principles that declare vengeance belongs to the Lord, not to individuals (e.g., Romans 12:19). The verse reflects a profound, righteous indignation against injustice and a complete reliance on God's sovereign and perfect judgment.
How does this psalm, with its plea for judgment, relate to New Testament teachings on loving enemies?
While the New Testament indeed calls believers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (e.g., Matthew 5:44), Psalms 120:3 represents a different, yet complementary, aspect of biblical truth: God's unwavering justice. The psalms often express the raw, unvarnished human experience of suffering, injustice, and a deep yearning for righteousness in a fallen world. This verse acknowledges the very real pain and profound harm caused by malicious speech and the legitimate, God-given desire for accountability. It is a prayer for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done, which inherently includes the triumph of truth and justice over falsehood and wickedness. The New Testament does not negate God's justice but rather reveals its ultimate fulfillment and the path to reconciliation through the atoning work of Christ. Believers are called to extend grace and mercy, but also to recognize that God remains sovereign and will ultimately judge all unrighteousness, bringing about perfect justice in His time.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Psalms 120:3, with its anguished cry against the "false tongue" and its anticipation of divine judgment, finds its ultimate fulfillment and profound transformation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the very embodiment of truth, the Word made flesh, who perfectly spoke truth and never uttered a single word of deceit (John 1:14, 1 Peter 2:22). Jesus Himself endured the most egregious manifestation of the "false tongue" when He was subjected to malicious accusations, perjured testimony, and slander during His unjust trial and brutal crucifixion (Matthew 26:59-60). Yet, instead of calling down immediate judgment, He silently bore the immense injustice, thereby fulfilling the prophetic suffering servant motif (e.g., Isaiah 53:7). His crucifixion was the ultimate act of divine justice, where the sin of the world—including the destructive power of the tongue—was judged and atoned for. Through His glorious resurrection, Jesus was powerfully vindicated, demonstrating God's decisive triumph over all falsehood, deceit, and injustice, and establishing the foundational reality for a new kingdom where truth, righteousness, and peace eternally prevail. For believers, the indwelling Holy Spirit empowers us to put away all falsehood and to speak truth in love (Ephesians 4:25), transforming our tongues from potential instruments of deceit into vessels of grace, healing, and truth, thereby reflecting the very character of Christ who is "full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).