Psalms 140:3

They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison [is] under their lips. Selah.

They have sharpened {H8150} their tongues {H3956} like a serpent {H5175}; adders {H5919}' poison {H2534} is under their lips {H8193}. Selah {H5542}.

They have made their tongues as sharp as a snake's; viper's venom is under their lips. (Selah)

They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah

They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; Adders’ poison is under their lips. [Selah

Context

Psalm 140 is a fervent prayer of David, seeking deliverance from violent and deceitful enemies. Throughout the psalm, David describes the schemes and malicious intent of those who persecute him. This particular verse, Psalms 140:3, vividly portrays the nature of their verbal attacks, likening their words to deadly venom.

Key Themes

  • The Destructive Power of Malicious Speech: The core message highlights how words can be used as potent weapons, capable of inflicting deep harm. David's enemies do not just plan physical harm; they actively engage in verbal assaults.
  • Hidden Malice and Deceit: The imagery of "poison under their lips" suggests that the venom is not always immediately apparent. It speaks of a deceptive, insidious quality to their words, ready to strike unexpectedly and cause spiritual or emotional damage.
  • Spiritual Warfare: For David, these verbal attacks are part of a larger spiritual battle. He appeals to God for protection from those whose very speech is imbued with a destructive, serpent-like intent.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV text uses powerful imagery: "They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison [is] under their lips. Selah."

  • The phrase "sharpened their tongues" (Hebrew: shanenu leshonam) is a vivid metaphor. Just as one sharpens a sword or arrow to cause maximum injury, these individuals prepare their words to inflict pain, slander, or deceit. It speaks to the deliberate and calculated nature of their verbal assaults.
  • "Serpent" (Hebrew: nachash) and "adders' poison" (Hebrew: pethen, referring to a cobra-like snake, and its venom) powerfully convey the deadly and insidious nature of their speech. The poison is "under their lips," implying it's concealed, ready to be unleashed with a deceptive smile or a subtle accusation. This imagery is echoed in other biblical texts, such as Romans 3:13, which quotes from this Psalm and Psalms 58:4.
  • "Selah" is a musical or liturgical instruction, often interpreted as a pause for reflection or an instrumental interlude. In this context, it calls the reader to pause and consider the gravity and devastating impact of such malicious speech.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the profound impact of words, both on those who speak them and those who hear them.

  • Guard Your Tongue: We are called to be mindful of our own speech, recognizing its potential for both good and evil. Just as David's enemies used their tongues for harm, we must strive to use ours for edification and truth, avoiding gossip, slander, and deceit. James 3:8 warns that the tongue is an "unruly evil, full of deadly poison."
  • Pray for Protection: In a world where verbal attacks, cyberbullying, and false accusations are prevalent, David's prayer offers a model for seeking God's protection from those who use their words to harm.
  • Recognize Malicious Speech: The imagery helps us identify speech that is not just critical but venomous, designed to destroy rather than correct. It encourages discernment in our interactions.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 58:4

    Their poison [is] like the poison of a serpent: [they are] like the deaf adder [that] stoppeth her ear;

  • Romans 3:13

    Their throat [is] an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps [is] under their lips:

  • Romans 3:14

    Whose mouth [is] full of cursing and bitterness:

  • 2 Corinthians 11:3

    But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

  • Proverbs 23:32

    At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

  • James 3:6

    And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

  • James 3:8

    But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

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