Psalms 58:5

KJV

Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.

KJV (with Strong's)

Which will not hearken {H8085}{H8799)} to the voice {H6963} of charmers {H3907}{H8764)}, charming {H2266}{H8802)}{H2267} never so wisely {H2449}{H8794)}.

Complete Jewish Bible

so as not to hear the voice of the charmer, no matter how well he plays.

Berean Standard Bible

refusing to hear the tune of the charmer who skillfully weaves his spell.

American Standard Version

Which hearkeneth not to the voice of charmers, Charming never so wisely.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 58:5 vividly portrays the profound and deliberate resistance of the wicked to any form of truth, reason, or divine persuasion. Extending the vivid imagery of the "deaf adder" from the preceding verse, this passage emphasizes that the refusal to "hearken" is not an inability but a willful, active choice to close one's ears, no matter how skillful, wise, or compelling the "charming" (representing appeals to justice, wisdom, or divine law) may be. It underscores a deep-seated, incorrigible unwillingness to listen to or be influenced by righteousness, highlighting the ultimate futility of human efforts to sway a heart determined to remain hardened against truth and justice.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 58 is a powerful imprecatory psalm, a lament where David appeals to God for justice against corrupt and oppressive rulers or judges. The psalm opens with an indictment of these individuals, accusing them of speaking wickedness and weighing out violence (Psalms 58:1-2). It then describes their inherent depravity, stating they are "estranged from the womb" and "go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies" (Psalms 58:3). Psalms 58:4 introduces the striking metaphor of the "deaf adder," whose venom is deadly. Psalms 58:5 directly builds upon this, explaining *why* the adder is deaf—not due to a physical inability, but a deliberate refusal to respond to even the most expert "charmers." This progression from inherent wickedness to active, unyielding resistance sets the stage for the psalmist's subsequent plea for divine judgment and the breaking of their power (Psalms 58:6-9).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The practice of snake charming was well-known in the ancient Near East, with charmers believed to possess the skill to lure, control, or render harmless venomous serpents through music, incantations, or specific movements. This cultural practice provides a potent metaphor for the psalmist. The "deaf adder" would have been understood as a serpent that, contrary to expectation or common belief, refused to be charmed, symbolizing an extreme and stubborn resistance. In the context of the psalm, this imagery is applied to human judges or rulers who, despite having wisdom or truth presented to them, stubbornly refuse to administer justice or heed divine law. The psalmist likely wrote from a period of significant social injustice, where those in authority actively suppressed truth and oppressed the innocent, making their deliberate "deafness" a profound societal threat.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several major themes within Psalms 58 and the broader Psalter. Firstly, it vividly portrays **Incorrigible Wickedness**, depicting a deep-seated and unyielding resistance to truth, justice, and righteousness. The wicked are so set in their ways that no amount of persuasion can sway them, illustrating the profound depravity of the human heart as described in [Jeremiah 17:9](/jeremiah/17-9 "Jeremiah 17:9 - The Deceitfulness of the Heart"). Secondly, it highlights **Deliberate Spiritual Deafness**. Like the mythical adder that stops its ears, these individuals actively choose to ignore wise counsel, warnings, or even the voice of conscience. This is not a passive inability but an active refusal to hear, a theme echoed in various biblical texts lamenting Israel's unresponsiveness to God's prophets (e.g., [Isaiah 6:9-10](/isaiah/6-9 "Isaiah 6:9-10 - Spiritual Blindness and Deafness")). Finally, the verse underscores the **Futility of Human Persuasion** against such hardened hearts. Even the most skilled or wise "charmers" (representing those who offer good counsel, appeals to reason, or divine warnings) are rendered ineffective. This emphasizes the limitations of human effort in changing those determined not to change, pointing ultimately to the need for divine intervention to transform hearts.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **charmers (Hebrew: לְחָשִׁים, _l'chashim'_):** This plural noun refers to whisperers, enchanters, or those who use incantations. It implies a subtle, persuasive influence, often associated with magical spells or the skilled art of snake charming. In this context, it represents anyone attempting to exert a compelling, perhaps even irresistible, influence through wisdom, reason, or divine truth.
* **charming (Hebrew: חֹבֵר, _chover'_):** This is a participle from the verb _chavar_, meaning "to join," "to bind," or "to associate." When used in the context of charming or enchanting, it suggests the act of binding or bringing under control through a spell or incantation. Here, it denotes the active, skillful practice of the charmer, emphasizing the potency and expertise of their efforts.
* **wisely (Hebrew: חָכָם, _chakham'_):** This adjective means "wise," "skillful," or "expert." Its inclusion here stresses that the charmer's efforts are not amateurish or ineffective due to lack of skill. On the contrary, the charming is done with the utmost wisdom and proficiency, making the adder's refusal to listen all the more profound and deliberate. It underscores the absolute nature of the resistance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Which will not hearken":** This clause immediately establishes the central theme of active, willful resistance. The Hebrew verb implies not just hearing, but also listening attentively and obeying. The "adder" (and by extension, the wicked) makes a conscious choice *not* to respond, *not* to be influenced, and *not* to submit to what is being communicated. This is a deliberate act of defiance.
* **"to the voice of charmers":** This specifies what is being resisted. The "voice of charmers" represents any form of persuasive appeal—whether it be the voice of justice, the call to righteousness, the warnings of conscience, or even the divine truth communicated through prophets or wise counsel. It signifies the external attempts to bring about a change of heart or behavior.
* **"charming never so wisely":** This final phrase emphasizes the absolute and unwavering nature of the resistance. It's not that the charmers are unskilled or their methods ineffective; rather, even when the charming is performed with the highest degree of wisdom, skill, and efficacy, it utterly fails to penetrate the "deafness" of the adder. This highlights the incorrigible nature of the wicked's refusal to be swayed by truth or reason.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device in Psalms 58:5 is the continued **Metaphor** of the "deaf adder" from Psalms 58:4. The wicked are compared to a serpent that, contrary to its nature or common belief, refuses to be charmed. This metaphor powerfully conveys their deliberate and unyielding resistance to truth and righteousness. The phrase "charming never so wisely" employs **Hyperbole**, exaggerating the skill of the charmer to emphasize the extreme and absolute nature of the adder's (and thus the wicked's) refusal to listen. This hyperbole underscores that no human effort, no matter how profound or skillful, can penetrate such a hardened heart. There is also an element of **Irony**, as the expected outcome of a wise charmer's work—the subduing of the serpent—is completely subverted by the adder's willful deafness, highlighting the perversity of the wicked's resistance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 58:5 offers a sobering theological insight into the nature of human rebellion and the limits of human persuasion in the face of a hardened heart. It teaches that wickedness can reach a point of incorrigibility, where individuals actively choose to shut themselves off from truth, justice, and even divine appeals. This deliberate spiritual deafness is not merely ignorance but a profound rejection of wisdom and righteousness. It highlights the sovereignty of human will in choosing sin and resisting grace, yet it also implicitly points to the necessity of divine intervention, as only God can truly open ears that are willfully closed and soften hearts that are stubbornly hardened. The verse serves as a stark reminder that while we are called to speak truth, the ultimate power to transform hearts rests with God alone.

* [Jeremiah 17:9](/jeremiah/17-9 "Jeremiah 17:9 - The Deceitfulness of the Heart")
* [Matthew 13:15](/matthew/13-15 "Matthew 13:15 - Hardness of Heart and Unbelief")
* [Acts 7:51](/acts/7-51 "Acts 7:51 - Stiff-necked and Uncircumcised Hearts")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 58:5 provides a profound lens through which to understand the persistent challenge of communicating truth, whether it be spiritual, moral, or relational, to those who are determined not to hear. It offers a realistic perspective on human nature, acknowledging that some hearts become so hardened by sin and self-will that they actively resist even the most compelling arguments or loving appeals. This does not diminish our responsibility to speak truth, but it tempers our expectations and shifts our reliance from human eloquence to divine power. For believers, this verse serves as a powerful reminder to guard our own hearts against such spiritual deafness. Are we truly listening to God's Word, to wise counsel, or to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, or are we, like the adder, willfully closing our ears to what we do not wish to hear? Recognizing the futility of human "charming" against a determined will should drive us to prayer, asking God to do what only He can: break through the stubbornness of the human heart and grant ears to hear and a heart to obey. It encourages perseverance in witness, coupled with humble dependence on God's sovereign grace to transform lives.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this verse challenge our assumptions about the effectiveness of human persuasion in spiritual matters?**
* **In what ways might we, unknowingly, be "deaf adders" to God's voice or wise counsel in our own lives?**
* **What is our responsibility when encountering those who seem to have "hardened hearts" against the truth? How does this verse inform our approach?**

### FAQ
**Is the "deaf adder" a real animal, or is it purely symbolic?**

Answer: While there are snake species that might appear unresponsive due to their limited hearing range or specific behaviors, the "deaf adder" in Psalms 58:5 is primarily a symbolic or mythical creature in this context. Ancient cultures often attributed legendary qualities to animals, and the idea of a snake that willfully ignores a charmer's call served as a potent metaphor for extreme stubbornness. It's less about zoological accuracy and more about illustrating a deliberate, almost perverse, refusal to respond to what is universally expected to be effective. The emphasis is on the *choice* to remain deaf, not a biological inability.

**Does this verse mean we shouldn't try to persuade people or share the Gospel with those who seem resistant?**

Answer: Absolutely not. This verse highlights the *limits* of human effort and the profound reality of a hardened heart, but it does not negate the divine command to proclaim truth and share the Gospel. Instead, it reframes our understanding of the process. It teaches us that while we are called to be faithful in communication, the ultimate power to open deaf ears and soften hardened hearts belongs to God alone. It encourages us to pray for divine intervention, to rely on the Holy Spirit's power, and to persevere with patience and love, recognizing that true spiritual transformation is a work of grace, not merely human persuasion, no matter how "wisely" it is done.

**How does this verse relate to the concept of free will and human responsibility?**

Answer: Psalms 58:5 strongly underscores the concept of human responsibility and the exercise of free will in choosing to resist truth. The "deaf adder" is not portrayed as inherently incapable of hearing, but as *choosing* not to hearken. This implies a deliberate act of will, a conscious decision to remain closed off to persuasion, wisdom, or divine appeals. It affirms that individuals are accountable for their choices, particularly their rejection of truth and justice. While God's sovereignty is ultimate, this verse highlights the profound human capacity for willful rebellion and the tragic consequences of such choices.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 58:5, with its depiction of an incorrigibly deaf adder resisting even the wisest charmer, finds its ultimate and poignant fulfillment in the person and ministry of Jesus Christ. He is the quintessential "charmer" of hearts, not through incantations, but through the unparalleled wisdom of His teachings, the undeniable power of His miracles, and the divine authority of His very presence. Yet, despite His perfect wisdom and undeniable signs, many of His own people, particularly the religious leaders, exhibited the very "deafness" described in this psalm. They heard His words, witnessed His deeds, and yet willfully refused to "hearken," choosing instead to reject the very Son of God (as lamented in [John 1:11](/john/1-11 "John 1:11 - He Came to His Own")). Jesus Himself spoke of those who had "ears to hear but do not hear" and "eyes to see but do not see" (e.g., [Matthew 13:13-15](/matthew/13-13 "Matthew 13:13-15 - Parables and Hardness of Heart")), echoing the spiritual deafness of the adder. However, unlike the human charmer whose efforts are futile, Jesus ultimately triumphs over this spiritual deafness. Through His atoning work on the cross and the power of His resurrection, He inaugurates a new covenant where God promises to remove the "heart of stone" and give a "heart of flesh" ([Ezekiel 36:26](/ezekiel/36-26 "Ezekiel 36:26 - A New Heart and Spirit")), and to open the ears of the spiritually deaf ([Mark 7:37](/mark/7-37 "Mark 7:37 - Jesus Opens Deaf Ears")). Thus, while Psalms 58:5 laments the futility of human persuasion against hardened hearts, Christ's work demonstrates that God alone possesses the power to break through such resistance, transforming willful deafness into a responsive faith.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 8:17

For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which [will] not [be] charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD.

Isaiah 19:3

And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.

Deuteronomy 18:11

Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.