Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
They sharpen their tongues like swords, and aim their bows to shoot arrows, these arrows are their bitter, hurtful words.
The writer is describing how cruel people use their words as weapons, speaking with the intent to wound and destroy others.
📚 Historical Context
Psalm 64 is part of a collection of ancient Hebrew songs attributed to King David, likely written during times of personal or national conflict in ancient Israel. In this verse, David describes enemies who use deceptive and harmful speech as weapons, comparing tongues to sharpened swords and words to arrows, which reflects the cultural reality of verbal attacks in a society where honor and reputation were vital for survival. This imagery was common in Hebrew poetry to highlight the destructive power of gossip and slander in a world where words could incite real violence or social ruin.
Explore Similar Verses
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.