Psalms 55:21
The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
Psalms 55:21 in other translations
| BSB | His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed. |
|---|---|
| WEB | His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. |
| ASV | His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords. |
| YLT | Sweeter than honey hath been his mouth, And his heart is war! Softer have been his words than oil, And they are drawn swords. |
| DARBY | Smooth were the milky words of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet are they drawn swords. |
| BBE | The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, but they were sharp swords. |
| Webster | The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. |
What does Psalms 55:21 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 55:20-21
20-21. The treachery is aggravated by hypocrisy. The changes of number, Psa 55:15, 23, and here, enliven the picture, and imply that the chief traitor and his accomplices are in view together.
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 55:16-23
In every trial let us call upon the Lord, and he will save us. He shall hear us, and not blame us for coming too often; the oftener the more welcome. David had thought all were against him; but now he sees there were many with him, more than he supposed; and the glory of this he gives to God, for it is he that raises us up friends, and makes them faithful to us. There are more true Christians, and believers have…
Psalms 55:21 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Psalms 55:21
- Psalms 57:4
My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
- Proverbs 5:3-4
For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.
- Psalms 28:3
Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.
- Proverbs 26:28
A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
- Psalms 12:2
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
- Proverbs 26:24-26
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
- Psalms 64:3
Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
- Luke 20:20-21
And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:
- Psalms 62:4
They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
- Matthew 26:25
Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.
- Proverbs 12:18
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
- Psalms 59:7
Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Psalms 55:20
He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
- Psalms 55:21
The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
- Psalms 55:22
Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Psalms 55:21 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Ablandan más que manteca su boca, pero guerra hay en su corazón: suavizan sus palabras más que el aceite, mas ellas son cuchillos. |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Le méchant a étendu ses mains sur ceux qui sont en paix avec lui; il a profané son alliance. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Glatt sind die Milchworte seines Mundes, und Krieg ist sein Herz; geschmeidiger sind seine Worte als Öl, und sie sind gezogene Schwerter. |