Psalms 58 · Verse 4

Psalms 58:4

Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;
Psalms 58:4, King James Version

Psalms 58:4 in other translations

BSBTheir venom is like the venom of a snake, like a cobra that shuts its ears,
WEBTheir poison is like the poison of a snake, like a deaf cobra that stops its ear,
ASVTheir poison is like the poison of a serpent: They are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear,
YLTTheir poison is as poison of a serpent, As a deaf asp shutting its ear,
DARBYTheir poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder which stoppeth her ear;
BBETheir poison is like the poison of a snake; they are like the adder, whose ears are shut;
WebsterTheir poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;

What does Psalms 58:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 58:3-5

3-5. describe the wicked generally, who sin naturally, easily, malignantly, and stubbornly.

Read the full comment on Psalms 58:3-5 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent - When they bite, they convey poison into the wound, as the serpent does. They not only injure you by outward acts, but by their malevolence they poison your reputation. They do you as much evil as they can, and propagate the worst reports that others may have you in abhorrence, treat you as a bad and dangerous man; and thus, as the poison from the bite of the serpent is conveyed into the whole mass of blood, and circulates with it through all the system, carrying death every where; so they injurious speeches and vile insinuations circulate through society, and poison and blast your reputation in every place. Such is the slanderer, and such his influence in society. From such no reputation is safe; with such no character is sacred; and against such there is no defense. God alone can shield the innocent from the envenomed tongue and lying lips of such inward monsters in the shape of men. Like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear - It is a fact that cannot be disputed with any show of reason, that in ancient times there were persons that charmed, lulled to inactivity, or professed to charm, serpents, so as to prevent them from biting. See Ecc 10:11; Jer 8:17. The prince of Roman poets states the fact, Virg. Ecl. viii., ver. 71. Frigidus in prati cantando rumpitur anguis. "In the meadows the cold snake is burst by incantation." The same author, Aen. vii., ver. 750, gives us the following account of the skill of Umbro, a priest of the Marrubians: - Quin et Marru bia venit de gente sacerdos, Fronde super galeam, et felici comptus oliva, Archippi regis missu, fortissimus Umbro; Vipereo generi et graviter spirantibus hydris, Spargere qui somnos cantuque manuque solebat, Mulcebatque iras, et morsus arte levabat. "Umbro, the brave Marubian priest, was there, Sent by the Marsian monarch to the war. The smiling olive with her verdant boughs Shades his bright helmet, and adorns his brows. His charms in peace the furious serpent keep, And lull the envenomed viper's race to sleep: His healing hand allayed the raging pain; And at his touch the poisons fled again." Pitt. There is a particular sect of the Hindoos who profess to bring serpents into subjection, and deprive them of their poison, by incantation. See at the end of this Psalm.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 58:1-5

When wrong is done under the form of law, it is worse than any other; especially it is grievous to behold those who profess to be children of God, joining together against any of his people. We should thank the Lord for merciful restraints; we should be more earnest in seeking renewing grace, more watchful over ourselves, and more patient under the effects of fallen nature in others. The corruption of their nature…

Read the full comment on Psalms 58:1-5 →

Psalms 58:4 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.

חֲמַת\־cha.mat-venomH2534
לָ֗מוֹla.moof them
כִּדְמ֥וּתkid.Mut[is] like [the] likeness ofH1823
חֲמַת\־cha.mat-[the] venom ofH2534
נָחָ֑שׁna.Chasha snakeH5175
כְּמוֹ\־ke.mov-likeH3644
פֶ֥תֶןFe.tena cobraH6620
חֵ֝רֵ֗שׁche.ReshdeafH2795
יַאְטֵ֥םya'.Tem[which] it shutsH331
אָזְנֽוֹ\׃'a.ze.Noear itsH241

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 58:4

  • Psalms 140:3

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

  • James 3:8

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

  • 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.

  • Romans 3:13

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

  • Ecclesiastes 10:11

    Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

  • Job 20:14

    Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.

  • Job 20:16

    He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.

  • Matthew 23:33

    Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

  • Isaiah 11:8

    And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.

  • Deuteronomy 32:33

    Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.

  • Matthew 3:7

    But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
poison.
140:3; Ec 10:11; Ro 3:13; Jas 3:8
like. Heb. according to the likeness of. serpent.
Mt 3:7; 23:33
the deaf.
Jer 8:17
adder or asp.{Pethen,} is no doubt the {boeten} of the Arabians, which M. Forskal describes as spotted with black and white, about one foot in length, nearly half an inch thick, oviparous, and its bite almost instant death. It is the aspic of the ancients, and is so called the literati of Cyprus, though the common people call it [kouphe,] deaf.
Job 20:14,16; Isa 11:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 58:3

    The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

  • Psalms 58:4

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

  • Psalms 58:5

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

Read all of Psalms 58

Psalms 58:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Veneno tienen semejante al veneno de la serpiente: son como áspide sordo que cierra su oído;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Les méchants se sont égarés dès la matrice; ils errent dès le ventre, parlant le mensonge.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Gift haben sie gleich Schlangengift, wie eine taube Otter, die ihr Ohr verschließt,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quia ecce ceperunt animam meam; irruerunt in me fortes.