Psalms 140:2

140:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man; violent: Heb. man of violences

Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.

KJV

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those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war.

Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.

140:3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.

What does Psalms 140:2 mean?

Psalms 140:2 is a verse in the book of Psalms, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include חָשַׁב (châshab), רַע (raʻ), לֵב (lêb).

Hebrew interlinear

Which

imagineחָשַׁבchâshab/khaw-shab'/H2803properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense); hence (from the mental effort) to think, regard, value, compute

mischiefsרַעraʻ/rah/H7451bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

their

heart;לֵבlêb/labe/H3820the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything

continuallyיוֹםyôwm/yome/H3117a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)

are

they

gathered

togetherגּוּרgûwr/goor/H1481properly, to turn aside from the road (for a lodging or any other purpose), i.e. sojourn (as a guest); also to shrink, fear (as in a strange place); also to gather forhostility (as afraid)

for

war.מִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh/mil-khaw-maw'/H4421a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare)

Topics

Malice

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Psalms 140:2.

Genesis 6:5

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. every: or, the whole imagination: the Hebrew word signifieth not only the imagination, but also the purposes and desires continually: Heb. every day

Genesis 2:17

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. thou shalt surely: Heb. dying thou shalt die

Genesis 3:5

For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Genesis 50:20

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Genesis 8:21

And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. a sweet: Heb. a savour of rest or, satisfaction for the imagination: or, through the imagination

Frequently asked questions

What does Psalms 140:2 say?

Psalms 140:2 (King James Version) reads: "Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war."

Is Psalms 140:2 in the Old or New Testament?

Psalms 140:2 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Psalms.

Reflect

As you read Psalms 140:2, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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