Psalms 140:3

140:2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.

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

KJV

They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper’s poison is under their lips. Selah.

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

140:4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.

What does Psalms 140:3 mean?

Psalms 140:3 is a verse in the book of Psalms, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include שָׁנַן (shânan), לָשׁוֹן (lâshôwn), נָחָשׁ (nâchâsh).

Hebrew interlinear

They

have

sharpenedשָׁנַןshânan/shaw-nan'/H8150to point (transitive or intransitive); intensively, to pierce; figuratively, to inculcate

their

tonguesלָשׁוֹןlâshôwn/law-shone'/H3956the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water)

serpent;נָחָשׁnâchâsh/naw-khawsh'/H5175a snake (from its hiss)

adders'עַכְשׁוּבʻakshûwb/ak-shoob'/H5919an asp (from lurking coiled up)

poisonחֵמָהchêmâh/khay-maw'/H2534heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)

under

their

lips.שָׂפָהsâphâh/saw-faw'/H8193the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)

Selah.סֶלָהçelâh/seh'-law/H5542suspension (of music), i.e. pause

Topics

Adder Malice Serpent Serpents Slander

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Psalms 140:3.

Job 27:4

My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.

Psalms 12:3

The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: proud: Heb. great

Psalms 12:4

Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us? are: Heb. are with us

Psalms 21:2

Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.

Psalms 34:13

Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

Psalms 58:4

Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; like the poison: Heb. according to the likeness, etc adder: or, asp

Psalms 59:13

Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.

Psalms 64:3

Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:

Frequently asked questions

What does Psalms 140:3 say?

Psalms 140:3 (King James Version) reads: "They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah."

Is Psalms 140:3 in the Old or New Testament?

Psalms 140:3 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Psalms.

Reflect

As you read Psalms 140:3, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Psalms 140:3 →

← 140:2 140:4 →