Psalms 109:2

Authorized King James Version

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For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.

Original Language Analysis

כִּ֤י H3588
כִּ֤י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 1 of 11
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
וּֽפִי For the mouth H6310
וּֽפִי For the mouth
Strong's: H6310
Word #: 2 of 11
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
רָשָׁ֡ע of the wicked H7563
רָשָׁ֡ע of the wicked
Strong's: H7563
Word #: 3 of 11
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
וּֽפִי For the mouth H6310
וּֽפִי For the mouth
Strong's: H6310
Word #: 4 of 11
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
מִ֭רְמָה of the deceitful H4820
מִ֭רְמָה of the deceitful
Strong's: H4820
Word #: 5 of 11
fraud
עָלַ֣י H5921
עָלַ֣י
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 6 of 11
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
פָּתָ֑חוּ are opened H6605
פָּתָ֑חוּ are opened
Strong's: H6605
Word #: 7 of 11
to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve
דִּבְּר֥וּ against me they have spoken H1696
דִּבְּר֥וּ against me they have spoken
Strong's: H1696
Word #: 8 of 11
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
אִ֝תִּ֗י H854
אִ֝תִּ֗י
Strong's: H854
Word #: 9 of 11
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
לְשׁ֣וֹן tongue H3956
לְשׁ֣וֹן tongue
Strong's: H3956
Word #: 10 of 11
the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame,
שָֽׁקֶר׃ against me with a lying H8267
שָֽׁקֶר׃ against me with a lying
Strong's: H8267
Word #: 11 of 11
an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial)

Analysis & Commentary

For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me—The Hebrew פִּי רָשָׁע וּפִי־מִרְמָה (pi rasha ufi-mirmah) emphasizes dual sources of opposition: the openly wicked and the deliberately deceptive. David faces coordinated slander, not isolated criticism. They have spoken against me with a lying tongue (לְשׁוֹן שֶׁקֶר, leshon sheker)—the tongue of falsehood, which Proverbs lists among the seven abominations God hates (Prov 6:16-19).

This verse establishes the psalm's context: David suffers not from honest disagreement but from malicious fabrication. The imprecatory prayers that follow (vv. 6-19) respond to covenant-breaking treachery, not personal offense. Christ experienced this same betrayal from Judas and false witnesses (Matt 26:59-60), making Psalm 109 messianic in application—Peter cited verse 8 regarding Judas's replacement (Acts 1:20).

Historical Context

Traditionally attributed to David during Absalom's rebellion or conflicts with Saul's loyalists. Ancient Near Eastern treaty curses similarly invoked divine judgment on covenant-breakers. The psalm's severity reflects covenant theology: those who betray God's anointed invite the covenant curses of Deuteronomy 28.

Questions for Reflection