Psalms 12:2
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Corrupt speech characterizes societies that have abandoned God's ways. Ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature highly valued truthful, reliable speech. Egyptian wisdom texts emphasized speaking truth. Mesopotamian cultures prized honest dealing. Yet practice often fell short of ideals, with flattery and deception common in royal courts where survival depended on saying what powerful people wanted to hear.
In Israel's history, periods of spiritual decline featured corrupt speech. During Ahab's reign, four hundred prophets flattered the king by promising victory while Micaiah alone spoke truth and was imprisoned (1 Kings 22). During later kingdoms, false prophets flattered the people: "Peace, peace; when there is no peace" (Jeremiah 6:14). Political and religious leaders used smooth words to maintain power while leading people to destruction.
David himself experienced betrayal through false words. Absalom flattered the people to steal their hearts (2 Samuel 15:2-6). Ahithophel's counsel, once trusted, turned against David. Throughout his years as fugitive and king, David dealt with flatterers, betrayers, and double-hearted counselors.
The New Testament continues warning against corrupt speech. Paul urged speaking "the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15) and warned against "corrupt communication" (Ephesians 4:29). James devoted extensive teaching to taming the tongue (James 3:1-12), noting how small member produces great damage. Jesus condemned religious leaders who spoke pious words while harboring corrupt hearts (Matthew 23).
Early Christians navigated dangerous waters regarding speech. Under Roman persecution, speaking truth about Christ could mean death. Temptation existed to use evasive, flattering words to survive. Yet martyrs chose truthful testimony over self-preserving duplicity. The church has always faced tension between speaking truth prophetically and using smooth words to avoid persecution or gain worldly advantage.
Questions for Reflection
- In what contexts are you tempted to speak empty words, flattery, or duplicitously rather than speaking truth straightforwardly?
- How does social media amplify the problems of vanity, flattery, and double-heartedness in communication?
- What is the difference between tactful, gracious speech and flattering, manipulative words, and how can you cultivate the former while avoiding the latter?
- How can you develop single-heartedness (alignment between words and intentions) in a culture that often rewards duplicity?
- What practices might help align your speech with truth and faithfulness in contexts where corrupt communication has become normalized?
Analysis & Commentary
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. This verse specifies the godlessness lamented in verse 1, focusing on corrupt speech characterized by emptiness, flattery, and duplicity. When faithfulness disappears, language becomes weaponized for selfish ends rather than used for truth and building relationships.
"They speak vanity" (shav yedabberu, שָׁוְא יְדַבְּרוּ) uses shav meaning emptiness, falsehood, deception, worthlessness—the same word used in the Third Commandment: "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain" (lashav, Exodus 20:7). Their speech lacks substance, truth, reliability. Words become empty noise disconnected from reality, designed to deceive rather than communicate truth. This contrasts with God's words (verse 6) which are pure and reliable.
"Every one with his neighbour" (ish et reahu, אִישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵהוּ) emphasizes the universal breakdown of communication. Rea means neighbor, friend, companion—those in close relationship. When even neighbors can't trust each other's words, social fabric disintegrates. The Ninth Commandment prohibits bearing false witness against neighbors (Exodus 20:16), but here universal violation reigns. Jeremiah 9:4-5 describes similar conditions: "Take ye heed every one of his neighbour...they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth."
"With flattering lips" (sefat chalaqot, שְׂפַת חֲלָקוֹת) uses chalaq meaning smooth, slippery, flattering. Flattery speaks pleasant falsehoods to manipulate rather than truthful words to help. Proverbs 26:28 warns: "A flattering mouth worketh ruin." Proverbs 29:5 adds: "A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet." Flattery corrupts relationships by replacing honest communication with manipulative smooth-talking.
"And with a double heart do they speak" (belev valev yedabberu, בְּלֵב וָלֵב יְדַבֵּרוּ) literally reads "with heart and heart." The Hebrew uses two lev (heart) words, suggesting divided loyalty, duplicitous intent, saying one thing while meaning another. James 1:8 describes this: "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." Jesus condemned hypocrisy—saying "Lord, Lord" while harboring disobedient hearts (Matthew 7:21). Double-heartedness represents fundamental dishonesty where words and intentions don't align.