Psalms 120:3
What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?
Original Language Analysis
מַה
H4100
מַה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
1 of 8
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
יִּתֵּ֣ן
What shall be given
H5414
יִּתֵּ֣ן
What shall be given
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
2 of 8
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
וּמַה
H4100
וּמַה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
4 of 8
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
יֹּסִ֥יף
unto thee or what shall be done
H3254
יֹּסִ֥יף
unto thee or what shall be done
Strong's:
H3254
Word #:
5 of 8
to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)
Historical Context
In ancient Israel's oral culture, where written contracts were rare, a person's word carried legal and social weight. Lying threatened the entire social fabric, making covenantal community life impossible. The question posed here would resonate with a community dependent on trustworthy speech for justice, commerce, and relationships.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does the psalmist frame judgment as a question rather than a direct statement?
- What does personifying the 'false tongue' reveal about accountability for speech?
- How seriously do modern Christians take sins of speech compared to other sins?
- What New Testament passages echo this concern about deceitful speech?
- How might this verse inform Christian conduct in an age of social media and instant communication?
Analysis & Commentary
The psalmist poses a rhetorical question about divine judgment against deceivers: 'What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?' This question anticipates God's judicial response to persistent liars. The interrogative form implies that appropriate punishment exceeds human imagination - God's justice will fit the crime perfectly. The direct address to 'thou false tongue' personifies deceit, treating it as a willful agent deserving judgment. This rhetorical device emphasizes personal responsibility for words spoken. The question format also invites reflection on the seriousness of verbal sin, which often receives less attention than physical violence despite its destructive power.