Psalms 64:3
Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
Original Language Analysis
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
1 of 8
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
שָׁנְנ֣וּ
Who whet
H8150
שָׁנְנ֣וּ
Who whet
Strong's:
H8150
Word #:
2 of 8
to point (transitive or intransitive); intensively, to pierce; figuratively, to inculcate
כַחֶ֣רֶב
like a sword
H2719
כַחֶ֣רֶב
like a sword
Strong's:
H2719
Word #:
3 of 8
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם
their tongue
H3956
לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם
their tongue
Strong's:
H3956
Word #:
4 of 8
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,
דָּרְכ֥וּ
and bend
H1869
דָּרְכ֥וּ
and bend
Strong's:
H1869
Word #:
5 of 8
to tread; by implication, to walk; also to string a bow (by treading on it in bending)
חִ֝צָּ֗ם
their bows to shoot their arrows
H2671
חִ֝צָּ֗ם
their bows to shoot their arrows
Strong's:
H2671
Word #:
6 of 8
properly, a piercer, i.e., an arrow; by implication, a wound; figuratively, (of god) thunder-bolt; the shaft of a spear
Cross References
Psalms 57:4My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.Psalms 58:7Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.Proverbs 12:18There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.Jeremiah 9:3And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.Isaiah 54:17No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.Psalms 11:2For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
Historical Context
Ancient warfare involved both swords (close combat) and arrows (distance attacks), making the metaphor comprehensive. Verbal assault in ancient courts could be as deadly as weapons, as false accusations often resulted in execution.
Questions for Reflection
- How does recognizing verbal assault as deliberate warfare change your response to slander?
- What spiritual armor defends against 'arrows' of destructive words?
Analysis & Commentary
The metaphor of tongues as swords and words as arrows depicts verbal assault as warfare. The Hebrew 'shanan' (sharpen/whet) indicates deliberate preparation, not spontaneous anger. 'Bend their bows' suggests aimed, intentional harm. This anticipates James's teaching on the tongue as a deadly weapon (James 3:5-8), showing that slander requires the same spiritual vigilance as physical warfare.