Psalms 75:4
I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:
Original Language Analysis
תָּהֹ֑לּוּ
Deal not foolishly
H1984
תָּהֹ֑לּוּ
Deal not foolishly
Strong's:
H1984
Word #:
2 of 8
to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causativ
אַל
H408
אַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
3 of 8
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תָּהֹ֑לּוּ
Deal not foolishly
H1984
תָּהֹ֑לּוּ
Deal not foolishly
Strong's:
H1984
Word #:
4 of 8
to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causativ
וְ֝לָרְשָׁעִ֗ים
and to the wicked
H7563
וְ֝לָרְשָׁעִ֗ים
and to the wicked
Strong's:
H7563
Word #:
5 of 8
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
אַל
H408
אַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
6 of 8
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
Historical Context
The "horn" symbolized power and pride throughout ancient Near East (Daniel 7:7-8, Revelation 13:1). Raising the horn meant asserting dominance. Proverbs repeatedly warns against pride (16:18, "Pride goes before destruction"). James 4:6 quotes Proverbs 3:34: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." God's warning here demonstrates long-suffering before judgment.
Questions for Reflection
- What forms of "lifting up the horn" (pride, boasting, self-assertion) characterize modern culture and your own heart?
- How does God's warning before judgment display both His justice and mercy?
- How did Christ's humility (Philippians 2:5-8) reverse the pattern of "lifting up the horn," and what does this teach about Christian discipleship?
Analysis & Commentary
God warns the wicked: "I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn" (Hebrew amarti la-holelim al-taholu v-la-r-shaim al-tarimu qaren). "Fools" (Hebrew holelim) are morally deficient, not intellectually. "Deal not foolishly" warns against arrogant boasting. "Lift not up the horn" uses animal imagery—raising horns signals aggressive pride. God commands the wicked to stop their arrogance. The verse shows divine patience: warning precedes judgment.