Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 55:21

[The words] of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war [was] in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet [were] they drawn swords.

21. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter ] This rendering, though supported by some of the Ancient Versions and commended by the parallelism ( smoother than butter softer than oil), cannot be got out of the text as it stands. This means literally,

Smooth were the buttery words of his mouth.

But an easy emendation gives the sense, His mouth [LXX, face ] was smoother than butter. Smoothness is the Heb. term for false and hypocritical flattery, as we speak of a ‘smooth-faced’ or ‘smooth-tongued’ rogue. Cp. Psa 5:9; Psa 12:2-3.

but war was in his heart ] R.V., but his heart was war.

softer than oil ] Cp. “smoother than oil” (Pro 5:3), of flattering and delusive speeches.

drawn swords ] Ready to stab their victim to the heart. Cp. Psa 52:2, note.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

The words of his mouth were smoother than butter – Prof. Alexander renders this, Smooth are the butterings of his mouth. This is in accordance with the Hebrew, but the general meaning is well expressed in our common version. The idea is, that he was a hypocrite; that his professions of friendship were false; that he only used pleasant words – words expressive of friendship and love – to deceive and betray. We have a similar expression when we speak of honeyed words, or honeyed accents. This would apply to Ahithophel, and it will apply to thousands of similar cases in the world.

But war was in his heart – He was base, treacherous, false. He was really my enemy, and was ready, when any suitable occasion occurred, to show himself to be such.

His words were softer than oil – Smooth, pleasant, gentle. He was full of professions of love and kindness.

Yet were they drawn swords – As swords drawn from the scabbard, and ready to be used. Compare Psa 28:3; Psa 57:4.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 21. Were smoother than butter] He was a complete courtier, and a deep, designing hypocrite besides. His words were as soft as butter, and as smooth as oil, while he meditated war; and the fair words which were intended to deceive, were intended also to destroy: they were drawn swords. This is a literal description of the words and conduct of Absalom, as we learn from the inspired historian, 2Sa 15:2, c. He was accustomed to wait at the gate question the persons who came for justice and judgment; throw out broad hints that the king was negligent of the affairs of his kingdom, and had not provided an effective magistracy to administer justice among the people, and added that if he were appointed judge in the land, justice should be done to all. He bowed also to the people, and kissed them; and thus he stole the hearts of the men of Israel. See the passages referred to above.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

He covered his treasonable and bloody design with fair and flattering speeches.

Drawn swords; pernicious in their design and consequences.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

[The words] of his mouth were smoother than butter,…. Such were the words of Ahithophel, when in counsel with David; and such the words of Judas, when he said to Christ, “hail, master”, and kissed him,

Mt 26:49;

but war [was] in his heart; even a civil war, rebellion against his prince; that was what Ahithophel meditated in his heart; and nothing less than to take away the life of Christ was designed by Judas. The words may be rendered, “they were divided” e; that is, his mouth and his heart: “his mouth [was] butter, and his heart war”; the one declared for peace, when the other intended war; see Jer 9:8;

his words were softer than oil; at one time full of soothing and flattery:

yet [were] they drawn swords: at another time sharp and cutting, breathing out threatening and slaughter, destruction and death.

e , Sept. “divisi sunt”, V. L. Hammond.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(21) The words of his mouth.The ancient versions and the grammatical anomalies point to a corruption of the text. Read, Smoother than butter is his face. The reading face for mouth is suggested by the LXX., though their version has wandered far from the text even thus amended.

Drawn swords.The comparison of the tongue to a sword is frequent; that of the words themselves not so usual, but apt. We may compare Shakespeares

I will speak daggers to her, but use none.Hamlet.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

21. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter It would seem from this verse that Ahithophel had for a long time concealed from David his real purpose of revenge by his courtly address. This exactly suits the view suggested in note on Psa 55:12, which see.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psa 55:21. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, &c. Smooth and deceitful are the buttery words of his mouth; but war is in his heart: his speeches are softer than oil; but they are drawn swords. See Chandler and Houbigant.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

Psa 55:21 [The words] of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war [was] in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet [were] they drawn swords.

Ver. 21. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter ] Full finely he could soothe and smooth me up, while he was my counsellor, with his pithanology.

Mel in ore, verba lactis:

Fel in corde, fraus in factis.

But war was in his heart ] Heb. His heart was war. So in another psalm David saith of himself, “I am peace”; but when I speak of it, they are for war.

His words were softer than oil ] So were Joab’s to Amasa; Judas’s to Christ; Cambyses’ to his brother whom he slew; Andronicus’s to his nobles, put to death by him, while he wept over them, as if he had been the most sorrowfull man alive. Whereupon the historian crieth out, Oh deep dissimulation and crocodile’s tears, &c.! The wiser sort deemed Andronicus’s praisings to be the beginnings of a man’s disgrace; his bounty, his undoing, and his kindness, his death.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)