Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 57:4
My 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.
4. A difficult verse, the text of which is perhaps corrupt. Adhering to the punctuation (in the modern sense) of the Massoretic accents, we may render with R.V.,
My soul is among lions;
I lie among them that are set on fire,
Even the sons of men, &c.
i.e. virtually, as the marg., I must lie, an expression of despondent resignation. But the note of despair is out of harmony with the generally courageous and confident tone of the Psalm; and it is more in accordance with the usual force of the Heb. tense (the ‘cohortative’ or ‘voluntative’) to take I will lie down as expressive of strong resolution:
My soul is among lions;
I will lie down to rest among fiery foes,
Even the sons of men, &c.
Though my life is in momentary danger from savage enemies, I will lie down to rest (cp. Psa 4:8) among these fiery foes, secure under God’s protection. The Psalm is an evening hymn, for the Psalmist contemplates ‘waking the dawn’ with his praises ( Psa 57:8). He lies down in danger, he awakes in safety: the night of trouble ends in the dawn of deliverance.
Delitzsch, rightly understanding the words as an expression of confidence, thinks that actual wild beasts are meant, among which he feels more secure than among his deadly foes; but this is scarcely probable.
Neglecting the accents we may render somewhat differently, With my life in my hands (so the idiomatic apposition ‘ my soul, I ’ may be paraphrased) I must lie down (or, I will lie down) among lions: fiery are the sons of men &c.; but the sense will be substantially the same. For lions as a metaphor for fierce and dangerous enemies cp. Psa 7:2: Psa 10:9; Psa 17:12.
whose teeth ] The language is suggested by the comparison of his enemies to lions.
their tongue &c.] The reference may be not so much to slander, as to the blasphemy of which he speaks in Psa 57:3, which pierces him to the heart. Cp. Psa 42:10. See also Psa 52:2 note; Psa 58:6; Psa 64:3; Pro 30:14.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
My soul is among lions – That is, among people who resemble lions; men, fierce, savage, ferocious.
And I lie even among them that are set on fire – We have a term of similar import in common use now, when we say that one is inflamed with passion, referring to one who is infuriated and enraged. So we speak of burning with rage or wrath – an expression derived, perhaps, from the inflamed appearance of a man in anger. The idea here is not that he would lie down calmly among those persons, as Prof. Alexander suggests, but that he actually did thus lie down. When he laid himself down at night, when he sought repose in sleep, he was surrounded by such persons, and seemed to be sleeping in the midst of them.
Even the sons of men – Yet they are not wild beasts, but men who seem to have the ferocious nature of wild beasts. The phrase, sons of men, is often used to denote men themselves.
Whose teeth are spears and arrows – Spears and arrows in their hands are what the teeth of wild beasts are.
And their tongue a sharp sword – The mention of the tongue here has reference, probably, to the abuse and slander to which he was exposed, and which was like a sharp sword that pierced even to the seat of life. See the notes at Psa 55:21.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 57:4
My soul is among lions.
Among lions
Some of you cannot say this, and you ought to be very thankful that you cannot. You live under very favourable circumstances. But there are many that are far less happily placed, and we are bound to remember them, and to sympathize with them. Now, when may a Christian man truly say, My soul is among lions? lie may say this when he is surrounded by those, whether in his home or place of business, who reproach and rebuke, jest and jeer at him, for Jesus Christs sake. Many are so placed. Now, I would speak to such as are amongst these lions–dogs would be almost a better name for them.
I. By way of comfort.
1. You will have fellowship with your Lord and His Church. He and they had to bear what you have, and far worse.
2. You should thereby be driven nearer to God. Be sure that you live near to God.
3. Endeavour to be very calm and happy. Take as little notice of the scoff as ever you can. Very seldom defend yourselves. The hammer strikes hard upon the anvil, but the anvil wears out many hammers.
4. Remember that the lions are chained. See the history of Daniel.
5. If your soul is among lions, there is another lion there–the lion of the tribe of Judah. The Covenanters have said that they never had such Sabbaths in Scotland as when they were hunted amongst the crags and glens by Claverhouses dragoons. Great power, then, attended the Word.
6. You will come out of the lions den unharmed. 7, And soon you shall be among the angels.
II. By way of advice.
1. If you dwell among lions do not irritate them. Some Christians do, and so have made matters bad for themselves. You cannot ram religion down peoples throats, or scold people into it.
2. Do not roar yourself. Do not meet railing with railing, hard words with hard words. Do not get soured in spirits. Overcome evil with good.
3. But do not be cowardly. A lion is afraid of a man if he looks him steadily in the face. Courage is what is wanted.
4. Do not go out alone among them–take your Lord with you.
5. If you feel very weak about it you may pray the Lord in His providence to move you to quieter quarters. But, better still–
6. Ask for grace to stop with the lions and tame them. Sometimes the Christian should say, God has made me strong, I will stop here and fight it out. My Master would have me go where I am most wanted, and so I will stay here. Do not be afraid of sinners, but seek to save them. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 4. My soul is among lions] bethoch lebaim. I agree with Dr. Kennicott that this should be translated, “My soul dwells in parched places,” from laab, he thirsted. And thus the Chaldee seems to have understood the place, though it be not explicit.
I lie even among them that are set on fire] I seem to be among coals. It is no ordinary rage and malice by which I am pursued: each of my enemies seems determined to have my life.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I live in the midst of a generation of fierce and bloody men; which both in Scripture and other authors are oft called lions.
I lie, I have my abode and conversation, even among (which particle is easily borrowed out of the foregoing clause)
them that are set on fire, to wit, of or from hell, as is fully expressed, Jam 3:6; who are mere fire-brands and incendiaries, that are continually breathing out their wrath and threatenings, and incensing Saul against me. The sons of men; whereby he explains what he meant by lions, and tells us they were beasts in the shape of men.
Teeth; which may be considered, either,
1. As instruments of destruction, as they are in lions. Or rather,
2. As instruments of speech, as they are in men; for it here follows by way of explication, as the manner is, and their tongue. And both seem to signify their wicked and pernicious calumnies, of which he every where complains, and particularly in the history to which this Psalm seems to relate, 1Sa 24:10, and by which they designed to promote his destruction.
Are spears and arrows, i.e. they grievously wound my name, and are devised to do me mischief.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. The mingled figures of wildbeasts (Psa 10:9; Psa 17:12)and weapons of war (Ps 11:2)heighten the picture of danger.
whose . . . tongueorslanders.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
My soul [is] among lions,…. Not literally understood; though such there might be in the wildernesses where he sometimes was; but figuratively, men comparable to lions, for their stoutness, courage, strength, fierceness, and cruelty; meaning not his own men, as some think, who were fierce, and of keen resentment against Saul, and would fain have killed him when he was in the cave, had they not been restrained by David, 1Sa 24:4; but Saul, and those with him, who were three thousand chosen men, stout, courageous, fierce, and furious. It is usual in scripture to describe powerful princes, and especially persecuting ones, by the name of lions, Pr 28:15. Achilles, in Homer o, is compared to a lion for his cruelty. The soul of Christ was among such, when he was apprehended by the band of men that came with Judas to take him; when he was in the high priest’s hall buffeted and spit upon; and when he was in the common hall of Pilate, surrounded by the Roman soldiers; and when he was encircled on the cross with the crowd of the common people, priests and elders,
Mt 26:55; and so the souls of his people are often among lions, persecuting men, and Satan and his principalities, who is compared to a roaring lion, 1Pe 5:8; and among whom they are as wonderfully preserved as Daniel in the lion’s den;
[and] I lie [even among] them that are set on fire; of hell, as the tongue is said to be in Jas 3:6; by the devil, who stirred up Saul against David, filled him with wrath and fury, so that he breathed out nothing but flaming vengeance, threatening and slaughter, against him; and by wicked men his courtiers, who kindled and stirred up the fire of contention between them; among these incendiaries, as Junius renders the word p, David was, who inflamed the mind of Saul against him, which he suggests in 1Sa 24:10;
[even] the sons of men, whose teeth [are] spears and arrows; whose words, formed by means of their teeth, were very devouring ones,
Ps 52:4; were very piercing and wounding; calumnies, detractions, and backbitings, speaking against him when absent and at a distance, may be meant; see Pr 30:14;
and their tongue a sharp sword; [See comments on Ps 52:2]; and there was a sort of swords called “lingulae”, because in the shape of a tongue q.
o Iliad. 24. v. 40, 41. p “incendiarios”, Junius Tremellius, Piscator “flammantes”, Gejerus, Michaelis; so Ainsworth, Cocceius, Vatablus, Musculus. q A. Gell. Noct. Attic. l. 10. c. 25.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
4. My soul is among lions. He again insists upon the cruelty of his enemies as a plea to prevail with God for his speedier interposition. He compares them to lions, speaks of them as inflamed with fury or implacable hatred, and likens their teeth to spears and arrows. In what he says of their tongue, he alludes to the virulent calumnies which are vended by the wicked, and which inflict a deeper wound than any sword upon the innocent party who suffers from them. David, as is well known, encountered no heavier trial than the false and calumnious charges which were levelled against him by his enemies. When we hear of the cruel persecution of different kinds which this saint was called upon to endure, we should account it no hardship to be involved in the same conflict, but be satisfied so long as we may bring our complaints to the Lord, who can bridle the false tongue, and put an arrest upon the hand of violence.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(4) Them that are set on fire.Rather, greedy ones (literally, lickers) in apposition to lions. The verse expresses the insecurity of the poet, who, his dwelling being in the midst of foes, must go to sleep every night with the sense of danger all round him. (See LXX.) How grandly the refrain in Psa. 57:8 rises from such a situation.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Among lions “Saul and his courtiers are here ‘lions’ to David, as were the kings of Asshur and Babel afterwards to Israel, (Jer 1:17,) the Roman emperor to Paul, (2Ti 4:17,) and all wicked rulers over the poor people, (Pro 28:15.)” Ainsworth. The imagery of this verse is not unusual to David.
I lie That is, I lie down to sleep.
Among them that are set on fire Men inflamed with jealousy, envy, and malice. To lie down for rest in sorrow and fear was the emblem of calamity, (Job 7:4; Isa 50:11,) and the opposite of peace and happiness, (Lev 26:6; Job 11:19; Pro 3:24.)
Sharp sword Malicious words cut deeper than the flesh.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
A Description Of His Enemies And Their Fate ( Psa 57:4-6 ).
David describes the kind of people whom he is up against, and their desire to trap him, but is confident that, although he feels beset by them, they will fall into their own pit. Meanwhile he exalts the great God Who will cause this to happen.
Psa 57:4
‘My person is among lions,
I lie among those who are set on fire,
Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
And their tongue a sharp sword.’
He describes his enemies as being ‘like lions’, on the prowl for their prey (compare Psa 7:2; Psa 10:9; Psa 17:12. He was very familiar with the depredations of lions (1Sa 17:34). And as being like ‘those who are set on fire’. This may signify those who are inflamed against him, having been stirred on by Saul. Or it may even have in mind an attempt, not spoken of elsewhere, to smoke him out of his hideout. Both descriptions bring out he fierce intent of his enemies. But he lies down without fear among them, unafraid of their teeth or their fiery flames.
His life in the wilderness of Engedi was one of almost unceasing pursuit, as men sought to hunt him down and to envelop him in their flames. But along with his men he lay at rest in the midst of his searching foes, because he knew that God was with him. His enemies might bare their teeth like lions on the prowl, or seek to strike him down with their tongues, but they did not disturb his peace one wit. Indeed, he was not only unafraid, but entered his enemy’s camp at night, in order to demonstrate that had he wanted to he could have slain Saul out of hand (1Sa 26:4 ff.).
Psa 57:5
‘Be you exalted, O God, above the heavens,
Let your glory be above all the earth.’
He makes clear that his courage does not just arise from within himself, but that it is because his trust is in God. Thus he calls on the God to exalt Himself above the heavens as He steps in on his behalf. And he prays that in the same way His glory might be above all the earth. His main desire in what he does is for the glory of God. He knows that God’s purposes surmount all earthly situations. And this is why he can lie at peace among his enemies.
Psa 57:6
‘They have prepared a net for my steps,
My person is bowed down,
They have dug a pit before me,
They are fallen into the midst of it themselves. [Selah
But he is not deceived. he knows that he has to be wary. He knows that his enemies have spread a net in order to entrap him, and have dug a pit for him to fall into. They are using all their wiles as hunters. And it has bowed him down. He finds being constantly on the run and having to watch all the time for what his enemies plot against him very wearing. But he is not afraid, and is assured in his heart that in the end they will fall into their own pit. For God is on his side.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
I beg the Reader to mark this verse, as throwing a light upon this whole Psalm, in proof that it is particularly thus said by the spirit of prophecy in relation to Christ. And if the Reader will turn to Psa 22:16-21 , which is notoriously known and allowed to be a prophecy of Christ, he will find the evidence irresistibly confirming.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 57:4 My 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.
Ver. 4. My soul is among lions ] And so is a lively picture of the Church in all ages. Would any man take the Church’s picture, saith Luther? then let him paint a silly poor maid sitting in a wood or wilderness, compassed about with hungry lions, wolves, boars, and bears, &c. Talis est ecclesia in hac vita, sicut et in historia Danielis pingitur.
And I lie even among them that are set on fire
Even the sons of men
Whose teeth are spears and arrows NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 57:4-6
4My soul is among lions;
I must lie among those who breathe forth fire,
Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows
And their tongue a sharp sword.
5Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.
6They have prepared a net for my steps;
My soul is bowed down;
They dug a pit before me;
They themselves have fallen into the midst of it. Selah.
Psa 57:4-6 These verses characterize the psalmist’s enemies and his God who supports him (cf. Psa 57:2).
1. the enemies
a. like lions
b. breathe fire (or, KB 521 II, to devour, found only here)
c. teeth/words are spears and arrows
d. prepared a trap to catch and kill him but will fall into it themselves (cf. Pro 26:27)
2. God (cf. Psa 57:5; Psa 57:11)
a. be exalted BDB 926, KB 1202, Qal imperative, here heavens refers to the atmosphere above the earth (note parallelism)
b. Your glory be above the earth
3. the psalmist
a. I must lie among. . . BDB 1011, KB 1486, Qal cohortative
b. my soul is bowed down BDB 496, KB 493, Qal perfect
men. Hebrew. ‘adam. App-14.
among: Psa 10:9, Psa 17:12, Psa 17:13, Psa 22:13-16, Psa 35:17, Psa 58:6, Pro 28:15, Dan 6:22-24
set: Jdg 9:20, Jam 3:6
whose: Psa 58:6, Joh 4:10, Joh 4:11, Pro 30:14
tongue: Psa 52:2, Psa 55:21, Psa 64:3, Pro 12:18, Pro 25:18, Rev 19:15
Reciprocal: Gen 31:1 – Jacob Num 17:10 – rebels Num 35:20 – by laying Job 4:10 – the teeth Job 5:21 – be hid Job 41:14 – his teeth Psa 4:2 – O Psa 25:19 – Consider Psa 31:13 – fear Psa 35:15 – they Psa 59:7 – swords Psa 119:121 – leave me Psa 120:4 – Sharp Psa 120:6 – soul Psa 140:3 – sharpened Psa 142:6 – for they Pro 14:3 – the mouth Pro 16:27 – in Jer 2:15 – young lions Jer 9:8 – tongue Jer 18:18 – Come and let us smite Jer 20:10 – I heard Eze 38:13 – with Hos 7:16 – the rage Luk 23:5 – they Luk 23:23 – General Rom 3:13 – with their Jam 3:8 – an unruly Rev 9:8 – and their
Psa 57:4. My soul is among lions I live in the midst of a generation of fierce and bloody men; I lie That is, I have my abode; among them that are set on fire Namely, of, or from hell, Jas 3:6, who are mere firebrands and incendiaries, that are continually breathing out their wrath and threatenings. Even the sons of men Whereby he explains what he meant by lions, and tells us that they were beasts in the shape of men; whose teeth With which they gnash upon me, and with which they would, as it were, tear me to pieces, or eat me up; are spears and arrows Fitted for mischiefs and murders; and their tongue With which they wound my reputation, and load me with their curses, is a sharp sword To cut and give deadly wounds.
57:4 My soul [is] among lions: [and] I lie [even among] them that are set on fire, [even] the sons of men, whose teeth [are] {e} spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
(e) He means their slanderous and false reports.
His enemies were similar to voracious lions (cf. Psa 7:2), and their vehement words resembled lions’ teeth. I wonder if Daniel thought of this verse when he was in the lions’ den (Daniel 6). The soul represents the life of the psalmist. David’s enemies used words as implements of warfare to attack him.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)