Psalms 140:4
Psalms 140:4 in Multiple Translations
Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked. Keep me safe from men of violence who scheme to make me stumble.
Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
Keep me, O Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked; Preserve me from the violent man: Who have purposed to thrust aside my steps.
O Lord, take me out of the hands of sinners; keep me safe from the violent man: for they are designing my downfall.
Lord, please keep me from falling into the hands of the wicked; protect me especially from those who are violent, who are plotting my downfall.
Keepe mee, O Lord, from the handes of the wicked: preserue mee from the cruell man, which purposeth to cause my steppes to slide.
Preserve me, Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked, From one of violence Thou keepest me, Who have devised to overthrow my steps.
LORD, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet.
Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
Incline not my heart to evil words; to make excuses in sins. With men that work iniquity: and I will not communicate with the choicest of them.
Yahweh, protect me from the power [MTY] of wicked people. Keep me safe from violent men who plan to destroy me [SYN].
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 140:4
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 140:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
שָֽׁנֲנ֣וּ
לְשׁוֹנָ/ם֮
כְּֽמוֹ
נָ֫חָ֥שׁ
חֲמַ֥ת
עַכְשׁ֑וּב
תַּ֖חַת
שְׂפָתֵ֣י/מוֹ
סֶֽלָה
שָֽׁנֲנ֣וּ
shânan
H8150
to sharpen
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
לְשׁוֹנָ/ם֮
lâshôwn
H3956
tongue
N-cs | Suff
כְּֽמוֹ
kᵉmôw
H3644
like
Prep
נָ֫חָ֥שׁ
nâchâsh
H5175
serpent
N-ms
חֲמַ֥ת
chêmâh
H2534
rage
N-fs
עַכְשׁ֑וּב
ʻakshûwb
H5919
viper
N-ms
תַּ֖חַת
tachath
H8478
underneath
Prep
שְׂפָתֵ֣י/מוֹ
sâphâh
H8193
lips
N-fd | Suff
סֶֽלָה
çelâh
H5542
Selah
Part
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 140:4
שָֽׁנֲנ֣וּ
shânan
H8150
"to sharpen"
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
To sharpen means to make something pointy or to teach someone a lesson. In Psalm 52:2, the tongue is sharpened like a sword, showing its power to hurt or help.
Definition: 1) to sharpen, whet 1a) (Qal) to whet, sharpen 1b) (Piel) to sharpen, teach (incisively) 1c)(Hithpolel) to be pierced
Usage: Occurs in 9 OT verses. KJV: prick, sharp(-en), teach diligently, whet. See also: Deuteronomy 6:7; Psalms 73:21; Psalms 45:6.
לְשׁוֹנָ/ם֮
lâshôwn
H3956
"tongue"
N-cs | Suff
The tongue, used for eating, speaking, or describing a language. In the Bible, it appears in many books, including Genesis 11:1 and Acts 2:4.
Definition: : tongue/words 1) tongue 1a) tongue (of men) 1a1) tongue (literal) 1a2) tongue (organ of speech) 1b) language 1c) tongue (of animals) 1d) tongue (of fire) 1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)
Usage: Occurs in 115 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] babbler, bay, [phrase] evil speaker, language, talker, tongue, wedge. See also: Genesis 10:5; Psalms 126:2; Psalms 5:10.
כְּֽמוֹ
kᵉmôw
H3644
"like"
Prep
This word means like or as, used to compare things. It appears in the Bible to describe similarities or to make comparisons, such as in the book of Psalms.
Definition: adv 1) like, as, the like of which conj 2) when, according as, as it were
Usage: Occurs in 126 OT verses. KJV: according to, (such) as (it were, well as), in comparison of, like (as, to, unto), thus, when, worth. See also: Genesis 19:15; Job 40:17; Psalms 29:6.
נָ֫חָ֥שׁ
nâchâsh
H5175
"serpent"
N-ms
A serpent is a snake, often symbolizing evil, as in Genesis 3:1 where the serpent tempts Eve. It can also represent danger or harm.
Definition: 1) serpent, snake 1a) serpent 1b) image (of serpent) 1c) fleeing serpent (mythological)
Usage: Occurs in 28 OT verses. KJV: serpent. See also: Genesis 3:1; Psalms 58:5; Psalms 140:4.
חֲמַ֥ת
chêmâh
H2534
"rage"
N-fs
This word means intense anger or rage, like a burning fire. It's used in the Bible to describe God's wrath and human anger, often warning against the dangers of unchecked emotions. In Proverbs and Psalms, it cautions against the destructive power of anger and rage.
Definition: 1) heat, rage, hot displeasure, indignation, anger, wrath, poison, bottles 1a) heat 1a1) fever 1a2) venom, poison (fig.) 1b) burning anger, rage Aramaic equivalent: che.ma (חֱמָא "rage" H2528)
Usage: Occurs in 117 OT verses. KJV: anger, bottles, hot displeasure, furious(-ly, -ry), heat, indignation, poison, rage, wrath(-ful). See H2529 (חֶמְאָה). See also: Genesis 27:44; Isaiah 63:5; Psalms 6:2.
עַכְשׁ֑וּב
ʻakshûwb
H5919
"viper"
N-ms
This Hebrew word refers to a viper or asp, a type of venomous snake. It is translated as adder in the KJV Bible and is described as lurking and coiled up, ready to strike.
Definition: 1) asp, viper 1a) asp, viper 1b) perhaps spider
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: adder. See also: Psalms 140:4.
תַּ֖חַת
tachath
H8478
"underneath"
Prep
This Hebrew word means underneath or below, often used to describe physical locations or positions. It appears in various books, including Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to indicate something is under or beneath something else. The word has several related meanings.
Definition: : under/below 1) the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas n m 1a) the under part adv accus 1b) beneath prep 1c) under, beneath 1c1) at the foot of (idiom) 1c2) sweetness, subjection, woman, being burdened or oppressed (fig) 1c3) of subjection or conquest 1d) what is under one, the place in which one stands 1d1) in one's place, the place in which one stands (idiom with reflexive pronoun) 1d2) in place of, instead of (in transferred sense) 1d3) in place of, in exchange or return for (of things mutually interchanged) conj 1e) instead of, instead of that 1f) in return for that, because that in compounds 1g) in, under, into the place of (after verbs of motion) 1h) from under, from beneath, from under the hand of, from his place, under, beneath
Usage: Occurs in 450 OT verses. KJV: as, beneath, [idiom] flat, in(-stead), (same) place (where...is), room, for...sake, stead of, under, [idiom] unto, [idiom] when...was mine, whereas, (where-) fore, with. See also: Genesis 1:7; Deuteronomy 7:24; 1 Kings 20:42.
שְׂפָתֵ֣י/מוֹ
sâphâh
H8193
"lips"
N-fd | Suff
This word refers to lips or language, and can also mean the edge or border of something. It is used in the Bible to describe the shore of a sea or the edge of a cup.
Definition: : lips/mouth 1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding 1a) lip (as body part) 1b) language 1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
Usage: Occurs in 164 OT verses. KJV: band, bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip, prating, (sea-)shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words. See also: Genesis 11:1; Psalms 120:2; Psalms 12:3.
סֶֽלָה
çelâh
H5542
"Selah"
Part
Selah is a musical term in the Bible that signals a pause or interruption in the music, like a rest in a song, often used in Psalms. It is a technical term that sets a moment for reflection and contemplation, as seen in Psalm 3:2.
Definition: § 1) to lift up, exalt 1a) Selah 1a1) a technical musical term probably showing accentuation, pause, interruption
Usage: Occurs in 74 OT verses. KJV: Selah. See also: Psalms 3:3; Psalms 62:5; Psalms 3:5.
Study Notes — Psalms 140:4
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 140:4 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 140:4
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 140:4
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 140:4
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 140:4
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 140:4
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 140:4
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 140:4
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 140:4
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 140:4
- Sermons on Psalms 140:4
Context — Rescue Me from Evil Men
2who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long.
3They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah
4Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked. Keep me safe from men of violence who scheme to make me stumble.
5The proud hide a snare for me; the cords of their net are spread along the path, and lures are set out for me. Selah 6I say to the LORD, “You are my God.” Hear, O LORD, my cry for help.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 36:11 | Let not the foot of the proud come against me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. |
| 2 | Psalms 71:4 | Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and ruthless. |
| 3 | Psalms 17:5 | My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not slipped. |
| 4 | Psalms 55:1–3 | Listen to my prayer, O God, and do not ignore my plea. Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught at the voice of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked. For they release disaster upon me and revile me in their anger. |
| 5 | Psalms 17:8–9 | Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. |
| 6 | Psalms 37:32–40 | Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them, the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned under judgment. Wait for the LORD and keep His way, and He will raise you up to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you will see it. I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree, yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found. Consider the blameless and observe the upright, for posterity awaits the man of peace. But the transgressors will all be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off. The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in time of trouble. The LORD helps and delivers them; He rescues and saves them from the wicked, because they take refuge in Him. |
| 7 | Proverbs 18:5 | Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice. |
Psalms 140:4 Summary
In Psalms 140:4, the Psalmist is asking God to protect him from people who want to hurt him. He wants God to keep him safe from those who are plotting against him. This means that the Psalmist trusts God to be his protector and defender, just like it says in Psalms 23:4, where God is our shepherd and guides us through the valley of the shadow of death. We can ask God for the same protection, trusting that He will keep us safe and help us to live a life that honors Him, as encouraged in Jeremiah 29:11, where God promises to give us a future and a hope.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of people is the Psalmist asking God to protect him from in Psalms 140:4?
The Psalmist is asking God to protect him from wicked and violent people who scheme to harm him, similar to those described in Psalms 140:2-3, who devise evil and stir up war, and sharpen their tongues like snakes.
How does this verse relate to our everyday lives?
This verse reminds us that we all face spiritual and physical dangers, and we need to ask God for protection, just like the Psalmist, as encouraged in Psalms 121:7-8, where God promises to keep us and protect us.
What does it mean to 'make me stumble' in Psalms 140:4?
To 'make me stumble' means to cause the Psalmist to sin or fall into trouble, which is a tactic of the enemy, as described in 1 Peter 5:8, where Satan is like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
How can we apply this verse to our prayer life?
We can apply this verse by regularly asking God to protect us from harm and evil, and to keep us safe, just like the Psalmist, and also to trust in God's sovereignty and goodness, as expressed in Romans 8:28, where all things work together for our good.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can be made to stumble, and how can I ask God for protection in those areas?
- How do I currently ask God for protection, and are there areas where I need to be more intentional about seeking His help?
- What are some 'schemes' that the enemy uses to try to harm me, and how can I be aware of them and ask God for protection?
- How can I balance my need for God's protection with my responsibility to make wise choices and live a godly life, as encouraged in Proverbs 3:5-6?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 140:4
Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked,.... From falling into their hands, and the weight of them); and from their laying hands on him, being men of power and authority; preserve me from the
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 140:4
Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings. Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man - (cf.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 140:4
Whose design and full resolution it is, if thou dost not prevent it, to overthrow my goings, or my feet or footsteps, i.e. to throw me down to the ground, to defeat all my hopes and counsels, and bring me to ruin.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 140:4
Psalms 140:4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.Ver. 4. Keep me] Who am thus sought and set for; but thou canst rescue me. To overthrow my goings] Praecipitare, to hurl me down headlong.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 140:4
(4) Overthrow my goings.—Literally, thrust aside my steps. The verse is a repetition, with variation, of Psalms 140:1.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 140:4
Verse 4. Preserve me from the violent man] Saul again; who was as headstrong and violent in all his measures, as he was cruel, and inflexibly bent on the destruction of David.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 140:4
4, 5. Repeated prayer for deliverance from their plots.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 140:4
Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked ... - See the notes at Psalms 71:4. This is a repetition of the prayer in Psalms 140:1.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 140:4
4. Keep me—A repetition of the prayer of Psa 140:1. Goings—The word may mean either feet, or the steps of his feet.
Sermons on Psalms 140:4
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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David's Prayer for Deliverance by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the distress and brokenness that can be felt in life. He uses the analogy of chopping wood and the scattered chips to describe the scat |
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Studies in Psalm 16:-01 by James K. Boswell | In this sermon, the speaker begins by discussing how people often use technology without fully understanding how it works. He then shares a story about a doctor who operated on a b |
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Fearfulness in the Presence of the Lord by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the power of faith and trust in God's plan. He uses the story of Gideon from the book of Judges to illustrate this point. Gideon was called |
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Root of Bitterness by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the dangers of harboring hatred in one's heart. He explains that hatred is deceptive and can blind individuals to their true relationship wi |
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The Danger of Meddling by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the dangers of meddling with sinful behaviors. He emphasizes that when we yield ourselves to sin, it can lead to enslavement and destruction |
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(How to Understand the Kjv Bible) 38 Psalm 55 by Keith Simons | Keith Simons explores Psalm 55, reflecting on the betrayal of King David by his trusted advisor Ahithophel, paralleling it with Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus. The psalm expres |
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Psalm 55 by Henry Law | Henry Law preaches about David's unwavering trust in God amidst his troubles, finding refuge and deliverance in Him despite facing continuous challenges and betrayals. David's pray |