Bible Strands
Psalms 41:6
My visitor speaks falsehood; he gathers slander in his heart; he goes out and spreads it abroad.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David speaks as his trusted visitor turns hostile, shifting from the general curse in verse 5 to a specific act of betrayal. The psalmist describes the moment this visitor departs to broadcast malicious talk.
The words — The text highlights שָוְא (shav'), meaning falsehood, and יִקְבָּץ (yikbotz), meaning gathers, which is paired with אָוֶן ('Aven), meaning wickedness. The visitor speaks falsehood and gathers wickedness in his heart before going out to spread it.
The thread — This pattern of hidden malice and outward speech appears in Psalms 12:2 and Proverbs 26:24, where deceit is stored internally before being voiced. The New Testament records similar hostile questioning in Luke 11:53.
Why it lands — The passage demands recognition that betrayal often begins with concealed words before becoming public slander. It calls the reader to distinguish between loyal presence and hostile visitation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.
Cross-references
- Psalms 12:2 They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.
- Luke 11:53 As Jesus went on from there, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose Him bitterly and to ply Him with questions about many things,
- Proverbs 26:24 A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
- Luke 20:20 So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor.
- Nehemiah 6:1 When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left—though to that time I had not yet installed the doors in the gates—
- Jeremiah 20:10 For I have heard the whispering of many: “Terror is on every side! Report him; let us report him!” All my trusted friends watch for my fall: “Perhaps he will be deceived so that we may prevail against him and take our vengeance upon him.”
- Daniel 11:27 And the two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for still the end will come at the appointed time.
- Micah 7:5 Do not rely on a friend; do not trust in a companion. Seal the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms.
- 2 Corinthians 11:26 In my frequent journeys, I have been in danger from rivers and from bandits, in danger from my countrymen and from the Gentiles, in danger in the city and in the country, in danger on the sea and among false brothers,