Bible Strands
Psalms 57:4
My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts—with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses God while trapped among hostile pursuers who seek to trample and destroy him. The words — נַפְשִׁ֤י (naf.shi) translates to "my soul" or "my self," and לְבָאִים֮ (le.va'im) literally means "lions." The thread — This predatory imagery appears in Psalms 58:6 regarding shattered teeth and lion fangs, and in Proverbs 30:14 where teeth function as swords and jaws as knives to devour the oppressed. Why it lands — The text demands recognition that divine rescue operates amid immediate, violent opposition, requiring the reader to anchor hope in God's truth and loving devotion rather than in safe circumstances.
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
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.
Cross-references
- Psalms 58:6 O God, shatter their teeth in their mouths; O LORD, tear out the fangs of the lions.
- Proverbs 30:14 there is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are knives, devouring the oppressed from the earth and the needy from among men.
- Psalms 35:17 How long, O Lord, will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.
- Psalms 55:21 His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.
- Psalms 64:3 who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,
- Proverbs 12:18 Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
- Psalms 52:2 Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit.
- Daniel 6:22 My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.”
- John 4:10 Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
- Judges 9:20 But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”