Bible Strands
Psalms 75:4
I say to the proud, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The speaker addresses the proud and the wicked during a declaration of divine sovereignty over the earth's stability.
The words — The phrase תָּרִ֥ימוּ קָֽרֶן (ta.Ri.mu Ka.ren) literally means "lift up a horn," using horn imagery to represent pride or power.
The thread — The horn metaphor for pride appears in the immediate context at Psalms 75:5, while the warning against arrogance echoes in Proverbs 1:22 and Zechariah 1:21.
Why it lands — The text commands the arrogant and wicked to cease boasting and raising themselves up. It requires readers to recognize that pride is a direct rebellion against divine authority rather than a legitimate claim to power.
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
I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:
Cross-references
- Zechariah 1:21 “What are these coming to do?” I asked. And He replied, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise his head; but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations that have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter it.”
- Proverbs 1:22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?
- Proverbs 8:5 O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
- Psalms 82:2 “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
- Psalms 89:17 For You are the glory of their strength, and by Your favor our horn is exalted.
- Psalms 94:8 Take notice, O senseless among the people! O fools, when will you be wise?
- Psalms 148:14 He has raised up a horn for His people, the praise of all His saints, of Israel, a people near to Him. Hallelujah!
- Proverbs 9:6 Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”
- Daniel 7:20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn whose appearance was more imposing than the others, with eyes and with a mouth that spoke words of arrogance.