Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 58:6-11

In these verses we have, I. David's prayers against his enemies, and all the enemies of God's church and people; for it is as such that he looks upon them, so that he was actuated by a public spirit in praying against them, and not by any private revenge. 1. He prays that they might be disabled to do any further mischief (Ps. 58:6): Break their teeth, O God! Not so much that they might not feed themselves as that they might not be able to make prey of others, Ps. 3:7. He does not say, ?Break... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 58:6

Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth ,.... From the description of the wicked, the psalmist passes to imprecations on his enemies; whom he represents as cruel and bloodthirsty, and as being stronger than he; and therefore he applies to God, who could, as he sometimes did, smite his enemies on the cheekbone, and break the teeth of the ungodly; which is done by taking the power and instruments of hurting from them: and it may be by "their teeth in their mouth" may be meant their malicious... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 58:6

Break their teeth - He still compares Saul, his captains, and his courtiers, to lions; and as a lion's power of doing mischief is greatly lessened if all his teeth be broken, so he prays that God may take away their power and means of pursuing their bloody purpose. But he may probably have the serpents in view of which he speaks in the preceding verse; break their teeth - destroy the fangs of these serpents, in which their poison is contained. This will amount to the same meaning as above.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 58:6

Verse 6 6.Break their teeth, O God! in their mouth (354) From this part of the psalm he assumes the language of imprecation, and solicits the vengeance of God, whose peculiar prerogative it is to repel oppression and vindicate injured innocence. It is necessary, however, that we attend to the manner in which this is done. He does not claim the judgment or patronage of God to his cause, until he had, in the first place, asserted his integrity, and stated his complaint against the malicious... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 58:1-11

The psalm consists of two strophes and a conclusion. The first strophe is one of five verses, and lays down the grounds of complaint ( Psalms 58:1-5 ). The second, which is one of four verses ( Psalms 58:6-9 ), passes sentence, describing the coming punishment. The conclusion ( Psalms 58:10 , Psalms 58:11 ) expresses the righteous man's satisfaction at the result. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 58:1-11

Unjust judges. There is a contrast in this psalm between the unjust judges of the earth, and God the righteous Judge of all men ( Psalms 58:1 , Psalms 58:2 , and Psalms 58:11 ). "Do ye really, O ye gods, speak righteousness? Do ye in uprightness judge the children of men? Nay, in heart ye work iniquities, in the land ye weigh out the violence of your hands" (Delitzsch). This indignant protest is just. Judges have often been false to their trust. They have prostituted their power to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 58:1-11

A bold protest against unrighteous judges. I. THE INVETERATELY WICKED . ( Psalms 58:1-5 .) 1 . Wicked within and, without. ( Psalms 58:1 , Psalms 58:2 .) In heart and deed. 2 . Wicked by nature and by habit. ( Psalms 58:3 .) Go astray all their lives. 3 . Incorrigible. ( Psalms 58:4 .) Like the adder that will not be turned by the voice of the charmer. II. THEIR PUNISHMENT . ( Psalms 58:6-11 .) 1 . They shall be rendered powerless in their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 58:6

Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth. Serpent charmers sometimes, when they have caught their snake, proceed to beat out the poison fangs with a stone or stick. The psalmist, in the first clause, seems to allude to this practice; in the second, he changes the metaphor, reverting to his favourite image of the young lion ( kephir ) . Break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Lord. The "cheek teeth" ( Joel 1:6 ), or principal fangs on either side, are intended. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 58:6-9

"Description passes into imprecation, with an 'Elohim' emphatically placed first" (Cheyne). Metaphors are accumulated. Menace follow menace. The wrath of God is first invoked upon the evil doers ( Psalms 58:6-8 ); then ( Psalms 58:9 ) coming judgment is announced. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 58:6

Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth - The word here rendered “break” means properly “to tear out.” The allusion is to his enemies, represented as wild beasts; and the prayer is, that God would deprive them of the means of doing harm - as wild animals are rendered harmless when their teeth are broken out.Break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Lord - The word used here means properly “biters” or “grinders:” Job 29:17; Proverbs 30:14; Joel 1:6. Compare the notes at Psalms 3:7. The... read more

Group of Brands