Psalm 58:8

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 58:8

As a snail which melteth, let everyone of them pass away ,.... As a snail when it comes out of its shell liquefies, drops its moisture, and with it makes a "path", from whence it has its name שבלול , in the Hebrew language; and so the Targum here, "as the snail moistens its way;' which moistness it gradually exhausts, and melts away, and dies: so the psalmist prays that everyone of his enemies might die in like manner. Some think reference is had to the snail's putting out its... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 58:8

As a snail which melteth - The Chaldee reads the verse thus: "They shall melt away in their sins as water flows off; as the creeping snail that smears its track; as the untimely birth and the blind mole, which do not see the sun." The original word שבלול shablul , a snail, is either from שביל shebil , a path, because it leaves a shining path after it by emitting a portion of slime, and thus glaring the ground; and therefore might be emphatically called the pathmaker; or from ישב ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 58:8

Verse 8 8.Let him vanish like a snail, which melts away The two comparisons in this verse are introduced with the same design as the first, expressing his desire that his enemies might pass away quietly, and prove as things in their own nature the most evanescent. He likens them to snails, (355) and it might appear ridiculous in David to use such contemptible figures when speaking of men who were formidable for their strength and influence, did we not reflect that he considered God as able in a... 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 58:6-9

"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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 58:8

As a snail which molteth, lot every one of them pass away; or, "let them be as a snail, which melteth and passeth away" (Revised Version). Snails in Palestine, during dry seasons, often shrink, shrivel up, and disappear from their shells. Like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun; rather, that hath not seen the sun (Professor Cheyne, Revised Version); i.e. "let them be as an abortion" (comp. Job 3:16 ). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 58:8

As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away - Or rather, As the snail which melteth as it goes; that is, which leaves a slimy trail as it moves along, and thus melts away the more as it advances, until at length it dies. Gesenius, Lexicon. The allusion is to what seems to occur to the snail; it seems to melt or to be dissolved as it moves along; or seems to leave a part of itself in the slime which flows from it.Like the untimely birth of a woman - The Hebrew word means literally... read more

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