Verse 6
6. Break their teeth The allusion is to the custom of extracting the poisonous fangs of the serpent in order to render it harmless and abate the malignity of its nature. This is still practised, though not in every case, according to the writers quoted by Hengstenberg, (Egypt and the Books of Moses.)
Great teeth of the young lions The allusion changes from the fangs of serpents to the great teeth of lions, by which they tear their prey. The imagery is startling. “Young lions” ( כפירים , kephereem) are those in full vigour of youth, and hence more active to destroy; distinguished from גור , ( goor,) a sucking lion, Ezekiel 19:2-3; and from לביא , ( lahbee,) the great or stout lion, stronger but less active, Genesis 49:9; Numbers 23:24; and from לישׁ , ( layeesh,) an old lion enfeebled by age and perishing for lack of prey, Job 4:11; Isaiah 30:6. The sense of the apparently harsh language of this verse is, according to the known import of the metaphors, that as his enemies could not be diverted or appeased, God would disarm them, break their power to envenom or destroy. See the allusions explained Job 29:17; Proverbs 30:14; Joel 1:6. It was not against them personally that the plea was entered, but against their power as officers of government and organized conspirators and persecutors.
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