Psalms 140:11

Psa 140:11 Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow [him].

Ver. 11. Let not an evil speaker] Heb. a man of tongue, whereof Geraldus reckoneth up twenty-four several sins; a world of wickedness, St James calleth it, Jas 3:6

Evil shall hunt the violent man] The angel of death shall hunt him into hell, saith the Chaldee. Of the blackbird’s excrements is made bird lime, to catch him. Gaius Marius was slain with the sword he made when he was a cutler. Propiis pennis perire grave est, was Julian’s motto. God’s judgments against sinners are feathered from themselves, as a fowl shot with an arrow feathered from her own body.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

12. (Psa 140:11) A man of tongue shall not be established in the land, (nor) a man of violence, a bad (man)—he shall hunt him to destruction. A man of a calumnious unbridled tongue (Jas 1:26) shall not be permanently seated in a prosperous condition. See above, on Psa 101:7; Psa 102:28. The next words may be variously construed; a man of wicked violence, or, disregarding the accents, a man of violence, evil shall hunt him, etc. According to the other constructions, God is the subject of the verb, as of the second in Psa 140:10. To destructions, the plural form denoting fulness and completeness. Others render it by strokes, i.e. successive strokes; others again, in haste, which agrees well with the usage of the verbal root. See 2Ch 26:20, Est 3:15; Est 6:12; Est 8:14.

Joseph Addison Alexander, The Psalms Translated and Explained (1850) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

God’s plagues shall light upon him in such sort, that he shall not escape.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 11. Let not an evil speaker be established] איש לשון ish lashon, "a man of tongue." There is much force in the rendering of this clause in the Chaldee גבר דמשתעי לישן תליתי gebar demishtai lishan telithai, "The man of detraction, or inflammation, with the three-forked tongue." He whose tongue is set on fire from hell; the tale-bearer, slanderer, and dealer in scandal: with the three-forked tongue; wounding three at once: his neighbour whom he slanders; the person who receives the slander; and himself who deals in it. What a just description of a character which God, angels, and good men must detest! Let not such a one be established in the land; let him be unmasked; let no person trust him; and let all join together to hoot him out of society. "He shall be hunted by the angel of death, and thrust into hell." - CHALDEE.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

11. The man of tongue, “A man, of tongue, i.e., of evil tongue; a slanderer or detractor.” — Phillips. The Bible translation renders the phrase “an evil speaker;” and the Chaldee Paraphrase has “the man of detraction, with a three-forked tongue;” because such a man wounds three at once — the receiver, the sufferer, and himself.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

(11) An evil speaker.—Literally, as in LXX. and Vulg., a man of tongue; (Comp. Sir_8:3; Job_11:2.) margin,” man of lips.” It is hardly possible to resist the suggestion that some particular person, noted for the loudness or violence of his speech, was intended.

Evil shall hunt . . .—Comp. Pro_13:21 and Horace, Odes iii. 2, Conington’s translation:

“Though vengeance halt, she seldom leaves

The wretch whose flying step she hounds.’

To overthrow.—The Hebrew is a noun, formed from a root meaning “to thrust,” and literally means either to destruction or with hasty pursuit. Some render “with successive thrusts;” but this is hardly a hunting figure.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

11. A slanderer shall not be established in the land] Cp. Psa_101:5.

to overthrow him] Again the idea is that of the evil which he devises for others relentlessly pursuing him, lit. with thrust upon thrust. Cp. Psa_35:5-6; Pro_13:21. The Targ. paraphrases, “misfortune shall hunt the violent man; the angel of death shall drive him down to hell.”

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth,.... One that sets his mouth against the heavens, and speaks evil of God; of his being, perfections, purposes, and providences: whose tongue walks through the earth, and speaks evil of all men, even of dignities; and especially of the saints of the most High, and of the Gospel and ways of Christ. Or, "a men of tongue" (q); that uses his tongue in an ill way, in detractions and slanders (r); in blaspheming God, his name and tabernacle, and those that dwell therein, as antichrist, Rev 13:5; a man that calumniates with a triple tongue, so the Targum; like a serpent, whose tongue seems to be so sometimes. Kimchi applies this to Doeg, and Jarchi to Esau. The request is, that such an one might not be established in the earth; in the land of the living, as the Targum; might not increase and flourish in worldly substance, or be continued in his posterity; but be rooted out of the earth, and he and his be no more; see Psa 3:4;

evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him; or "to impulsions" (s): to drive him from evil to evil, as Kimchi. The sense is, that the evil of punishment shall hunt him, as a beast of prey is hunted; it shall closely pursue him and overtake him, and seize on him, and thrust him down to utter ruin and destruction. The Targum is,

"the injurious wicked man, let the angel of death hunt, and drive into hell.''

Of the violent man, see Psa 140:1; he who purposed to overthrow David, he was persuaded would be overthrown himself. This clause teaches us how to understand the rest; for though they are delivered out as wishes and imprecations, yet are prophetic, and are strongly expressive of the certainty of the things imprecated.

(q) "vir linguae", Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius, Gejerus, Michaelis. (r) So the word "tongue" is used in Cicero, "Si linguas minus facila possimus", Epist. l. 9. 2. (s) "ad impulsiones", Montanus.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Let not an evil speaker - literally, “A man of tongue.” That is, a man whom the tongue rules; a man of an unbridled tongue; a man who does not control his tongue. See the notes at Jam 3:2-12.

Be established in the earth - Be successful or prosperous; let him not carry out his designs. It is not desirable that a man should prosper in such purposes; and therefore, this is not a prayer of malignity, but of benevolence.

Evil shall hunt the violent man ... - More literally, “A man of violence - a bad man - they shall hunt him down speedily;” or, “let him be hunted down speedily. Let him who forms a project of violence and wrong - a bad man - be hunted as the beasts of prey are, and let his destruction come quickly.” Margin, “Let him be hunted to his overthrow.” But the explanation now given suits the connection, and is a literal expression of the sense of the original.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

An evil speaker; such as slander me and other innocent persons, to exasperate princes against us.

Evil; either the evil of punishment; or, which comes to the same thing, the evil of sin, their own wickedness, which shall recoil upon themselves.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Ver. 11. Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth. For that would be an established plague, a perpetual curse. Men of false and cruel tongues are of most use when they go to fatten the soil in which they rot as carcases: while they are alive they are the terror of the good, and the torment of the poor. God will not allow the specious orators of falsehood to retain the power they temporarily obtain by their deceitful speaking. They may become prominent, but they cannot become permanent. They shall be disendowed and disestablished in spite of all that they can say to the contrary. All evil bears the element of decay within itself; for what is it but corruption? Hence the utmost powers of oratory are insufficient to settle upon a sure foundation the cause which bears a lie within it. Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him. He hunted the good, and now his own evil shall hunt him. He tried to overthrow the goings of the righteous, and now his own unrighteousness shall prove his overthrow. As he was violent, so shall he be violently assaulted and hunted down. Sin is its own punishment; a violent man will need no direr doom than to reap what he has sown. It is horrible for a huntsman to be devoured by Iris own hounds; yet this is the sure fate of the persecutor.

Ver. 11. Let not an evil speaker a man full of tongue be established, etc. The man given to talk, the liar, the flatterer, the detractor, the scold, the brawler, "shall not be established in the earth", for such people are abhorred by the wicked as well as by the good. Robert Bellarmine.

Ver. 11. Let not an evil speaker be established, etc. The positions laid down in this verse will find abundant illustration in every age of the church. "An evil speaker", who takes delight in wounding the reputation of others, is seldom established or prospered in the earth. Providence fights against such an unhappy wretch. "The violent man", the ishmaelite whose hand is against every man, is in general overthrown by the very same weapons which he wields against others. John Morison.

Ver. 11. An evil speaker. By "a man of the tongue", as the original has it, the Hebrews express a detractor or sycophant; one who gives his tongue the liberty to vent what mischief lie pleases. The Chaldee here expresses it by a delator or vile informer with a threefold or three forked tongue;because such a man wounds three at once; the receiver, the sufferer, and himself. Thomas Fenton.

Ver. 11. Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him. 'Tis an allusion to hounds that are of a quick scent, and pursue the game with pleasure; they do not see the deer or the hare, yet they follow upon the scent; and though they have sometimes a very cold and dead scent, yet they will follow and work it out. Thus "evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him"; and though sometimes he hath, as it were, got out of the view or sight of evil, and thinks himself under covert, yet these evils, like a company of greedy hounds, will pursue till they have overtaken and overthrown him. Joseph Caryl.

Ver. 11. (first clause.)

1. Notice a few varieties of evil speakers.

a) Liars; the common liar, the trade liar, the stock exchange liar, the political liar, etc.

b) Scandal mongers.

c) Blasphemers and swearers.

d) Libertines and seducers.

e) Sceptics and new theology inventors.

2. The propriety of the prayer.

a) Because evil speaking is intrinsically an evil thing.

b) It is an extensively injurious thing.

c) He who would have God's truth established must needs desire that evil speaking must fail.

3. The limitation of the prayer: "In the earth."

a) It is certain an evil speaker cannot be established in heaven, nor in hell.

b) The earth is the only sphere of his influence; but, alas! men on the earth are too prone to be influenced by him.

c) Then, become righteous and true, by faith in the Righteous One and the "Truth." J. F.

Ver. 11. (second clause.) The Cruel Hunter pursued by his own Dogs.

Ver. 11. (second clause.) ThemeSins committed, and not repented of, pursue men to their ruin.

1. Illustrate.

a) They may raise a force of opposition from men. Tarquin, Napoleon, etc.

b) They may precipitate ruin, as Haman was hunted by his own sin to the gallows.

c) They may arouse destructive remorse, as in Judas.

d) Certainly they will pursue to the judgment seat, and hunt the soul into hell.

2. Apply.

a) How fearful a thing must sin be.

b) The mole terrible because self created.

c) Flee from the avenging pursuers to Christ, the only and safe refuge. J. F.

Ver. 11. (second clause.) The hunt and pursuit of the violent sinner.

1. The progress of the chase.

a) At first the victim is ignorant of it.

b) But ere long he finds Scripture, conscience, God, Death, at his heels.

c) His own sins cry loudest after him.

2. The issue of the hunt. Hemmed in, overthrown, lost for ever, unless he repent.

3. Another Huntsman. "The Son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost." W. B. H.

Psalms 140:12*

Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

11. An evil speaker—Hebrew, A man of tongue. An idle tattler, a slanderer. In Ecc_10:11, “babbler,” is lord of the tongue—one who subjects his tongue to no restraint. Later in life David enacted, in regard to his house and court, “He that telleth lies shall not be established in my sight,” Psa_101:7. The sharp Athnach, after “evil,” terminating the line at that word, connects it with violence as an adjective, and makes the sentence parallel to the preceding. The whole verse would then read: “The man of tongue shall not be established in the earth; nor the man of evil violence; he [God] shall hunt him,” etc. But ancient and modern authority generally sets aside the present pointing, ending the line at the preceding word, and makes “evil” the subject of the verb, as in the English version.

Hunt… to overthrow—Chase to headlong ruin. The idea of the word rendered “overthrow” is that of precipitate ruin.

Evil—The consequences of their evil doing—shall pursue them to speedy, down-rushing destruction. Bythner: To precipices. Hengstenberg: Pursue him, thrust upon thrust.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth; literally, a man of tongue shall not be established is the land a man, i.e., of pretence and seeming, who talks grandly, but effects nothing. Such a one shall not obtain permanent establishment as a power in the land. Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him; literally, to destructions a plural of completeness.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

descend May the coals descend on them. Let them lie upon them until they sink and become extinguished by themselves. The body will thus disintegrate and disappear.

He will cast them into fire He Who casts and avenges [will cast them] into the fire of Gehinnom. in wars He will cast them so that they will no longer rise.

in wars Heb. במהמרות, in wars and strife, an expression of (Deut. 9: 4): “You have been rebellious (ממרים).”

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.