Psalms 75:5

Hebrew (Westminster Leningrad Codex)

English Translation

Don't lift up your horn on high. Don't speak with a stiff neck."

World English Bible · Public Domain

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עָתָֽק

ʻâthâq

H6277

“bold”

Noun, Common, Masculine, Singular, Absolute

Appears 4× in the Hebrew Bible
First appears at 1 Samuel 2:3

Full BDB Definition

Origin: from H6275 in the sense of license

TWOT: 1721a

forward, bold, arrogant - of speech

About this verse

These counts appear in no published source. They are computed here, from the morphology-tagged text and Lemma’s own curated glosses. What Lemma adds →

7: words
7: distinct lemmas
Wisdom: section

Notable vocabulary

The rarest word here is עָתָֽק bold H6277 — appearing just 4 times in the whole Hebrew Bible.

Shared distinctive vocabulary

עָתָֽק bold H6277 occurs in 4 verses of the Hebrew Bible. Also found in:

Grammatical profile

2 verbs
4 nouns
1 particle

Verb forms

תָּרִ֣ימוּ Hiphil · Jussive
תְּדַבְּר֖וּ Piel · Imperfect

Hebrew & Septuagint length

In English translation the verse runs 13 words from the Hebrew and 12 from the Septuagint (LXX English) — closely comparable.

A rough comparison of the two English renderings, which tokenize alike — not a word-level alignment.

Word counts can differ between the Hebrew and the Greek without any difference in meaning — e.g. the Hebrew direct-object marker אֵת has no separate Greek word, and Greek often adds the article ὁ.

In the original languages it is 7 Hebrew tokens and 11 Greek tokens — but the two are counted differently (Hebrew bundles its prefixes and suffixes into one token; the Greek is in lemma form), so that isn’t a like-for-like length.

Cross-references

Topical passages linked to Psalms 75:5 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — connected by theme and wording, ordered by reader-vote popularity; previews shown in the World English Bible.

Acts 7:51 "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do.
2 Chronicles 30:8 Now don't you be stiff-necked, as your fathers were; but yield yourselves to Yahweh, and enter into his sanctuary, which he has sanctified forever, and serve Yahweh your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you.
Isaiah 48:4 Because I knew that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew, and your brow brass;
Deuteronomy 31:27 For I know your rebellion, and your stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, you have been rebellious against Yahweh; and how much more after my death?
Ezekiel 2:4 The children are impudent and stiff-hearted: I do sent you to them; and you shall tell them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh.
Exodus 32:9 Yahweh said to Moses, "I have seen these people, and, behold, they are a stiff-necked people.

Cross-references courtesy of OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).

Hebrew and Greek witnesses Masoretic Hebrew ↔ Greek Septuagint

The same verse in the two great witnesses to the Old Testament, shown verse-for-verse.

You’re reading Greek Psalm 74 (Hebrew Psalm 75). The Septuagint counts the superscription, so verse numbers can differ from the Hebrew — chapter-level alignment, not verse-by-verse. Numbering follows Rahlfs.

These are two independent witnesses, not word-aligned to each other, and the Septuagint is shown in lemma (dictionary) form.

Hebrew Psalms 75:5 Masoretic · Westminster Leningrad Codex

אַל תָּרִ֣ימוּ לַמָּר֣וֹם קַרְנְכֶ֑ם תְּדַבְּר֖וּ בְצַוָּ֣אר עָתָֽק

Don't lift up your horn on high. Don't speak with a stiff neck."

World English Bible · Public Domain

Greek LXX Greek Psalm 74:5 Septuagint · lemma form

εἶπον ὁ παρανομέω μή παρανομέω καί ὁ ἁμαρτάνω μή ὑψόω κέρας

Lift not up your horn on high; speak not unrighteousness against God.

LXX2012 (modern English Septuagint) · Public Domain

On this verse, The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges discusses the Septuagint’s reading. Read the note in Commentary ↓

Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (CC BY 4.0). Greek: Septuagint (public domain); English from LXX2012 (modern English Septuagint) (Public Domain). How the Septuagint differs from the Hebrew →

Commentary

Notes on Psalms 75:5 from classic Christian and Jewish commentators (each source and its license shown beneath its notes). The classic Christian expositions comment on the surrounding passage and are grouped to its opening verse, so a note may address several verses; the Jewish commentaries on the Tanakh (Rashi and others) are per-verse, so they appear only where the commentator wrote on this verse.

Lemma curates 59 commentaries, every one of them public domain or Creative Commons licensed, each selected and text-cleaned for this edition rather than reprinted as found. About our sources →

Commentary source

Trapp's Complete Commentary

John Trapp

Psa 75:5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak [not with] a stiff neck.

Ver. 5. Lift not up your horn on high] Against the high God; so Tremellius rendereth it.

Speak not with a stiff neck] Some render it, with an old neck; let old things pass, and now speak with a new and humble throat. Hard words and stout speeches, uttered from a mind vehemently moved out of its place (as the word here used importeth), shall be one day dearly answered for, Jdg 1:15.

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.

The Biblical Illustrator

Joseph S. Exell

Psa_75:5

Speak not with a stiff neck.

Stiff necks

The text is a figure of that pride, stubbornness, or wilful disobedience which refuses to yield to rightful and loving authority.

I. Let me indicate the classes of persons who are morally and spiritually stiffnecked

1. If you resist the conviction of sin, you are stiffnecked.

2. You have shown your stiff neck by despising faithful warnings.

3. Or, it may be, that you have rejected the counsel of godly parents.

4. Your stubbornness in tribulation shows that you have a stiff neck towards God.

II. Let me exhort you to repentance. Let the love of God draw you to turn to Him. (W. Birch.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

J. A. Alexander on Psalms

Joseph Addison Alexander

6. (Psa 75:5). Do not raise on high your horn (and) speak with a proud neck, or speak with (outstretched) neck proudly. The last word is an adjective meaning insolent or arrogant. See above, on Psa 31:18. It may either agree with neck, and signify a position and carriage of the neck indicative of pride (Psa 73:6), or constitute the object of the verb, in which case with the neck may mean with outstretched or prolonged neck, not projecting forwards but inclining backwards. See Isa 3:16, and compare Job 15:26 in Hebrew. For a similar ellipsis, see below, Psa 77:15.

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

Geneva Bible (1599)

Geneva Bible translators

The Prophet warneth the wicked that they would not set themselves against God’s people, seeing that God at his time destroyeth them that rule wickedly.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 5. Speak not with a stiff neck.] Mr. Bruce has observed that the Abyssinian kings have a horn on their diadem; and that the keeping it erect, or in a projecting form, makes them appear as if they had a stiff neck; and refers to this passage for the antiquity of the usage, and the appearance also.

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

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5) Lift not up your horn.—The “horn” is a symbol of honour (Psa_112:9); of strength (Mic_4:13; Deu_33:17). The figure is taken from horned animals. (See 1Sa_2:1; 1Sa_2:10.)

With a stiff neck.—Better, with the neck proudly or wantonly raised.

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

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne

5. speak not with a stiff neck] Better, as R.V. marg., Speak not insolently with a haughty neck. Cp. 1Sa_2:3; and for neck = haughty neck, see Job_15:26. Not should not have been italicised in A.V. A single negative governs both clauses in the Heb. though our idiom requires its repetition. There is an interesting various reading in the LXX, “Speak not unrighteousness against God.” They read in their text the word for Rock, which differs by only one consonant from the word for neck (צואר—צור); and it is noteworthy that this title of God occurs in Isa_30:29. Cp. Hab_1:12.

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.

John Gill's Exposition

Lift not up your horn on high,.... Or "against the most High" (q); as the little horn, or the beast with ten horns, antichrist, does, whose look is more stout than his fellows, and opens his mouth in blasphemy against God, his name, his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven, Dan 7:8,

speak not with a stiff neck; arrogantly, proudly, and haughtily: or "hard things with a neck" (r); hard speeches against Christ and his people with an outstretched neck, in an imperious and insolent manner; for the righteous Judge will convince such of their hard speeches, and condemn them for them; Jde 1:14.

(q) "contra excelsum", Junius & Tremellius. (r) "collo durum", Michaelis.

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

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Lift not up your horn on high - In a proud, self-confident, arrogant manner.

Speak not with a stiff neck - With arrogance and pride; in a haughty, imperious manner. The word rendered “stiff” (literally “a neck of stiffness”) - עתק ‛âthâq - means properly bold, impudent, wicked; and the idea is that of speaking as those do who are impudent, shameless, bold, licentious - indicating confidence in themselves, and a reckless disregard of truth and of the rights of others. The Septuagint and the Vulgate render it, “And speak not unrighteousness against God.”

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

Matthew Poole's English Annotations

Lift not up your horn on high; a metaphor from untamed and stiff-necked oxen, which will not bow their heads to receive the yoke, but lift up their heads and horns to avoid it. Or, against the High, i.e. against God, who is mentioned under this same title, Psa 56:2, though there it be rendered Most High. Speak not, to wit, against me and my government.

With a stiff neck; with pride and contempt of my person, and with rebellion against God’s will declared concerning my advancement, of which you are not ignorant. See 2Sa 3:17,18.

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

The Treasury of David

Charles H. Spurgeon

Ver. 5. Lift not up your horn on high. For their abounding pride there is a double rebuke. A word from God soon abases the lofty. Would to God that all proud men would obey the word here given them; for, if they do not, he will take effectual means to secure obedience, and then woe will come upon them, such as shall break their horns and roll their glory in the mire for ever.

Speak not with a stiff neck. Impudence before God is madness. The outstretched neck of insolent pride is sure to provoke his axe. Those who carry their heads high shall find that they will be lifted yet higher, as Haman was upon the gallows which he had prepared for the righteous man. Silence, thou silly boaster! Silence! or God will answer thee. Who art thou, thou worm, that thou shouldest arrogantly object against thy Maker's laws and cavil at his truth? Be hushed, thou vainglorious prater, or vengeance shall silence thee to thine eternal confusion.

Ver. 5. Horn. The word horn was used in the Hebrew metaphorically to express either honour, as Ps 112:9 132:18, etc.; or strength, Mic 4:13, "I will make thine horn iron." De 33:17, etc. To humble and cast down was often represented by the figure of breaking or cutting off the horn, as here (Ps 75:10). La 2:3, "Cut off all the horn of Israel." To exalt the horn of any one was to bestow honour and dignity upon him; so also, to make it bud. Ps 132:17 89:18 Eze 29:21. Here, to lift up the horn betokens presumption. It was also somewhat later a symbol for kingdom, Zec 1:18, and Daniel. "Four Friends."

Ver. 5. Speak not with a stiff neck. Mr. Bruce has observed that the Abyssinian kings have a horn on their diadem; and that the keeping it erect, or in a projecting form, makes them appear as if they had a stiff neck; and refers to this passage for the antiquity of the usage, and the appearance also. Adam Clarke.

Ver. 5. Arguments against pride in heart, appearance, and speech.

Psalms 75:6*

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

The Pulpit Commentary

Lift not up your horn on high; speak not with a stiff neck. The phrase, "a stiff neck," common in the Pentateuch, (Exo_32:9 Exo_33:3, 5 34:9 Deu_9:6, 13 10:16 31:27) is rare elsewhere. It expresses pride, arrogance, and obstinacy.

The uplifted horn and the stiff neck.

These are two formidable enemies of God and the soul. They are generally found together, as in nature, so in the soul. They help one another in doing evil. They are metaphors derived from the tossing horn and the sturdy neck of the fierce wild bull found in the forests of Palestine. They represent severally the haughty spirit, that is the uplifted horn; and the stubborn will, that is the stiff neck. Let us speak of

I THEIR ORIGINS.

1. The haughty spirit. Many are its roots. The evil heart, seeing the wicked prosper, worldly success, God"s delay of judgment, ill example, and often the possession of a naturally strong will to which other men, as is usual, yield.

2. The stubborn will. This partly natural, partly acquired, and ever fostered by the haughty spirit. Pride cherishes it, and encourages it always.

II THEIR EVIL WORK. God"s Spirit, his Word, his ministers, his providence, Christ"s love, plead, threaten, and warn in vain, and the man dies in his sins.

III THEIR DESTRUCTION. This wrought by:

1. The final awful judgment of God.

2. His providence.

3. His Spirit"s power.

They come in reverse order. But they are effectual, one or other of them. Which shall be so with us? S.C.

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

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Lift not - A metaphor from untamed oxen, which will not bow their heads to receive the yoke. Stiff neck - With pride and contempt.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Rashi

Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)

to the perverse To the wicked, who confuse Israel.

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.

Lesson kit

Teaching starters — assembled from the data on this page, not authored interpretation. Every prompt links to the verse data it draws on. Edit before teaching.

Psalms, in the Wisdom, opens this verse with 7 words (7 distinct Hebrew lemmas). Its most distinctive word is ʻâthâq (“bold”). A historical commentator’s framing appears above. Read the whole chapter for the surrounding context.

Discussion questions

How does “bold” (ʻâthâq) shape what this verse is saying?
How does 1 Samuel 2:3, which shares the word «bold», read alongside this verse?
The translations on this page render this verse differently — a whole-verse word diff, not a word-by-word alignment. What might account for the different wordings?
«תָּרִ֣ימוּ» is a Hiphil Jussive verb. How does that grammatical form shape the action described?
Compare how Trapp's Complete Commentary and The Biblical Illustrator read this verse. Where do they agree or differ?

Things to notice

This verse counts 7 Hebrew ↔ 11 Greek words.
These translations choose different wording for 7 words in this verse.
7 distinct Hebrew lemmas span 7 words in this verse.