Psalm 16:4 kjv
Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.
Psalm 16:4 nkjv
Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god; Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, Nor take up their names on my lips.
Psalm 16:4 niv
Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips.
Psalm 16:4 esv
The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.
Psalm 16:4 nlt
Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.
I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood
or even speak the names of their gods.
Psalm 16 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deu 6:14 | You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you, | Warning against following false gods. |
| Deu 12:30-31 | ...inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? ...you shall not do so to the LORD your God. | Prohibition against adopting pagan worship practices. |
| Psa 73:1-20 | ...Surely you set them in slippery places; you cast them down to destruction... How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! | The eventual destruction and sorrow of the wicked/unrighteous. |
| Isa 44:9-20 | All who fashion idols are nothing... they make a god and worship it... there is no deliverer. | The utter futility and powerlessness of idols. |
| Jer 2:19 | Your own evil will chastise you, and your apostasy will reprove you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing for you to forsake the LORD your God. | The inherent sorrow and bitter consequences of forsaking God. |
| Jer 2:27-28 | saying to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ For they have turned their back to me... But in the time of their trouble they say, ‘Arise and save us!’ Where are your gods that you made for yourselves? | Futility of calling on false gods in distress. |
| Hos 8:7 | For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind... it shall yield no flour... | Idolatry brings forth destruction and emptiness. |
| Exo 20:3 | You shall have no other gods before me. | First Commandment, foundational exclusivity of God. |
| Exo 23:13 | You shall not make mention of the names of other gods, nor let them be heard on your lips. | Direct command against naming pagan deities. |
| 1 Chr 10:13-14 | So Saul died for his breach of faith. He did not seek guidance from the LORD but even consulted a medium. | Consequences of turning from God to other sources. |
| Psa 106:37-38 | They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons... and the land was polluted with blood. | Pagan sacrifices, including human, were an abomination. |
| Mal 3:15 | ...indeed, those who do wickedness are built up; they test God and escape. | Temporality of idolaters' prosperity. (Contextual contrast to their ultimate sorrow). |
| Mat 6:24 | No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other... You cannot serve God and money. | The impossibility of dual allegiance. |
| Act 15:20 | ...that they abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. | Apostolic instruction for Gentiles to avoid practices linked to idolatry. |
| Rom 1:21-23 | ...they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened... they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man... | Spiritual emptiness and degradation resulting from idolatry. |
| 1 Cor 8:4 | ...we know that an idol has no real existence, and that there is no God but one. | Acknowledging idols are nothing, reinforcing God's uniqueness. |
| 1 Cor 10:14 | Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. | New Testament imperative to flee from idolatry. |
| 2 Cor 6:14-17 | Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers... What agreement has the temple of God with idols? ...Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord... | Command for believers to be separate from pagan worship and influence. |
| Col 3:5 | Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality... and covetousness, which is idolatry. | Broader definition of idolatry in the New Testament, extending to materialism. |
| 1 Thes 1:9 | ...how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God... | Gentiles turning from idols to the living God. |
| Rev 9:20 | The rest of mankind... did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk... | Unrepentant idolaters face judgment. |
Psalm 16 verses
Psalm 16 4 Meaning
Psalm 16:4 declares the multiplied sorrow that befalls those who passionately pursue and devote themselves to false deities. In stark contrast, the psalmist expresses an unyielding commitment to Yahweh alone, emphatically refusing to partake in idolatrous rituals—specifically rejecting blood libations—and vowing never to acknowledge or utter the names of other gods. This verse underscores the deep distinction between true worship of the living God and the destructive path of idolatry, highlighting both the futility and painful consequences of abandoning the Lord.
Psalm 16 4 Context
Psalm 16 is a "Miktam of David," often translated as "a golden psalm" or a "lasting inscription," suggesting its profound importance and enduring truth. It opens with David seeking refuge in the Lord, declaring his dependence and commitment (Psa 16:1-3). This verse, Psalm 16:4, immediately follows a declaration of David's affection for the saints and the excellent ones on the earth (Psa 16:3). Within this context, Psalm 16:4 serves as a strong contrasting statement: David not only cherishes those devoted to the true God but also firmly disassociates himself from and condemns the worship of false gods. Historically, ancient Israel was perpetually surrounded by polytheistic nations (Canaanites, Phoenicians, Philistines, etc.) whose religious practices involved myriad deities, often associated with fertility rites, human sacrifice, and other abominations. David's declaration is a powerful rejection of these pervasive contemporary beliefs and a testament to the exclusive covenant loyalty owed to Yahweh. It emphasizes that while many might seek comfort or power from idols, only in the Lord is true refuge and ultimate good found, aligning with the psalm's central theme of finding satisfaction and security solely in God.
Psalm 16 4 Word analysis
Their sorrows (עַצְּבוֹתָם - ʿatsbôṯām): This Hebrew term refers to grief, pain, anguish, or physical/emotional affliction. It can also imply distress caused by their idols, or even "idols of pain," cultic objects fashioned for grief. The word suggests the internal torment and inevitable external suffering that accompanies a life lived in spiritual error, a clear contrast to the joy and pleasure found in God's presence as described later in the psalm (Psa 16:11).
shall be multiplied (יִרְבּוּ - yirbû): From the verb "râbâ," meaning to increase, multiply, or become great. This indicates not merely sorrow, but an abundance and growing intensification of suffering for idolaters. Their pain is not static; it will deepen and broaden as a direct consequence of their choices.
that hasten after (יַהֲרוּ - yahărû): Derived from the root "mâhar," which means to hasten, hurry, or rush. In this context, it implies an eager, impetuous, and even passionate pursuit or devotion to other gods. It paints a picture of individuals eagerly choosing or "marrying themselves" to idols, emphasizing their willful and energetic deviation from the Lord. It suggests a covetous or infatuated rush towards that which ultimately brings only ruin.
another god (אַחֵר אֱלֹהִים - ʾaḥēr ʾĕlōhîm): "ʾaḥēr" means "another" or "other," indicating a different one, specifically apart from the true God, Yahweh. "ʾĕlōhîm" is a common term for "gods" or "God." The phrase denotes any deity or object of worship other than the Lord, emphasizing their false and inferior nature in contrast to the singular, living God.
their drink offerings (נֶסֶךְ דָּם - neseḵ dām): "Neseḵ" refers to a libation or drink offering, usually of wine or oil poured out as an act of worship.
of blood (דָּם - dām): The inclusion of "blood" transforms this phrase into a powerfully offensive and abhorrent practice. In Israelite worship, blood was sacred for atonement (Lev 17:11) and was strictly forbidden for consumption or offering to other gods. Pagan cultures, however, sometimes used blood (human or animal) in necromantic rituals, as pledges in covenants, or even for cultic communion, making "drink offerings of blood" a shocking antithesis to clean, acceptable worship and pointing to deeply corrupt and life-defiling practices.
will I not offer (אֶסֹּךְ - ʾesōḵ): A strong declaration of refusal, expressing the Psalmist's resolute abstention from such practices. The first-person singular emphasizes David's personal and unwavering commitment to avoiding any participation in these abominations.
nor take up (אֶשָּׂא - ʾeśśāʾ): From the verb "nâsâʾ," meaning to lift, carry, bear, or take up. Here, it specifically means to utter, pronounce, or call upon. It implies an act of reverence, acknowledgment, or oath-taking.
their names (שְׁמוֹתָם - šəwôtām): Refers to the personal names of the false gods.
into my lips: This part emphasizes the personal refusal to acknowledge, invoke, or pay homage to these false deities through verbal affirmation, oath, or prayer. It's a complete disavowal, protecting his inner life and outer witness from any contamination by idolatry.
Words-group analysis:
- "Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god": This initial phrase sets up a direct cause-and-effect relationship. The eager pursuit of false gods invariably leads to escalating suffering. This is a prophetic warning and a theological truth about the barrenness and destructiveness of idolatry. It contrasts the fullness of joy in God (Psa 16:11) with the growing anguish outside of Him.
- "their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips": This declares the psalmist's personal stance. He refuses both ritualistic participation (blood offerings, the most abominable) and verbal acknowledgment. This two-pronged refusal demonstrates complete separation and absolute devotion to Yahweh alone, rejecting any spiritual or practical compromise with the pagan world. It’s a powerful polemic against the surrounding idolatrous practices.
Psalm 16 4 Bonus section
The strong language concerning "drink offerings of blood" (נֶסֶךְ דָּם) is a theological boundary marker. Blood in the Mosaic Covenant was intrinsically tied to atonement and life (Lev 17:11). Its use in pagan "drink offerings" would have been particularly repulsive, signaling death, defilement, or forbidden communion, possibly even linked to demonic invocation. This practice directly contrasts with the acceptable drink offerings (libations) of wine or oil commanded by the Lord, which symbolized blessing, dedication, and joy in Him (e.g., Num 28:7). Thus, the verse functions not just as a statement of personal commitment but also as a public renunciation of all cultic practices antithetical to the life-giving covenant with Yahweh. This devotion echoes prophetically into the New Testament in Christ Jesus, who perfectly embodied exclusive devotion to God the Father and stood utterly separate from the spiritual idolatries of the world, providing the true and perfect worship that fulfills such devotion.
Psalm 16 4 Commentary
Psalm 16:4 profoundly highlights the inevitable sorrow faced by those who passionately rush after false gods, contrasting this bleak destiny with the steadfast loyalty of the faithful. The pursuit of idols, whether ancient effigies or modern fixations like wealth or self, ultimately yields increasing emptiness and pain, never true satisfaction or deliverance. The psalmist, as a representative of the righteous, makes an unwavering commitment: he will not participate in their detestable rituals, particularly "drink offerings of blood," which likely alludes to human sacrifice or other profoundly defiling pagan practices. This stark refusal is an act of purification and holy separation, reflecting the truth that Yahweh's blood covenant of life stands in opposition to the blood cults of death. Furthermore, his vow "nor take up their names into my lips" signifies an absolute denial of their existence or power. It’s a refusal to give any verbal reverence, acknowledgement, or even casual mention to false deities, reinforcing the sole sovereignty of the one true God and a commitment to singular worship. The verse is a powerful lesson in exclusive devotion and the painful consequences of spiritual disloyalty, calling believers to total commitment to the Lord.