Psalm 58 7

Psalm 58:7 kjv

Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.

Psalm 58:7 nkjv

Let them flow away as waters which run continually; When he bends his bow, Let his arrows be as if cut in pieces.

Psalm 58:7 niv

Let them vanish like water that flows away; when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.

Psalm 58:7 esv

Let them vanish like water that runs away; when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted.

Psalm 58:7 nlt

May they disappear like water into thirsty ground.
Make their weapons useless in their hands.

Psalm 58 verses

Psalm 58 7 Meaning

Psalm 58:7 is an appeal to God for the destruction of the wicked and unrighteous. The psalmist calls upon God to cause these enemies to utterly vanish and lose their power, using vivid imagery. Firstly, they are prayed to melt away like rapidly disappearing waters, symbolizing complete disintegration and futility. Secondly, when they attempt to use their weapons (symbolized by a drawn bow and arrows), the psalmist asks that their means of attack become useless, as if their arrows are blunted or broken, rendering them harmless and ineffective. This reflects a plea for divine intervention against those who actively pursue injustice and oppression.

Psalm 58 7 Context

Psalm 58 is an imprecatory psalm, part of a collection where the psalmist appeals directly to God for judgment against the wicked. The overall chapter is a strong indictment against unrighteous rulers or judges who, though appearing righteous in position, carry out injustice from the heart. They are described as inherently evil, deaf to truth, venomous, and performing injustice from birth. Verse 7, along with the surrounding verses (6-9), comprises a series of powerful pleas for God to intervene and decisively neutralize their power and presence. Historically, such psalms emerged from a context where divine justice was invoked because human systems had failed or were corrupted, reflecting a deep spiritual understanding that ultimate justice rests with the Creator. The psalmist is not acting on personal vendetta but on behalf of divine righteousness and the protection of the innocent.

Psalm 58 7 Word analysis

• Let them melt away:

  • Hebrew: יִמְאָסוּ (yimmā’ăsū), from the root מָאַס (ma'as). While ma'as often means 'to reject' or 'despise,' in this context, especially with the following 'as waters,' it clearly carries the meaning of 'to vanish,' 'dissolve,' or 'melt away.' This points to a complete disappearance and utter loss of substance or presence. It highlights futility and non-existence.

• as waters which run continually:

  • Hebrew: כְמוֹ מַיִם יִתְהַלְּכוּ לָמוֹ (kəmō mayim yithallĕkhū lāmō). 'Waters which run continually' or 'flow away' (יִתְהַלְּכוּ yithallĕkhū, lit. 'go along'). This vivid metaphor emphasizes swift and complete dissipation. Like water quickly seeping into the sand or evaporating under the sun, their existence is envisioned as transient and non-sustaining. It highlights their inability to establish lasting power or effect. This contrasts with God's enduring truth and justice.

• when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows,

  • Hebrew: יִדְרֹךְ חִצָּיו (yidrōḵ ḥiṣṣāw). 'He bends/treads his bow' (yidrōḵ from דָּרַךְ darak - to tread, to bend, to string a bow). This refers to the hostile actions of the wicked, symbolizing their preparation for aggressive attacks or destructive acts. 'His arrows' (ḥiṣṣāw) represents their instruments of malice, oppression, or harm. This phrase captures the malicious intent and readiness to harm others.

• let them be as cut in pieces.

  • Hebrew: כְמוֹ יִתְמַלָּלוּ (kəmō yitmalālā). From the root מָלַל (mālal). This is crucial. While some older translations render 'cut in pieces,' the more accurate and commonly accepted meaning of mālal in this form is 'to wither,' 'fade,' 'decay,' or 'become blunt/dull.' Applied to arrows, it means they lose their sharpness, effectiveness, or destructive potential. This is a prayer for their weaponry and their capacity to inflict harm to become utterly useless, rendering their evil plans impotent.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Let them melt away as waters which run continually": This pairing invokes the imagery of rapid, irreversible disappearance and weakening. It's a prayer for the wicked's strength and influence to be dissolved, just as temporary water flows dissipate without leaving a trace, highlighting the ultimate futility and non-endurance of their corrupt ways against God's enduring will. It points to a wish for them to simply vanish, removing their very presence.
  • "when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces": This juxtaposition presents a scene of the wicked's intent to harm (bending the bow) and an immediate divine counteraction that renders their instruments of harm ineffective. The plea isn't just for their presence to fade but specifically for their malicious capacity to be nullified. It illustrates a prayer for spiritual or physical paralysis of their hostile efforts, showcasing God's power to disarm evil even in its readiness to strike.

Psalm 58 7 Bonus section

The imagery of flowing or running water can sometimes symbolize prosperity or life in other biblical contexts, but here it specifically conveys transience and rapid disappearance. This shows the psalmist's intentional reversal of typical beneficial water symbolism to depict negative cessation. The "melting away" connects with other Scriptural instances where the earth "melts" or mountains "flow down" at the presence of God (e.g., Ps 97:5, Is 64:1), indicating a devastating, unyielding divine power at work. The phrase "cut in pieces" (or blunted arrows) stands in stark contrast to God's own "deadly arrows" (Ps 7:13), affirming that while human wickedness sharpens its tools, God renders them useless while wielding perfect, effective justice. The imprecation seeks not just removal, but also an incapacity to harm, pointing to both spatial and functional nullification of the wicked.

Psalm 58 7 Commentary

Psalm 58:7 expresses a fervent plea for divine intervention against the wicked, particularly those who operate from positions of authority with corrupt hearts. The twin imageries convey a complete and utterly debilitating judgment. Firstly, their existence is petitioned to simply "melt away like waters which run continually," signifying an almost evaporation or disappearance, ensuring no lingering effect or memory. This isn't merely defeat but utter obliteration, suggesting their efforts and influence should dissipate into nothingness. Secondly, the focus shifts to their aggressive capacity: even as they prepare to launch their attacks, their "arrows" (representing all forms of malicious action or weaponry) are prayed to become useless, like blunted or withered shafts. This renders their potential for harm entirely impotent. The psalmist is not suggesting personal retribution but appeals to God, the ultimate Judge, to divest the wicked of both their presence and their power to oppress, thereby asserting divine justice in a world marred by human injustice. It demonstrates a belief that God will dismantle the systems and individuals that work contrary to His righteous order.