Psalm 58 8

Psalm 58:8 kjv

As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.

Psalm 58:8 nkjv

Let them be like a snail which melts away as it goes, Like a stillborn child of a woman, that they may not see the sun.

Psalm 58:8 niv

May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along, like a stillborn child that never sees the sun.

Psalm 58:8 esv

Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime, like the stillborn child who never sees the sun.

Psalm 58:8 nlt

May they be like snails that dissolve into slime,
like a stillborn child who will never see the sun.

Psalm 58 verses

Psalm 58 8 Meaning

Psalm 58:8 is a strong imprecatory plea for divine justice against the wicked. It employs vivid and harsh natural imagery to express a desire for the swift, complete, and unceremonious vanishing of evil individuals, as if they never existed or their existence was ephemeral and without impact. The verse asks for their absolute eradication, leaving no trace or legacy.

Psalm 58 8 Context

Psalm 58 is an imprecatory psalm, part of a collection often referred to as Davidic psalms (though its superscription attributes it to David, this is debated by some scholars based on content). The immediate context of verse 8 is a fervent cry to God against "godless rulers" or "wicked judges" (v. 1-2) who practice injustice and pervert justice. The psalmist expresses deep anguish and a sense of betrayal by those who are supposed to uphold righteousness. The psalm systematically calls for their destruction using a series of potent images (e.g., snake charming, lion's teeth broken, flowing water). Verse 8, therefore, continues this passionate plea for divine intervention, asking God to supernaturally diminish and ultimately obliterate the power and presence of these oppressive figures. The historical context reflects a desire for the manifestation of God's perfect justice in a world seemingly dominated by wickedness and unrighteous governance, typical of prophetic denunciations against corrupt leadership in ancient Israel.

Psalm 58 8 Word analysis

• As a snail melts away as it goes (כְּשַׁבְּלוּל תֶּמֶס יַהֲלֹךְ, ke-shabbělûl temes yahălok):
  • כְּשַׁבְּלוּל (ke-shabbělûl): "Like a snail/slug." The imagery points to a creature that appears substantial but leaves a trail of mucus that dissipates, or itself shrivels rapidly in the heat of the sun, literally "melting" or drying out. This evokes an existence that quickly dwindles and vanishes, leaving nothing behind.
  • תֶּמֶס (temes): From the verb מָסַס (masas), "to melt, dissolve, consume." It signifies a process of weakening, dissolving, or vanishing. The snail’s substance, as it were, "melts away," highlighting complete disintegration.
  • יַהֲלֹךְ (yahălok): "As it goes," or "walking." This emphasizes the active process of its vanishing as it moves, making the decay integral to its very movement and existence. The snail's trail, though wet initially, disappears as it travels. This suggests that the very life activities of the wicked lead to their swift, internal decay and ultimate demise, rather than something external causing their destruction.
  • Significance: The first simile emphasizes rapid disappearance, substance reduction, and the idea of leaving no lasting mark. It suggests that their inherent nature or path of evil leads directly to their own obliteration.
• so let each of them be like the stillborn child (אֵשֶׁת נֵפֶל לָא יֶחֱזוּ שָׁמֶשׁ, ‘ēsheth nēphel lā’ yeḥězû shāmesh - Note: The Hebrew construction for the second simile often starts implicitly with "like," or draws connection from the first part, and some translations render the entire phrase of "stillborn child" directly after the first part's completion. The MT reads the stillborn portion after "who never sees the sun" implying a 'as-that-which-never-sees-sun-a-miscarriage' hence different structural parsing can occur. However, the meaning is consistently of a stillborn child. Rephrasing from literal is better: כמו נפלת נשפכת לא ראתה שמש ke-mō nephelet nishpekhet lo’ ra’etah shemesh - "like an efflux miscarriage that has not seen the sun." NIV and other English translations interpret "nephal" and "eshet" to mean stillborn or abortion that doesn't see the sun. For precise focus, will take the imagery.)
  • כְּמוֹ (ke-mo): "Like" or "as." Introduces the second simile for comparison.
  • נֶפֶל (nephel): "Stillborn, miscarriage." This term denotes a birth that does not result in a living infant, a failed or aborted gestation. It signifies an existence that began but was never realized, a life that failed to thrive and contribute to the world.
  • לא יחזו שמש (lo’ yeḥězû shāmesh): "Who never sees the sun," or "did not see the sun."
    • לֹא (lo’): "Not."
    • יֶחֱזוּ (yeḥězû): From the verb חָזָה (ḥazah), "to see, behold."
    • שָׁמֶשׁ (shāmesh): "Sun."
    • Significance: "To see the sun" is a poetic way to signify existence, life, experiencing the world, and coming into the light of day. A stillborn child is one who never emerges into the light, whose life remains unknown, without experience or presence. This image suggests that the wicked will be brought to nothing, never truly leaving a mark, existing as if they never fully lived or had an impact, forgotten and insignificant. It underscores the complete failure of their efforts and their utter lack of legacy or significance in God's eternal scheme.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • As a snail melts away... so let each of them be...: This pairing connects two distinct, potent images of rapid disappearance and non-existence. The first (snail) implies an active vanishing, leaving no lasting trace. The second (stillborn) signifies an entity that never truly entered into being or experienced life, existing without presence or memory. Together, they create a powerful imprecation for total nullification.
  • melts away as it goes: Emphasizes self-dissolution and inherent decay in motion. The very path they tread leads to their undoing and oblivion.
  • never sees the sun: Highlights a life utterly devoid of real impact, acknowledgment, or experience in the realm of the living. It implies eternal obscurity and a lack of any lasting mark.

Psalm 58 8 Bonus section

The imprecatory nature of this verse and the entire Psalm is often a point of modern ethical discomfort. However, within its ancient Near Eastern context and the biblical framework, such language functions not as personal vindictiveness but as:

1. A Cry for Divine Justice: It reflects a passionate belief in God's righteousness and an appeal for Him to uphold His character against injustice that openly defies His law. The psalmist surrenders the matter to God's hands.
2. Prophetic Declaration: These are often predictive, expressing what will happen to the wicked according to God's design, rather than merely a human wish. They are aligned with God's ultimate judgment.
3. Theological Lament: They are an honest expression of profound pain and outrage at evil, demonstrating faith that God is not indifferent to the suffering of the righteous or the actions of the wicked.
4. Symbolic Language: The vivid and sometimes shocking imagery is poetic hyperbole intended to convey the absolute nature of God's desired intervention, not a literal blueprint for human action.The "snail melting" imagery could also metaphorically imply that their own evil choices and character lead to their slow but inevitable spiritual and societal decline, akin to a process of self-consumption, until they fully disappear. The lack of seeing the "sun" might subtly point to their lack of partaking in the true "Light of the World" (Christ) and enduring divine presence, indicating eternal darkness or separation from God.

Psalm 58 8 Commentary

Psalm 58:8 delivers a forceful declaration of faith in God's ultimate justice. The psalmist, observing the thriving of the wicked and their perversion of justice, does not seek personal revenge but earnestly calls upon the righteous Judge of all the earth to act. The imagery of the "snail melting away" paints a picture of quick and self-initiated disappearance. Like a snail or slug that leaves a watery trail that evaporates, or shrivels into nothing under heat, so too does the psalmist desire the wicked to dissipate, their substance, influence, and very presence diminishing to nothingness without an external powerful blow. This suggests an internal weakness or the self-destructive nature of their evil path.

This vanishing is compounded by the second, even more poignant, image of the "stillborn child who never sees the sun." This is a profoundly tragic image, yet it perfectly conveys utter non-existence. A stillborn child, while conceived, never breathes, never truly lives, never steps into the light of the world, and therefore leaves no memory, no legacy, no trace of having ever existed as a living being. For the wicked, this implies their actions and lives will ultimately come to naught; they will have no lasting impact, no heritage, and will be utterly forgotten in the divine scheme. They will not even endure long enough to establish themselves, let alone witness the light of divine approval or success.

In essence, the verse is a poetic prayer asking God to execute justice in such a way that the wicked are stripped of all substance, memory, and any perceived triumph, disappearing as though they had never been. It reflects a belief that divine justice is not just retributive but also redemptive, clearing the stage for righteousness to prevail. It teaches trust in God's timing and method of justice, emphasizing that human wickedness, however powerful it appears, is ultimately fleeting and without eternal substance.