Psalm 64:4 kjv
That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
Psalm 64:4 nkjv
That they may shoot in secret at the blameless; Suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear.
Psalm 64:4 niv
They shoot from ambush at the innocent; they shoot suddenly, without fear.
Psalm 64:4 esv
shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear.
Psalm 64:4 nlt
They shoot from ambush at the innocent,
attacking suddenly and fearlessly.
Psalm 64 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 10:8 | He sits in the lurking places... that he may catch the poor. | Secret ambushes of wicked |
| Ps 11:2 | For look! The wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow... | Wicked prepare for hidden attack |
| Ps 31:13 | For I hear the slander of many... they scheme to take away my life. | Conspiracy and hidden plots |
| Ps 35:20 | For they do not speak peace... they devise deceitful plots. | Deceitful plotting |
| Ps 37:12 | The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth. | Wicked plotting against righteous |
| Ps 55:21 | His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords. | Deceitful and sharp words |
| Prov 1:11 | If they say, "Come with us... let us lie in wait for blood..." | Invitation to ambush/secret harm |
| Lam 3:12 | He has bent His bow and set me up as a target for the arrow. | Being a target of attack |
| Jer 18:22 | Let a cry be heard from their houses, when You suddenly bring a band upon them. | Sudden calamity on the wicked |
| Jn 18:20 | Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly... I said nothing in secret." | Contrast with openness |
| Rom 3:18 | “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” | Lack of God's fear as a mark of sin |
| 1 Thes 5:3 | For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them. | Sudden destruction on those at ease |
| 2 Tim 3:12 | Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. | Righteous are targeted |
| Job 24:15-16 | The eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight... in the dark they dig through houses. | Secret acts of wickedness |
| Prov 12:6 | The words of the wicked are lurking to shed blood... | Deceitful words lead to harm |
| Ps 9:16 | The LORD is known by the judgment He executes; The wicked is snared by the work of his own hands. | Wicked caught by their own traps |
| Isa 5:18 | Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity... | Sinful practices, deliberate wickedness |
| Mt 10:16 | “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." | Awareness of evil's cunning |
| Eph 6:11 | Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. | Recognizing hidden tactics of evil |
| Jude 1:4 | For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation... | Stealthy entry of the wicked |
Psalm 64 verses
Psalm 64 4 Meaning
Psalm 64:4 describes the malicious and cowardly tactics of the wicked who plot in secret to harm the blameless. They attack the righteous unexpectedly, with cruel words and actions, demonstrating a complete lack of fear for God or man, and no regard for consequences.
Psalm 64 4 Context
Psalm 64 is a prayer of David seeking divine protection from the plots of his enemies. He vividly describes their cunning strategies and venomous words as lethal weapons aimed at him. The surrounding verses (Ps 64:1-3, 5) portray the wicked as those who "devise mischief," "sharpen their tongue like a sword," and "bend their bows to shoot their arrows, bitter words." The context emphasizes the treacherous and clandestine nature of these attacks. Historically, this aligns with periods in David's life when he faced persistent persecution and deceit from adversaries like Saul or Absalom's conspirators, who often sought to destroy his reputation or life through hidden accusations and unexpected betrayals. The psalm captures the anguish of one who is assailed by hidden foes, whose actions stem from a complete absence of reverential fear towards God.
Psalm 64 4 Word analysis
- That they may shoot (לְיֹרוֹת, lĕyōrôṯ): From the root ירה (yarah), meaning "to cast," "to shoot," or "to point." Here it implies projecting an attack, often with arrows or words. In a biblical context, "shooting" with words means malicious gossip, slander, or false accusations intended to inflict damage rapidly and precisely, like an arrow finding its target.
- in secret (בַּמִּסְתָּרִים, bammisstārîm): From the root סתר (satar), meaning "to hide," "to conceal." This refers to hidden places or concealment, emphasizing clandestine operations, treachery, and cowardice. Their actions are not openly declared but performed in the shadows, suggesting an attempt to avoid detection or accountability, yet confident in their own perceived anonymity.
- at the upright (תָּם, tām): From the root תמם (tamam), meaning "to be complete," "innocent," or "blameless." It describes a person of integrity, ethically and morally sound, without blemish in their character and conduct before God and men. The wicked target the upright precisely because of their righteousness, which implicitly condemns the wicked's own ways.
- suddenly (פִּתְאוֹם, pit’ôm): Without warning, unexpectedly. This highlights the treacherous nature of the attack, catching the victim unprepared. It emphasizes the shock and swiftness with which the evil plot is executed, aiming to disorient and overwhelm the target before they can react.
- do they shoot at him: A reiteration of the covert action, emphasizing the direct and impactful nature of the attack on the unsuspecting victim. The repetition underscores the swift and inescapable manner in which their evil intentions are delivered.
- and fear not (וְלֹא יִירָאוּ, wĕlō’ yîrâ’û): From the root ירא (yara), meaning "to fear," "to revere." This signifies a lack of fear of God, no moral compass, no restraint by conscience, and no concern for divine or human justice. It marks them as godless, emboldened by their own depravity, and believing themselves beyond accountability. This absence of reverence for God is a root cause of their unrestrained evil.
Psalm 64 4 Bonus section
The metaphor of the bow and arrow for destructive speech or action is prominent in ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature and appears multiple times in the Bible (e.g., Ps 11:2, Prov 25:18, Jer 9:8). In Psalm 64, it's used for "bitter words" (verse 3), highlighting the penetrating and painful nature of malicious slander and accusations. The contrast is profound: the wicked "shoot in secret," but God will "shoot them with an arrow" (Ps 64:7), implying a divine counter-strike that is precise, sudden, and ultimately revealing. The vulnerability of the "upright" in this verse underscores a frequent biblical theme: righteousness does not guarantee an easy life, but often invites the hostility of the wicked, requiring constant reliance on divine protection.
Psalm 64 4 Commentary
Psalm 64:4 succinctly captures the insidious nature of spiritual conflict: wicked adversaries operate with clandestine malice, deploying sudden and damaging attacks, whether through slanderous words or physical harm. Their primary target is the righteous, whose blameless character implicitly exposes the darkness of their foes. The profound truth revealed here is the foundation of their audacity: they act without "fear" (יִירָאוּ, yira’u), indicating a complete absence of reverential fear for God. This godlessness permits their unrestrained treachery, believing themselves immune to divine retribution or earthly consequences. Yet, the very act of seeking God's protection in the Psalm anticipates that such unbridled wickedness will not ultimately escape the Lord's sudden and precise judgment (Ps 64:7-8).