Psalm 64 5

Psalm 64:5 kjv

They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

Psalm 64:5 nkjv

They encourage themselves in an evil matter; They talk of laying snares secretly; They say, "Who will see them?"

Psalm 64:5 niv

They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, "Who will see it?"

Psalm 64:5 esv

They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, "Who can see them?"

Psalm 64:5 nlt

They encourage each other to do evil
and plan how to set their traps in secret.
"Who will ever notice?" they ask.

Psalm 64 verses

Psalm 64 5 Meaning

Psalm 64:5 describes the intense and covert planning of wicked individuals. They fortify their evil intent, discussing among themselves how to secretly set traps, all while confidently asserting that no one, especially God, will observe their hidden machinations. This verse reveals their resolute determination in wickedness, their conspiratorial secrecy, and their profound error in believing they can escape detection and consequences.

Psalm 64 5 Context

Psalm 64 is a lament psalm attributed to David, expressing his distress and fervent prayer to God for protection from hidden enemies. The surrounding verses in the chapter depict these adversaries as a secretive group, sharpening their tongues like swords (v. 3), shooting "bitter words" (v. 4), and now in verse 5, actively fortifying their evil scheme and meticulously planning secret ambushes. The psalm's atmosphere is one of unseen threats and concealed malice. Historically, this aligns with various periods of David's life where he faced cunning plots, betrayals, and attempts on his life, such as those from King Saul or Absalom. The psalmist's complaint against unseen adversaries who believe themselves unobserved sets up the subsequent plea for divine intervention and the psalmist's confident assurance that God indeed sees and will act (v. 7-10).

Psalm 64 5 Word analysis

• They encourage themselves (יְחַזְּקוּ־לָהֶם - yəḥazzəqū-lāhem):
  • Yəḥazzəqū comes from the root ḥāzaq, meaning "to be strong, firm, brave." It implies not just encouragement, but a strengthening or steeling of one's resolve. The suffix lāhem ("to themselves" or "for themselves") emphasizes this is an internal, self-initiated resolve, not external encouragement. They are firmly establishing or solidifying their commitment to evil, girding themselves for wicked actions. This points to a determined and premeditated malice.
• in an evil matter (דָּבָר רָע - dāḇār rāʿ):
  • Dāḇār can mean "word," "thing," "matter," "affair," or "purpose." Rāʿ means "evil," "wicked," "bad." Together, it signifies a wicked scheme, an evil plan, or a bad deed. The combination stresses that their strengthening is precisely in the direction of specific, malicious objectives, not just a general wickedness.
• they commune of laying snares privily (יְסַפְּרוּ לִטְמוֹן מוֹקְשִׁים - yəṣapərrū liṭmōwn môqšîm):
  • Yəṣapərrū (from sāphar) means "to recount," "to declare," "to speak," or "to discuss." This indicates a conspiratorial discussion, a planning session where they detail their methods.
  • Liṭmōwn (from ṭāman) means "to hide," "to conceal," "to bury." This directly emphasizes the clandestine nature of their operations – it's not merely laying snares, but laying them secretly.
  • Môqšîm (plural of môqēš) refers to "snares," "traps," "nets." This is common biblical imagery for the wicked's attempts to capture or harm the innocent. These are devious devices designed to ensnare their victims.
• they say, Who shall see them? (אָמְרוּ מִי יִרְאֵנוּ - ’āmrū mî yir’ennū):
  • ’Āmrū means "they said" or "they say." It's a statement, an assertion.
  • Mî yir’ennū literally "who sees us?" (though translated "who shall see them" or "who will see us"). This is the crux of their presumptuous folly. It reveals their self-deception and lack of fear of God. They assume invisibility and impunity, believing their secretive methods will entirely elude detection, both human and divine. This assertion stands as a polemic against God's omniscience and omnipotence.

Words-group analysis:

• "They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily": This first part details the internal resolve and external conspiratorial action. The "encouragement" is not moral but an act of bolstering one's resolve for nefarious purposes. The "communing" signifies collaboration, detailed planning, and shared culpability for the "privily laid snares." This combination highlights a well-organized, deliberate, and secretive malicious campaign against the righteous.
• "they say, Who shall see them?": This short, declarative question exposes their fundamental error. It encapsulates their spiritual blindness, their arrogant confidence in their hiddenness, and their rejection of divine accountability. This thought reveals a deep-seated contempt for both human justice and, more significantly, God's all-seeing eye. It's a hallmark of those who walk in darkness, imagining they are unobserved by the Light.

Psalm 64 5 Bonus section

The active and internal self-encouragement (yəḥazzəqū-lāhem) for an "evil matter" indicates that wickedness isn't always born of weakness or desperation but can be a deliberate cultivation of malice. This "self-talk" for evil contrasts sharply with the biblical call for believers to "encourage one another daily" (Heb 3:13) in goodness. The phrase "who shall see them?" encapsulates an inherent defiance of moral order and divine surveillance, foundational to much of humanity's sin, particularly when committed covertly. This hiddenness gives a false sense of security, which Scripture consistently dismantles, promising exposure and judgment for every hidden deed. This perspective teaches the necessity of living transparently before God, understanding that nothing escapes His gaze.

Psalm 64 5 Commentary

Psalm 64:5 paints a vivid picture of wicked malice operating in the shadows. The adversaries are not merely impulsive; they are resolved and calculated. They strengthen their evil intent, implying a deliberate choice to commit to their harmful plans. This internal hardening fuels their external conspiracy: they meticulously discuss how to deploy their destructive traps, ensuring they are laid "privily," that is, secretly and deceptively. This secrecy is paramount to their scheme, aiming to catch their victims unawares.

The most profound element of the verse lies in their arrogant presumption: "Who shall see them?" This question betrays a critical spiritual flaw. They presume not only human blindness but, more fundamentally, divine indifference or inability to see into the darkness of their hidden machinations. This hubris stems from a lack of reverence for God's omnipresence and justice, a belief that their cleverness can circumvent ultimate accountability. Biblically, such a mindset is characteristic of the fool (Ps 14:1) who thinks God is absent or does not care. However, the psalmist's prayer (and indeed the entirety of Scripture) firmly asserts that God sees all, knows all secrets, and will bring every hidden thing into judgment. The irony, soon revealed in Psalm 64, is that the very traps they set secretly will become their own downfall (v. 7-8). This verse serves as a sober reminder that while humans may scheme in darkness, the Light of God exposes all.