Psalm 64 8

Psalm 64:8 kjv

So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.

Psalm 64:8 nkjv

So He will make them stumble over their own tongue; All who see them shall flee away.

Psalm 64:8 niv

He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.

Psalm 64:8 esv

They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads.

Psalm 64:8 nlt

Their own tongues will ruin them,
and all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.

Psalm 64 verses

Psalm 64 8 Meaning

Psalm 64:8 signifies a divine act of justice where the very instrument of the wicked's sin—their malicious words and deceptive schemes—becomes the cause of their own downfall. God uses their own wickedness to bring about their ruin, making their destruction evident to all who observe it, prompting a reaction of scorn or astonishment from onlookers.

Psalm 64 8 Context

Psalm 64 is a fervent prayer of David, a lament asking for God's protection from malicious enemies. The psalmist vividly describes his adversaries' secretive and destructive plotting: their hidden traps (v. 5), their readiness to speak evil, like sharpened swords and bent bows (v. 3), and their use of "bitter words" and "slander" (vv. 3-4). They conspire in secret, believing themselves unseen and secure in their wicked designs (v. 5). The immediate verses leading up to verse 8 detail how these enemies "encourage themselves in an evil matter," and "commune of laying snares privily" (vv. 5-6). David prays that God would intervene swiftly (v. 7). Verse 8 serves as the divine answer and consequence: the very schemes and words the wicked employed for evil will be the cause of their undoing, resulting in a public demonstration of God's justice. The context contrasts the wicked's hidden plots with God's open vindication.

Psalm 64 8 Word analysis

• So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves;

  • "make their own tongue to fall": Hebrew: יַכְשִׁילֻהוּ עֲלֵיהֶם לְשׁוֹנָם (Yakhshîluhu ʻăleyhem leshonam).
    • יַכְשִׁילֻהוּ (Yakhshîluhu): Hiphil imperfect of כָּשַׁל (kashal), meaning "to stumble," "to fall," or "to cause to stumble/fall." The Hiphil form here indicates causing something to fall or fail. The subject (who causes the fall) is implicit, often understood as God. This denotes divine agency in their self-inflicted ruin. It speaks of a decisive downfall, whether through tripping up, ruin, or failure.
    • לְשׁוֹנָם (leshonam): "their tongue/language." This signifies their speech, words, slander, and the schemes devised through verbal plotting. The tongue, used for malice, becomes the instrument of their judgment.
    • עֲלֵיהֶם (`ăleyhem): "upon them," "against them." This preposition highlights the direction of the consequence: the action recoils directly back onto the originators. It is a striking picture of reversal.

• all that see them shall flee away.

  • "all that see them": Hebrew: כָּל-רֹאֵיהֶם (kol-roʼêyhem). This literally means "all their beholders." It emphasizes the public nature of the judgment. God's justice is not performed in secret; it serves as a public demonstration.
  • "shall flee away": Hebrew: יִנֹּדוּ (yinnodu). Niphal imperfect of נוּד (nud), meaning "to wag," "to shake (the head)." This action can convey various meanings depending on context: sorrow, pity, astonishment, or, most fittingly here, derision, scorn, or contempt. While some translations say "flee away" (KJV), "shake their heads" (ESV, NIV) is more aligned with the primary meaning of nud, denoting scorn, mocking, or bewilderment at their spectacular downfall. This response indicates the recognition of God's hand in their judgment and their utterly disgraced state.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "make their own tongue to fall upon themselves": This phrase encapsulates the principle of lex talionis (retributive justice) applied poetically. The very means the wicked use—their deceptive and destructive speech—is turned against them. Their plots become their undoing because their words reveal their folly, or God uses the consequences of their spoken evil to entangle them. This implies a divinely orchestrated self-destruction, an ultimate ironic twist.
  • "all that see them shall flee away" / "all who see them will shake their heads": This signifies the profound public humiliation and shame that accompanies the wicked's downfall. Their ruin is not private; it becomes a visible lesson to others, solidifying the demonstration of divine justice and God's sovereign control. The observers recognize the judgment of God and react with disdain or astonishment.

Psalm 64 8 Bonus section

• The passive nature implied by "shall make... to fall" or "be made to stumble" indicates that the wicked are caught by a power greater than their own, even if their "tongue" is the instrument. This power is God Himself, working through natural consequences or direct intervention.
• The psalm moves from the wicked's secret plotting (v. 4-6) to their public ruin (v. 8), emphasizing that nothing escapes God's gaze, and His justice will eventually be fully revealed.
• This verse provides great assurance for the afflicted, demonstrating that the enemy's strategies, though terrifying, are ultimately futile and self-destructive under God's watchful eye. It is a comfort to those who are victims of slander and malice.

Psalm 64 8 Commentary

Psalm 64:8 is a profound declaration of God's righteous judgment against the wicked, asserting that their own instruments of malice will be precisely what brings about their ruin. It conveys a deep divine irony: those who fashion hidden traps and hurl bitter words will be tripped up by the very consequences of their speech. God does not need external forces; He uses their inherent wickedness and its resultant effects as the means of their destruction. This outcome is not hidden; it is a public spectacle. The universal reaction of those who witness this downfall—be it scorn, astonishment, or repulsion—serves to vindicate the righteous and proclaim God's justice. The verse assures believers that their unseen God is actively engaged in upholding justice, frustrating the designs of evil, and revealing their folly to all. It underlines the sovereignty of God over human plots, no matter how cunningly devised.