Psalms 12:4

4 They say, "Through our tongues we have power;[a] our lips are our own-who can be our master?"

Psalms 12:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 12:4

Who have said, with our tongue will we prevail
Either through the eloquence of them, or the outward force and power with which they are backed. The sense is, as we say, so shall it be; our words are laws, and shall be obeyed, there is no standing against them; our edicts and decrees shall everywhere be regarded: or "we will make one to prevail", or "have the dominion" F7; meaning antichrist, the man of sin; for all this is true of the tongues of the antichristian party, and of their laws, edicts, and decrees and which have obtained everywhere, and by which the wicked one has been established in his tyrannical power and authority;

our lips [are] our own,
or "with us" F8: we will say what we please, and make what laws and decrees we think fit, and impose them upon men; and so change times and laws without control, ( Daniel 7:25 ) ;

who [is] Lord over us?
which is the very language and conduct of antichrist, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, ( 2 Thessalonians 2:4 ) ; and is indeed the language of the hearts and lives of all wicked and ungodly men, sons of Belial, men without any yoke or restraint; who walk, and are resolved to walk, after the imagination of their own evil hearts; not knowing the Lord, and being unwilling to obey him, or to be restrained by him; see ( Exodus 5:2 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F7 (rybgn) "prevalere ac dominare, faciemus, scil. aliquem regem, dominum", Cocceius.
F8 (wnta) "nobiscum", Musculus, Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Cocceius, Gejerus, Michaelis; so Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Ainsworth.

Psalms 12:4 In-Context

2 They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts.
3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaks boastfully.
4 They say, "Through our tongues we have power; our lips are our own-who can be our master?"
5 "Because of the oppression of the afflicted and the groaning of the poor, I will now rise up," says the Lord. "I will put in a safe place the one who longs for it."
6 The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Lit That say, "By our tongues we are strengthened
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