Psalms 12:4

4 They say, "We will win the battle with our tongues. Our lips belong to us. No one else is in charge of us."

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 Everyone tells lies to his neighbors. With his lips he praises others, but he doesn't really mean it.
3 May the LORD cut off all lips that don't mean what they say. May he cut out every tongue that brags.
4 They say, "We will win the battle with our tongues. Our lips belong to us. No one else is in charge of us."
5 The LORD says, "The weak are beaten down. Those who are in need groan. So I will stand up to help them. I will keep them safe from those who tell lies about them."
6 The words of the LORD are perfect. They are like silver made pure in a clay furnace. They are like silver made pure seven times over.
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