Psalms 58:8

8 May they be like snails that dissolve into slime, like a stillborn child who will never see the sun.

Psalms 58:8 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 58:8

As a snail [which] melteth, let [everyone of them] pass away,
&c.] As a snail when it comes out of its shell liquefies, drops its moisture, and with it makes a "path", from whence it has its name (lwlbv) , in the Hebrew language; and so the Targum here,

``as the snail moistens its way;''

which moistness it gradually exhausts, and melts away, and dies: so the psalmist prays that everyone of his enemies might die in like manner. Some think reference is had to the snail's putting out its horns to no purpose when in danger, and apply it to the vain threatenings of the wicked; a strange difference this, between a roaring young lion, ( Psalms 58:6 ) , and a melting snail. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions, render it, "as wax [which] melteth": see ( Psalms 68:2 ) ;

[like] the untimely birth of a woman, [that] they may not see the sun;
see ( Job 3:16 ) . The Targum is,

``as an abortive and a mole, which are blind and see not the sun.''

So Jarchi renders it a "mole", agreeably to the Talmud ^F7. Or, "let them not see the sun" ^F8; let them die, and never see the sun in the firmament any more; Christ, the sun of righteousness; nor enjoy the favour of God, and the light of his countenance; nor have the light of life, or eternal glory and happiness; see ( Psalms 49:19 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 T. Bab. Moed Katon, fol. 6. 2.
F8 (vmv wzx lb) "ne videant solem", Pagninus, Montanus.

Psalms 58:8 In-Context

6 Break off their fangs, O God! Smash the jaws of these lions, O LORD !

7 May they disappear like water into thirsty ground. Make their weapons useless in their hands.

8 May they be like snails that dissolve into slime, like a stillborn child who will never see the sun.

9 God will sweep them away, both young and old, faster than a pot heats over burning thorns.

10 The godly will rejoice when they see injustice avenged. They will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.