Psalms 64:8

8 They are brought to ruin, with their own 1tongues turned against them; all who 2see them will 3wag their heads.

Psalms 64:8 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 64:8

So shall they make their own tongue to fall upon themselves,
&c.] The evil things they have wished for, threatened unto, and imprecated on others, shall come upon themselves; the curses they have cursed others with shall come upon themselves; the pit they have dug for others, they fall into. So Haman, to whom some apply the psalm, was hanged on the gallows he made for Mordecai; and the accusers of Daniel, to whom others apply it, were cast into the same den of lions they procured for him; and Babylon, who has been drunk with the blood of the saints, shall have blood given her to drink.

all that see them shall flee away;
not being able to help them, nor to bear the horrible sight, and fearing the same judgments should fall on themselves; see ( Numbers 16:34 ) ( Revelation 18:10 Revelation 18:15 ) . Or, "they shall move themselves" F4; shake their heads in a way of derision, as Jarchi interprets it; or skip for joy, as the word is rendered in ( Jeremiah 48:27 ) ; and then it must be understood of the righteous; who, seeing the vengeance on the wicked, rejoice, as in ( Psalms 52:6 ) ( 58:10 ) ; though, as they are afterwards particularly mentioned, others seem to be designed. The word is used for lamenting and bemoaning one's self, in ( Jeremiah 31:18 ) ; and so may be applied to the friends of the wicked lamenting and bemoaning their ruin, and their being bereaved of them, ( Revelation 18:9 Revelation 18:11 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F4 (wrdwnty) "amovebunt se", Montanus; "commovebuntur", Vatablus.

Psalms 64:8 In-Context

6 They search out injustice, saying, "We have accomplished a diligent search." For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep!
7 But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly.
8 They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads.
9 Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done.
10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!

Cross References 3

  • 1. See Proverbs 12:13; Proverbs 18:7
  • 2. See Psalms 40:3
  • 3. Jeremiah 18:16; Jeremiah 48:27; See Psalms 22:7
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.