Psalms 140:10

10 (139-11) Burning coals shall fall upon them; thou wilt cast them down into the fire: in miseries they shall not be able to stand.

Psalms 140:10 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 140:10

Let burning coals fall upon them
From heaven, as the Targum, Aben Ezra, and Kimchi, by way of explanation; alluding to the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah with fire from thence: and may design both the terrible judgments of God in this life, and everlasting burnings in hell; so Jarchi interprets it of the coals of hell; see ( Psalms 11:6 ) ( Psalms 18:8 Psalms 18:12 Psalms 18:13 ) ( Psalms 120:3 Psalms 120:4 ) ;

let them be cast into the fire;
into the fire of divine wrath, and have severe punishment inflicted on them in this world; and into the fire of hell hereafter, as the Targum, which is unquenchable and everlasting; and into which all wicked men, carnal professors, the followers of antichrist, the devil and his angels, will be cast: of the phrase of casting into hell, see ( Matthew 5:29 Matthew 5:30 ) ( Mark 9:45 Mark 9:47 ) ;

into deep pits, that they rise not up again;
meaning either the grave, the pit of corruption; from whence the wicked will not rise to eternal life, as the Targum adds, for though they will rise again, it will be to everlasting shame and damnation, ( Daniel 12:2 ) ( John 5:28 John 5:29 ) ; or else the pit of hell, the bottomless pit, from whence there will be no deliverance; where they must lie till the uttermost farthing is paid, and that will be for ever. Arama refers this to Korah, who was burnt and swallowed up, and rose not again in Israel.

Psalms 140:10 In-Context

8 (139-9) Give me not up, O Lord, from my desire to the wicked: they have plotted against me; do not thou forsake me, lest they should triumph.
9 (139-10) The head of them compassing me about: the labour of their lips shall overwhelm them.
10 (139-11) Burning coals shall fall upon them; thou wilt cast them down into the fire: in miseries they shall not be able to stand.
11 (139-12) A man full of tongue shall not be established in the earth: evil shall catch the unjust man unto destruction.
12 (139-13) I know that the Lord will do justice to the needy, and will revenge the poor.
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