Psalm 58:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!

NIV: Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!

NASB: God, shatter their teeth in their mouth; Break out the fangs of the young lions, Lord.

CSB: God, knock the teeth out of their mouths; Lord, tear out the young lions’ fangs.

NLT: Break off their fangs, O God! Smash the jaws of these lions, O Lord!

KJV: Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Lord.

NKJV: Break their teeth in their mouth, O God! Break out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!

This is one of the so-called "imprecatory" psalms, which call on God to bring retribution against evil people, often using sharp, pointed imagery. The wicked in this psalm (Psalm 58:1–5) are judges and other leaders who have deliberately ignored God's will. Their sin has resulted in lies and violence.

Asking God to "break the teeth" of these evil people has at least two meanings. The first is the obvious imagery of violence: striking someone in the face with such force that their teeth crack. The second implies silencing their lies by making them incapable of speech. This is further emphasized with reference to taking away a lion's teeth: removing one of its primary weapons. The danger of lions, and God demonstrating power over such threats, is a theme in Scripture (Daniel 6:19–22; 1 Peter 5:6–11).

Asaph predicts the judgment that awaits the arrogant wicked. He writes, "Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms" (Psalm 73:18–20). Revelation 20:10 reveals that the Devil, himself, will be "thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur … [to] be tormented day and night forever and ever."

Psalm 58:6–11 follows a description of Israel's wicked rulers and judges with David's prayer for divine punishment. His words are emotional and somewhat graphic. David prays the Lord will obliterate these violent, evil people. He anticipates the joy the righteous will experience when the unscrupulous rulers and judges succumb to the Lord's punishment. When humanity sees God's justice done, they will celebrate and recognize the Lord's authority.

David begins this psalm with an indictment aimed at Israel's corrupt leaders, likely Israel's rulers and judges. He asks them whether they decree what is right and judge uprightly. He answers his own questions with a resounding "no." He blames them for plotting evil, committing violence, and lying. He portrays them as poisonous snakes. David asks God to destroy them to the point that they quickly vanish from the earth. When God punishes the wicked rulers and judges, the righteous will rejoice and declare that there is a God who rewards the righteous and does what is just.

David decries the injustice of wicked rulers and judges, likely during the later years of Saul's reign. David would have been in exile when he wrote this psalm. He prayed for deliverance from wicked leaders and for God's vengeance to be done. This is one of several "imprecatory" psalms which ask God to bring harsh punishment on His enemies.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.