Psalms 58:5

"Their poison is like the poison of a snake, like a deaf cobra that stops its ear,"

Key Reflection

In Psalms 58:5, the poet employs vivid imagery to describe the wicked as deceitful and harmful, likening their speech to the deadly venom of a snake. This metaphor underscores the insidious nature of their words, suggesting that they are not only poisonous but also cunning—like a deaf cobra that cannot be charmed or tamed. Such imagery would have resonated with the audience's understanding of serpents as dangerous and untrustworthy creatures in both cultural and scriptural contexts, emphasizing the gravity of speaking evil against others.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers -The word rendered “charmers” -לחשׁlachash- means properly “whisperers, mutterers,” and it refers here to those who made use of spells or incantations - sorcerers or magicians. See the notes atIsaiah 8:19. These incantations were accompanied usually with a low, muttering sound, or with a gentle whisper, as if for the purpose of calming and controlling the object of the incantation. Such charmers of serpents (or pretended charmers) abounded among the ancients, and still abound in India.

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