Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.
Parallel translations
- WEB Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.
- BSB Sharp arrows will come from the warrior, with burning coals of the broom tree!
- NKJV Sharp arrows of the warrior, With coals of the broom tree!
- NASB Sharp arrows of the warrior, With the burning coals of the broom tree!
- NLT You will be pierced with sharp arrows and burned with glowing coals.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The answer to the deceitful tongue is sharp warrior's arrows and burning coals. God's judgment on lies is sure and severe.
Overview
This verse completes the previous question, picturing God's recompense on the liar as 'sharp arrows' and glowing 'coals.' The imagery conveys decisive, penetrating, and lasting judgment. It assures the slandered that God will deal justly with deceit, leaving vengeance in His hands rather than ours.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Jas 3:5–8Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
- Prov 18:21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
- Prov 19:9A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
- Ps 45:5Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.
- Prov 12:22Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
- Prov 19:5A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
- Prov 16:27An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
- Ps 140:9–11As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
- Ps 52:5God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.
- Ps 59:7Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
- Prov 11:9An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
- Ps 57:4My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
- Prov 11:12He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
- Prov 11:18The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
- Deut 32:23–24I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them.
- Ps 7:13He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
- Rev 21:8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
- Prov 18:8The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 120:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.