Psalms 55:21

21 His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.

Psalms 55:21 in Other Translations

21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

21 His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

21 His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers!

21 All my life I've been charmed by his speech, never dreaming he'd turn on me. His words, which were music to my ears, turned to daggers in my heart.

21 His buttery words are smooth, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, but they are drawn swords.

Psalms 55:21 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 55:21

[The words] of his mouth were smoother than butter
Such were the words of Ahithophel, when in counsel with David; and such the words of Judas, when he said to Christ, "hail, master", and kissed him, ( Matthew 26:49 ) ;

but war [was] in his heart;
even a civil war, rebellion against his prince; that was what Ahithophel meditated in his heart; and nothing less than to take away the life of Christ was designed by Judas. The words may be rendered, "they were divided" ^F5; that is, his mouth and his heart: "his mouth [was] butter, and his heart war"; the one declared for peace, when the other intended war; see ( Jeremiah 9:8 ) ;

his words were softer than oil;
at one time full of soothing and flattery:

yet [were] they drawn swords:
at another time sharp and cutting, breathing out threatening and slaughter, destruction and death.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 (wqlx) (diemerisyhsan) , Sept. "divisi sunt", V. L. Hammond.

Psalms 55:21 In-Context

19 God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God.

20 My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.

21 His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.

22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 12:2
• 2. Proverbs 5:3; Proverbs 6:24
• 3. Psalms 28:3; Psalms 57:4; Psalms 59:7; Psalms 64:3; Proverbs 12:18; Revelation 1:16