The Meaning of Psalms 58:7 Explained

Psalms 58:7

KJV: Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.

YLT: They are melted as waters, They go up and down for themselves, His arrow proceedeth as they cut themselves off.

Darby: Let them melt away as waters that flow off; when he aimeth his arrows, let them be as blunted:

ASV: Let them melt away as water that runneth apace: When he aimeth his arrows, let them be as though they were cut off.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Let them melt away  as waters  [which] run continually:  [when] he bendeth  [his bow to shoot] his arrows,  let them be as cut in pieces. 

What does Psalms 58:7 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 58:1-11 - "there Is A God That Judgeth"
This psalm is launched against wicked rulers. It may have been occasioned by the attitude of Abner and others of Saul's party, who accounted David as a rebel and outlaw and urged vindictive measures against him.
Their sin, Psalms 58:1-6
Poison is literally "burning heat." Such is the effect of venomous words, into which the malice of the great serpent is infused. Evil men, capable of such speech, resemble the snake tribe, which will respond only to the shrillest notes. Hot speech to man and deaf ears to God go together.
Their doom, Psalms 58:6-9
For let them read they shall, Psalms 58:7. The imperative and predictive future are in Hebrew expressed by similar words. Note the remarkable comparisons-the lion's broken jaw-tooth, the ebbing tide, the snail scorched by intense heat, the untimely birth, the quickly-expiring fire, the cyclone! Sin inevitably brings penalty, and herein is God's moral government vindicated.
The contrast, Psalms 58:10-11
As the weary traveler is refreshed when his feet are washed, so the saints are glad to see God's vindication of the righteous. There is a wide difference between the gratification of personal vengeance, and a consuming zeal to uphold God's character. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 58

1  David reproves wicked judges
3  describes the nature of the wicked
6  devotes them to God's judgments
10  whereat the righteous shall rejoice

What do the individual words in Psalms 58:7 mean?

Let them flow away as waters [which] run continually to [when] he bends [his bow] - his arrows as if let be cut in pieces
יִמָּאֲס֣וּ כְמוֹ־ מַ֭יִם יִתְהַלְּכוּ־ לָ֑מוֹ יִדְרֹ֥ךְ חצו [חִ֝צָּ֗יו] (כְּמ֣וֹ) יִתְמֹלָֽלוּ

יִמָּאֲס֣וּ  Let  them  flow  away 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: מָאַס 
Sense: to reject, despise, refuse.
מַ֭יִם  waters 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
יִתְהַלְּכוּ־  [which]  run  continually 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
יִדְרֹ֥ךְ  [when]  he  bends  [his  bow] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּרַךְ  
Sense: to tread, bend, lead, march.
חצו  - 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
[חִ֝צָּ֗יו]  his  arrows 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חֵץ  
Sense: arrow.
(כְּמ֣וֹ)  as  if 
Parse: Preposition
Root: כְּמֹו  
Sense: like, as, the like of which conj.
יִתְמֹלָֽלוּ  let  be  cut  in  pieces 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: מוּל 
Sense: to circumcise, let oneself be circumcised, cut, be cut off.