The Meaning of Psalms 140:2 Explained

Psalms 140:2

KJV: Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.

YLT: Who have devised evils in the heart, All the day they assemble for wars.

Darby: Who devise mischiefs in their heart; every day are they banded together for war.

ASV: Who devise mischiefs in their heart; Continually do they gather themselves together for war.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Which imagine  mischiefs  in [their] heart;  continually  are they gathered together  [for] war. 

What does Psalms 140:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 140:1-13 - Confidence In God's Protection
Here is a picture of a man who is beset by foes. Around are slander and hatred; at his feet stratagems and traps. There is no help save in Him who alone can cover the head in the day of battle. Similar experiences befall God's people still. Some are hunted by earthly enemies; others are stung by the fiery darts of the wicked. In Psalms 140:1-5 life is like a path through a forest, where adders hide and where gins are laid. At any moment the foe may break from his ambush. In Psalms 140:6-7 faith discovers God, at such a time, as strength, salvation, and protection.
There follows, in Psalms 140:8-12, a terrible outburst. Instead of the let of the imperative, many read the shall of prediction. We belong to the kingdom of Christ, the teachings of which are given in Matthew 5:1-48. The only coals of fire that we can deal with are those of love and mercy, which we heap on the heads of our enemies. The least in the kingdom of love stands on a higher plane than the greatest in the kingdom of law. But let the wicked remember Romans 2:5. The psalm ends in a gladder strain, Psalms 140:13. There is an inner sanctuary where we shall be safe! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 140

1  David prays to be delivered from Saul and Doeg
8  He prays against them
12  He comforts himself by confidence in God

What do the individual words in Psalms 140:2 mean?

Who plan evil things in [their] hearts continually continually they gather together [for] war
אֲשֶׁ֤ר חָשְׁב֣וּ רָע֣וֹת בְּלֵ֑ב כָּל־ י֝֗וֹם יָג֥וּרוּ מִלְחָמֽוֹת

חָשְׁב֣וּ  plan 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: חָשַׁב 
Sense: to think, plan, esteem, calculate, invent, make a judgment, imagine, count.
רָע֣וֹת  evil  things 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
בְּלֵ֑ב  in  [their]  hearts 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
כָּל־  continually 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
י֝֗וֹם  continually 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
יָג֥וּרוּ  they  gather  together 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: גּוּר 
Sense: to sojourn, abide, dwell in, dwell with, remain, inhabit, be a stranger, be continuing, surely.
מִלְחָמֽוֹת  [for]  war 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: מִלְחָמָה  
Sense: battle, war.