The Meaning of Psalms 140:9 Explained

Psalms 140:9

KJV: As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

YLT: The chief of my surrounders, The perverseness of their lips covereth them.

Darby: As for the head of those that encompass me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

ASV: As for the head of those that compass me about, Let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[As for] the head  of those that compass me about,  let the mischief  of their own lips  cover  them. 

What does Psalms 140:9 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 140:9 mean?

[As for] the head of those who surround me the evil of their lips - let cover them
רֹ֥אשׁ מְסִבָּ֑י עֲמַ֖ל שְׂפָתֵ֣ימוֹ [יכסומו] (יְכַסֵּֽמוֹ‪‬)

רֹ֥אשׁ  [As  for]  the  head 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
מְסִבָּ֑י  of  those  who  surround  me 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: מֵסַב 
Sense: round thing, surroundings, round about, that which surrounds, that which is round.
עֲמַ֖ל  the  evil 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עָמָל  
Sense: .
שְׂפָתֵ֣ימוֹ  of  their  lips 
Parse: Noun, fdc, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׂפָה  
Sense: lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding.
[יכסומו]  - 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, third person masculine plural
(יְכַסֵּֽמוֹ‪‬)  let  cover  them 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: כָּסָה  
Sense: to cover, conceal, hide.