The Meaning of Psalms 16:4 Explained

Psalms 16:4

KJV: Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.

YLT: Multiplied are their griefs, Who have hastened backward; I pour not out their libations of blood, Nor do I take up their names on my lips.

Darby: Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another: their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer, and I will not take up their names into my lips.

ASV: Their sorrows shall be multiplied that give gifts for another god : Their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer, Nor take their names upon my lips.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Their sorrows  shall be multiplied  [that] hasten  [after] another  [god]: their drink offerings  of blood  will I not offer,  nor  take up  their names  into my lips. 

What does Psalms 16:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

In contrast to these godly saints are those who trade worship of the true God for what they think they will gain from following other gods (i.e, apostates). However, they only receive multiplied sorrows. David refused to join them in worshipping false gods, or even mentioning them, because he found what they were doing so distasteful.

Context Summary

Psalms 16:1-11 - The Citizen Of Zion And His Inheritance
The first of these psalms was probably composed to celebrate the bringing of the Ark to Mount Zion, 1 Samuel 6:20. It describes the character of those who have fellowship with God and dwell in His house all the days of their earthly lot. To the challenge of the soloist, Psalms 15:1, the choir makes response, Psalms 15:2-5, first positively, then negatively. We must act as non-conductors to evil; must mind what company we keep; and must cultivate a spirit of love and self-sacrifice which will never take advantage of others, Psalms 15:5. Here is the secret of permanence and peace.
Michtam means "golden," and may be truly applied to the next psalm, as also to Psalms 56:1-13; Psalms 57:1-11; Psalms 58:1-11; Psalms 59:1-17; Psalms 60:1-12. Others explain the word as a "secret." It is the song of the golden secret. The key is furnished in Acts 2:25. The Apostle Paul expressly emphasizes the divine authorship in Acts 13:35-38. Our Lord may have repeated Psalms 16:8-11 when He was descending the dark valley, and so may we. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 16

1  David, in distrust of merits, and hatred of idolatry
5  He shows the hope of his calling, of the resurrection, and life everlasting

What do the individual words in Psalms 16:4 mean?

Shall be multiplied their sorrows another [god] who hasten [after] not I will offer their drink offerings of blood nor take up - their names on my lips
יִרְבּ֥וּ עַצְּבוֹתָם֮ אַחֵ֪ר מָ֫הָ֥רוּ בַּל־ אַסִּ֣יךְ נִסְכֵּיהֶ֣ם מִדָּ֑ם וּֽבַל־ אֶשָּׂ֥א אֶת־ שְׁ֝מוֹתָ֗ם עַל־ שְׂפָתָֽי

יִרְבּ֥וּ  Shall  be  multiplied 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: הַרְבָּה 
Sense: be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous.
עַצְּבוֹתָם֮  their  sorrows 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: עַצֶּבֶת  
Sense: pain, hurt, injury, sorrow, wound.
אַחֵ֪ר  another  [god] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: אַחֵר  
Sense: another, other, following.
מָ֫הָ֥רוּ  who  hasten  [after] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: מָהַר  
Sense: (Qal) to hasten.
אַסִּ֣יךְ  I  will  offer 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: נָסַךְ 
Sense: to pour out, pour, offer, cast.
נִסְכֵּיהֶ֣ם  their  drink  offerings 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: נֶסֶךְ 
Sense: drink offering, libation, molten image, something poured out.
מִדָּ֑ם  of  blood 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּם  
Sense: blood.
וּֽבַל־  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: בַּל 
Sense: not, hardly, else.
אֶשָּׂ֥א  take  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
שְׁ֝מוֹתָ֗ם  their  names 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
שְׂפָתָֽי  my  lips 
Parse: Noun, fdc, first person common singular
Root: שָׂפָה  
Sense: lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding.