The Meaning of Psalms 5:9 Explained

Psalms 5:9

KJV: For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

YLT: For there is no stability in their mouth. Their heart is mischiefs, An open grave is their throat, Their tongue they make smooth.

Darby: For there is no certainty in their mouth; their inward part is perversion, their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

ASV: For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is very wickedness; Their throat is an open sepulchre; They flatter with their tongue.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For [there is] no faithfulness  in their mouth;  their inward  part [is] very wickedness;  their throat  [is] an open  sepulchre;  they flatter  with their tongue. 

What does Psalms 5:9 Mean?

Verse Meaning

David mentioned a few of the sins of the wicked. They were untrustworthy in their speech. They determined to destroy rather than to edify. Their words led to death, and they were deceitful flatterers (cf. Romans 3:13).

Context Summary

Psalms 5:1-12 - Protection From The Wicked
The ordering of prayer is very necessary, Genesis 22:9. Our Lord's prayer should be our model. Often our words need to be supplemented by our meditations; that is, we must make room for the "groanings which cannot be uttered," but which the Spirit understands, Romans 8:26-27. Distinct from either of these is the urgent ejaculation for aid which is here described as the voice of my cry, Psalms 5:2. As soon as we awake, let us speak to God. We must keep watch for the answer, Psalms 5:3, r.v. How many answers we miss, because we get tired of waiting for the return of our ships!
Note the seven expressions for the ungodly, Psalms 5:4-7. As for me-the chief of sinners, but see 1 Corinthians 15:10. The Jew in prayer turned toward the Temple, Psalms 5:7; Daniel 6:10. Here the Tabernacle, which preceded it, stood for the same, 1 Samuel 1:9. We look to the Most Holy Place, whither Jesus has entered, Hebrews 10:19.
The ungodly are specially characterized by sins of speech, Psalms 5:9. Wicked men are like sepulchers, which exhale pestilential odors. Their doom is inevitable. Notice the combination of trust, love, and joy, Psalms 5:11. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 5

1  David prays, and professes his study in prayer
4  God favors not the wicked
7  David, professing his faith, prays to God to guide him
10  to destroy his enemies
11  and to preserve the godly

What do the individual words in Psalms 5:9 mean?

For [there is] no in their mouth faithfulness their inward part [is] destruction an tomb open their throat [is] with their tongue they flatter
כִּ֤י אֵ֪ין בְּפִ֡יהוּ נְכוֹנָה֮ קִרְבָּ֪ם הַ֫וּ֥וֹת קֶֽבֶר־ פָּת֥וּחַ גְּרוֹנָ֑ם לְ֝שׁוֹנָ֗ם יַחֲלִֽיקוּן

אֵ֪ין  [there  is]  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
בְּפִ֡יהוּ  in  their  mouth 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
נְכוֹנָה֮  faithfulness 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: כּוּן 
Sense: to be firm, be stable, be established.
קִרְבָּ֪ם  their  inward  part  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: קֶרֶב  
Sense: midst, among, inner part, middle.
הַ֫וּ֥וֹת  destruction 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: הַוָּה 
Sense: desire.
קֶֽבֶר־  an  tomb 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֶבֶר  
Sense: grave, sepulchre, tomb.
פָּת֥וּחַ  open 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: פָּתַח 
Sense: to open.
גְּרוֹנָ֑ם  their  throat  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: גָּרֹון  
Sense: neck, throat.
לְ֝שׁוֹנָ֗ם  with  their  tongue 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: לָשֹׁון  
Sense: tongue.
יַחֲלִֽיקוּן  they  flatter 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: חָלַק 
Sense: to divide, share, plunder, allot, apportion, assign.