The Meaning of Psalms 62:4 Explained

Psalms 62:4

KJV: They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.

YLT: Only -- from his excellency They have consulted to drive away, They enjoy a lie, with their mouth they bless, And with their heart revile. Selah.

Darby: They only consult to thrust him down from his excellency; they delight in lies; they bless with their mouth, but in their inward part they curse. Selah.

ASV: They only consult to thrust him down from his dignity; They delight in lies; They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They only consult  to cast [him] down  from his excellency:  they delight  in lies:  they bless  with their mouth,  but they curse  inwardly.  Selah. 

What does Psalms 62:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 62:1-12 - Our Only Rock And Refuge
This is the "Only" Psalm. It consists of three stanzas, each of which begins with that word and ends with Selah. It was probably composed during Absalom's rebellion.
Waiting, Psalms 62:1-4
They who wait for God, and God alone, cannot wait in vain. Though ringed around by men who hide their malice under specious words, the soul is not greatly moved. Their ring-fence of hate totters to its fall, but the inner wall of God's care is steadfast.
Silence, Psalms 62:5-8
Wait here, and in Psalms 62:1, may be rendered "is silent," "be silent." There are times when God seems so near that we cannot speak aloud, but are just silent before Him and breathe out our thoughts and desires.
Not disappointed, Psalms 62:9-12
Men and money are lighter than air, but God endures. His performances, unlike man's, weigh heavier than His promises. They who trust Him will be satisfied with an abundance of power and mercy, which are open to the poorest, but which gold can never buy. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 62

1  David, professing his confidence in God, discourages his enemies
5  In the same confidence he encourages the godly
9  No trust is to be put in worldly things
11  Power and mercy belong to God

What do the individual words in Psalms 62:4 mean?

Only from his high position they consult to cast [him] down they delight in lies with their mouth they bless but inwardly they curse Selah
אַ֤ךְ מִשְּׂאֵת֨וֹ ׀ יָעֲצ֣וּ לְהַדִּיחַ֮ יִרְצ֪וּ כָ֫זָ֥ב בְּפִ֥יו יְבָרֵ֑כוּ וּ֝בְקִרְבָּ֗ם יְקַלְלוּ־ סֶֽלָה

אַ֤ךְ  Only 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַךְ  
Sense: indeed, surely (emphatic).
מִשְּׂאֵת֨וֹ ׀  from  his  high  position 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שְׂאֵת 
Sense: elevation, exaltation, dignity, swelling, uprising.
יָעֲצ֣וּ  they  consult 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: יׄועֵץ 
Sense: to advise, consult, give counsel, counsel, purpose, devise, plan.
לְהַדִּיחַ֮  to  cast  [him]  down 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: נָדַח 
Sense: to impel, thrust, drive away, banish.
יִרְצ֪וּ  they  delight  in 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: רָצָא 
Sense: to be pleased with, be favourable to, accept favourably.
כָ֫זָ֥ב  lies 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כָּזָב  
Sense: a lie, untruth, falsehood, deceptive thing.
בְּפִ֥יו  with  their  mouth 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
יְבָרֵ֑כוּ  they  bless 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בָּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.
וּ֝בְקִרְבָּ֗ם  but  inwardly 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: קֶרֶב  
Sense: midst, among, inner part, middle.
יְקַלְלוּ־  they  curse 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: קָלַל  
Sense: to be slight, be swift, be trifling, be of little account, be light.
סֶֽלָה  Selah 
Parse: Interjection
Root: סֶלָה  
Sense: to lift up, exalt.