The Meaning of Psalms 64:4 Explained

Psalms 64:4

KJV: That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

YLT: To shoot in secret places the perfect, Suddenly they shoot him, and fear not.

Darby: That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

ASV: That they may shoot in secret places at the perfect: Suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

That they may shoot  in secret  at the perfect:  suddenly  do they shoot  at him, and fear  not. 

What does Psalms 64:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 64:1-10 - Deliverance From Powerful Foes
Another of the psalms dating from Saul's persecution. There are two stanzas.
Prayer for preservation, Psalms 64:1-6
Insult, sarcasm, and slander still fall to the lot of those who will live godly in this world. Very few of us are safe from poisoned arrows. Because the world is so full of evil men, who are disposed to put the worst construction on every act, we should be constantly on our guard to give no needless cause to the enemy to blaspheme, 2 Samuel 12:14. Daniel gives us an admirable illustration of this, since his enemies had no cause against him, save as it concerned the law of his God, Daniel 6:5.
Assurance of divine vindication, Psalms 64:7-10
David felt that God had undertaken to be his champion. His arrows were flying through the air thick and fast. Curses come home to roost, and the overthrow of wickedness by the floating mines set to wreck the righteous, is evidence of God's government of the world. Let the righteous look forward with quiet confidence to the time when the world shall be righted, and when the water-pots that are now filled to the brim with tears shall yield the wine of the wedding-feast. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 64

1  David prays for deliverance, complaining of his enemies
7  He promises himself to see such an evident destruction of his enemies,
10  as the righteous shall rejoice at it

What do the individual words in Psalms 64:4 mean?

That they may shoot in secret at the blameless suddenly they shoot at him and not do fear
לִיר֣וֹת בַּמִּסְתָּרִ֣ים תָּ֑ם פִּתְאֹ֥ם יֹ֝רֻ֗הוּ וְלֹ֣א יִירָֽאוּ

לִיר֣וֹת  That  they  may  shoot 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: יׄורֶה 
Sense: to throw, shoot, cast, pour.
בַּמִּסְתָּרִ֣ים  in  secret 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מִסְתָּר  
Sense: secret place, hiding place.
תָּ֑ם  at  the  blameless 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: תָּם  
Sense: perfect, complete.
פִּתְאֹ֥ם  suddenly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: פִּתְאֹם  
Sense: suddenly, surprisingly subst.
יֹ֝רֻ֗הוּ  they  shoot  at  him 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄורֶה 
Sense: to throw, shoot, cast, pour.
וְלֹ֣א  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִירָֽאוּ  do  fear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.