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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Psalm 58:7 May they vanish like water that runs off; when they draw the bow, may their arrows be blunted.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/58-7.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/19_Psa_058_007.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 58:7 - God Judges the Earth" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="May they vanish like water that runs off; when they draw the bow, may their arrows be blunted." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/psalms/58-7.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/psalms/58-7.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/psalms/">Psalms</a> > <a href="/psalms/58.htm">Chapter 58</a> > Verse 7</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad7.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/psalms/58-6.htm" title="Psalm 58:6">◄</a> Psalm 58:7 <a href="/psalms/58-8.htm" title="Psalm 58:8">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/psalms/58.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/psalms/58.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Let them vanish like water that flows away; when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/58.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />May they disappear like water into thirsty ground. Make their weapons useless in their hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/58.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Let them vanish like water that runs away; when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/58.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />May they vanish like water that runs off; when they draw the bow, may their arrows be blunted.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/58.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Let them melt away as waters <i>which</i> run continually: <i>when</i> he bendeth <i>his bow to shoot</i> his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/58.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Let them flow away as waters <i>which</i> run continually; <i>When</i> he bends <i>his bow,</i> Let his arrows be as if cut in pieces.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/58.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />May they flow away like water that runs off; <i>When</i> he aims his arrows, <i>may they be</i> as headless shafts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/58.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Let them flow away like water that runs off; When he aims his arrows, let them be as headless shafts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/58.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Let them flow away like water that runs off; <i>When</i> he aims his arrows, let them be as headless shafts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/58.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Let them flow away like water that runs off; <i>When</i> he aims his arrows, let them be as headless shafts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/58.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Let them flow away like water that runs off; When he aims his arrows, let them be as headless shafts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/58.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />May they vanish like water that flows by; may they aim their blunted arrows.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/58.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They will vanish like water that flows by; they will aim their useless arrows. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/58.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Let them melt away as water that runneth apace: When he aimeth his arrows, let them be as though they were cut off.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/58.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Make them disappear like leaking water, and make their arrows miss. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/58.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Let them melt away as water that runneth apace: when he aimeth his arrows, let them be as though they were cut off.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/58.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Let them disappear like water that drains away. When they aim their bows, let their arrows miss the target. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/58.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />May they disappear like water draining away; may they be crushed like weeds on a path. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/58.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />May they flow away like rain water that runs off, may they become like someone who shoots broken arrows.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/58.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />May they vanish like water that runs off; when they draw the bow, may their arrows be blunted.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/58.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Let them disappear like water that flows away! Let them wither like grass! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/58.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Let them vanish as water that flows away. When they draw the bow, let their arrows be made blunt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/58.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/58.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Let them vanish like water that flows away. When they draw the bow, let their arrows be made blunt. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/58.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />They are melted as waters, "" They go up and down for themselves, "" His arrow proceeds as they cut themselves off.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/58.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> They are melted as waters, They go up and down for themselves, His arrow proceedeth as they cut themselves off.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/58.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />They shall melt away as water shall go about to them: he will bend his arrow, they shall be as cut off.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/58.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />They shall come to nothing, like water running down; he hath bent his bow till they be weakened. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/58.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 57:8>They will come to nothing, like water flowing away. He has aimed his bow, while they are being weakened.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/58.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Make them vanish like water flowing away; trodden down, let them wither like grass. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/58.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Let them vanish like water that runs away; like grass let them be trodden down and wither.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/58.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Let them be rejected as water which is contaminated; let God shoot his arrows until the wicked are destroyed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/58.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />They will be rejected like waters that are thrown out and he will shoot his arrows until they are finished.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/58.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Let them melt away as water that runneth apace; When he aimeth his arrows, let them be as though they were cut off.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/58.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />They shall utterly pass away like water running through: he shall bend his bow till they shall fail.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/58-7.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=6857" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/58.htm">God Judges the Earth</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">6</span>O God, shatter their teeth in their mouths; O LORD, tear out the fangs of the lions. <span class="reftext">7</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3988.htm" title="3988: yim·mā·’ă·sū (V-Nifal-Imperf-3mp) -- To spurn, to disappear. A primitive root; to spurn; also to disappear.">May they vanish</a> <a href="/hebrew/3644.htm" title="3644: ḵə·mōw- (Prep) -- Like, as, when. Or kamow; a form of the prefix k-, but used separately; as, thus, so.">like</a> <a href="/hebrew/4325.htm" title="4325: ma·yim (N-mp) -- Waters, water. Dual of a primitive noun; water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen.">water</a> <a href="/hebrew/1980.htm" title="1980: yiṯ·hal·lə·ḵū- (V-Hitpael-Imperf-3mp) -- To go, come, walk. Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk.">that runs off;</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·mōw (Prep:: 3mp) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/1869.htm" title="1869: yiḏ·rōḵ (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To tread, march. A primitive root; to tread; by implication, to walk; also to string a bow.">when they draw the bow,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2671.htm" title="2671: ḥiṣ·ṣō (N-msc:: 3ms) -- From chatsats; properly, a piercer, i.e. An arrow; by implication, a wound; figuratively, thunder-bolt; the shaft of a spear.">may their arrows</a> <a href="/hebrew/3644.htm" title="3644: kə·mōw (Prep) -- Like, as, when. Or kamow; a form of the prefix k-, but used separately; as, thus, so."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4135.htm" title="4135: yiṯ·mō·lā·lū (V-Hitpael-Imperf-3mp) -- To circumcise. A primitive root; to cut short, i.e. Curtail; by implication, to blunt; figuratively, to destroy.">be blunted.</a> </span><span class="reftext">8</span>Like a slug that dissolves in its slime, like a woman’s stillborn child, may they never see the sun.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/20-8.htm">Job 20:8</a></span><br />He will fly away like a dream, never to be found; he will be chased away like a vision in the night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/17-13.htm">Isaiah 17:13</a></span><br />The nations rage like the rush of many waters. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweeds before a gale.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/13-3.htm">Hosea 13:3</a></span><br />Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes, like chaff blown from a threshing floor, like smoke through an open window.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/4-14.htm">James 4:14</a></span><br />You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/37-20.htm">Psalm 37:20</a></span><br />But the wicked and enemies of the LORD will perish like the glory of the fields. They will vanish; like smoke they will fade away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/73-19.htm">Psalm 73:19</a></span><br />How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/10-25.htm">Proverbs 10:25</a></span><br />When the whirlwind passes, the wicked are no more, but the righteous are secure forever.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/40-24.htm">Isaiah 40:24</a></span><br />No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner have their stems taken root in the ground, than He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like stubble.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/21-18.htm">Job 21:18</a></span><br />Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a storm?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/1-4.htm">Psalm 1:4</a></span><br />Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/7-27.htm">Matthew 7:27</a></span><br />The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/41-2.htm">Isaiah 41:2</a></span><br />Who has aroused one from the east and called him to his feet in righteousness? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him. He turns them to dust with his sword, to windblown chaff with his bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nahum/1-10.htm">Nahum 1:10</a></span><br />For they will be entangled as with thorns and consumed like the drink of a drunkard—like stubble that is fully dry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/68-2.htm">Psalm 68:2</a></span><br />As smoke is blown away, You will drive them out; as wax melts before the fire, the wicked will perish in the presence of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/29-5.htm">Isaiah 29:5</a></span><br />But your many foes will be like fine dust, the multitude of the ruthless like blowing chaff. Then suddenly, in an instant,</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bends his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/22-14.htm">Psalm 22:14</a></b></br> I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/64-7.htm">Psalm 64:7,8</a></b></br> But God shall shoot at them <i>with</i> an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/112-10.htm">Psalm 112:10</a></b></br> The wicked shall see <i>it</i>, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_timothy/3-10.htm">Aims</a> <a href="/2_samuel/18-25.htm">Apace</a> <a href="/psalms/11-2.htm">Arrow</a> <a href="/psalms/57-4.htm">Arrows</a> <a href="/job/40-17.htm">Bendeth</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/10-10.htm">Blunt</a> <a href="/psalms/46-9.htm">Bow</a> <a href="/psalms/52-1.htm">Continually</a> <a href="/psalms/55-23.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/psalms/37-14.htm">Draw</a> <a href="/job/20-28.htm">Flow</a> <a href="/ezra/8-15.htm">Flows</a> <a href="/psalms/37-2.htm">Grass</a> <a href="/psalms/19-10.htm">Liquid</a> <a href="/psalms/6-6.htm">Melt</a> <a href="/psalms/46-6.htm">Melted</a> <a href="/psalms/50-22.htm">Pieces</a> <a href="/job/20-25.htm">Proceedeth</a> <a href="/psalms/19-5.htm">Run</a> <a href="/psalms/23-5.htm">Runneth</a> <a href="/psalms/23-5.htm">Runs</a> <a href="/psalms/22-7.htm">Shoot</a> <a href="/psalms/57-6.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/psalms/37-14.htm">Trodden</a> <a href="/psalms/56-9.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/psalms/37-20.htm">Vanish</a> <a href="/psalms/42-1.htm">Water</a> <a href="/psalms/46-3.htm">Waters</a> <a href="/psalms/58-3.htm">Way</a> <a href="/psalms/37-19.htm">Wither</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/7-18.htm">Aims</a> <a href="/psalms/68-12.htm">Apace</a> <a href="/psalms/64-3.htm">Arrow</a> <a href="/psalms/64-3.htm">Arrows</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-3.htm">Bendeth</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/10-10.htm">Blunt</a> <a href="/psalms/60-4.htm">Bow</a> <a href="/psalms/69-23.htm">Continually</a> <a href="/psalms/58-9.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/psalms/69-18.htm">Draw</a> <a href="/psalms/78-16.htm">Flow</a> <a href="/psalms/104-10.htm">Flows</a> <a href="/psalms/65-12.htm">Grass</a> <a href="/songs/5-5.htm">Liquid</a> <a href="/psalms/75-3.htm">Melt</a> <a href="/psalms/75-3.htm">Melted</a> <a href="/psalms/68-30.htm">Pieces</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/10-5.htm">Proceedeth</a> <a href="/psalms/59-4.htm">Run</a> <a href="/psalms/147-15.htm">Runneth</a> <a href="/psalms/147-15.htm">Runs</a> <a href="/psalms/64-3.htm">Shoot</a> <a href="/psalms/59-3.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/psalms/119-118.htm">Trodden</a> <a href="/psalms/58-8.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/psalms/78-33.htm">Vanish</a> <a href="/psalms/58-8.htm">Water</a> <a href="/psalms/66-6.htm">Waters</a> <a href="/psalms/67-2.htm">Way</a> <a href="/psalms/102-11.htm">Wither</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 58</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/58-1.htm">David reproves wicked judges</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/58-3.htm">describes the nature of the wicked</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/58-6.htm">devotes them to God's judgments</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/58-10.htm">whereat the righteous shall rejoice</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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In the arid climate of ancient Israel, water was a precious resource, and its rapid disappearance would be a familiar sight. The psalmist is invoking a curse upon the wicked, desiring that their influence and power dissipate quickly and without effect. This imagery is consistent with other biblical passages where water symbolizes transience and futility (e.g., <a href="/job/14-11.htm">Job 14:11</a>). Theologically, it reflects the belief in divine justice, where the wicked will ultimately face consequences for their actions.<p><b>when they draw the bow,</b><br>The act of drawing a bow is a metaphor for preparing to attack or cause harm. In ancient warfare, the bow was a common weapon, and its use here symbolizes the readiness and intent of the wicked to inflict damage. This imagery is found throughout the Psalms and other biblical texts, often representing the threats and dangers faced by the righteous (e.g., <a href="/psalms/11-2.htm">Psalm 11:2</a>). The psalmist's plea is for divine intervention to thwart these hostile intentions.<p><b>may their arrows be blunted.</b><br>Blunted arrows are ineffective and unable to penetrate or cause harm. This request for the arrows of the wicked to be blunted is a call for their plans and attacks to fail. In a broader biblical context, this reflects the theme of God protecting the righteous and ensuring that the schemes of the wicked do not succeed (e.g., <a href="/psalms/37-15.htm">Psalm 37:15</a>). Theologically, it underscores the belief in God's sovereignty and His ability to render the efforts of the wicked futile. This can also be seen as a type of Christ, who, in His ultimate victory, renders the power of sin and death ineffective for those who trust in Him.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/d/david.htm">David</a></b><br>Traditionally attributed as the author of this psalm, David is expressing a plea for divine justice against the wicked.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_wicked.htm">The Wicked</a></b><br>The psalm addresses those who are unjust and corrupt, often seen as oppressors or enemies of righteousness.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The ultimate judge and deliverer, to whom David appeals for justice and vindication.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_bow_and_arrows.htm">The Bow and Arrows</a></b><br>Symbolic of the power and threats of the wicked, which David prays will be rendered ineffective.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/w/water.htm">Water</a></b><br>Used metaphorically to describe the fleeting and ineffective nature of the wicked's plans when God intervenes.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/d/divine_justice.htm">Divine Justice</a></b><br>Trust in God's ultimate justice, even when human systems fail.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_prayer.htm">The Power of Prayer</a></b><br>David's prayer is a model for seeking God's intervention against evil.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_futility_of_wickedness.htm">The Futility of Wickedness</a></b><br>The plans of the wicked are ultimately ineffective against God's will.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_warfare.htm">Spiritual Warfare</a></b><br>Recognize the spiritual battle and rely on God's strength to blunt the enemy's attacks.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_in_god's_timing.htm">Faith in God's Timing</a></b><br>Be patient and trust that God will act in His perfect timing to bring justice.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_58.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 58</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_psalm_58_6_invoke_violence.htm">Why does David, in Psalm 58, invoke violent divine judgment (verse 6) when other passages emphasize mercy?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/psalm_87_7__how_are_all_'springs'_in_zion.htm">Psalm 87:7 - In what sense are all 'springs' in Zion, given that historically rivers and water sources are not exclusive to Jerusalem?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_is_god_both_loving_and_vengeful.htm">How can Psalm 64:7's portrayal of God shooting enemies with arrows be reconciled with a God described as loving in other scriptures?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_defines_steadfastness.htm">What defines being steadfast and unmovable?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/58.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(7, 8) After the types of obstinate and fierce malignity, come four striking images of the fatuity of the wicked man's projects, and his own imminent ruin. The first of these compares him to water, which, spilt on a sandy soil, sinks into it and melts away. (Comp. <a href="/2_samuel/14-14.htm" title="For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither does God respect any person: yet does he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.">2Samuel 14:14</a>.) Perhaps a phenomenon, often described by travellers, was in the poet's mind, the disappearance of a stream which, after accompanying the track for some time, suddenly sinks into the sand. The words <span class= "ital">which run continually, </span>even if the Hebrew can bear this meaning, only weaken the figure. The verb is in the reflexive conjugation, and has "to" or "for themselves" added, and seems to be exactly equivalent to our, <span class= "ital">they walk themselves off. </span>This certainly should be joined to the clause following. Here, too, we must suppose that the sign of comparison, <span class= "ital">khemo, </span>was dropped out by the copyist in consequence of the <span class= "ital">l?mo</span> just written, and afterwards being inserted in the margin, got misplaced. We must bring it back, and read:<p>They are utterly gone, as when<p>One shoots his arrows.<p>This figure thus becomes also clear and striking. The arrow once shot is irrevocably gone, probably lost, fit emblem of the fate of the wicked. For the ellipse in <span class= "ital">bend </span>(literally, <span class= "ital">tread, </span>see <a href="/psalms/7-12.htm" title="If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he has bent his bow, and made it ready.">Psalm 7:12</a>), comp. <a href="/psalms/64-3.htm" title="Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:">Psalm 64:3</a>, where also the action properly belonging to the <span class= "ital">bow </span>is transferred to the <span class= "ital">arrow.</span><p>The words, "Let them be as cut in pieces," must be carried on to the following verse, which contains two fresh images: <span class= "ital">So they are cut off </span>(LXX., "are weak ") <span class= "ital">as shabl-l melts; </span>(<span class= "ital">as</span>)<span class= "ital"> the abortion of a woman passes away without seeing the sun. </span>The word <span class= "ital">shabl-l, </span>by its derivation (<span class= "ital">b?lal = to pour out</span>) may mean any <span class= "ital">liquid </span>or <span class= "ital">moist </span>substance. Hence some understand <span class= "ital">a watercourse, </span>others (LXX. and Vulg.) <span class= "ital">wax. </span>The first would weaken the passage by introducing a bald repetition of a previous image. The second is quite intelligible. But the Talmud says <span class= "ital">shabl-l </span>is a <span class= "ital">slug </span>or <span class= "ital">shelless snail, </span>and there may be a reference in the passage to the popular notion derived from the slimy track of the creature, that the slug dissolves as it moves, and eventually melts away. Dr. Tristram, however (<span class= "ital">Nat. Hist. Bib., </span>p. 295), finds scientific support for the image in the myriads of snail shells found in the Holy Land, still adhering, by the calcareous exudation round the orifice, to the surface of the rock, while the animal itself is utterly shrivelled and wasted. The last image presents no difficulty either in language or form, except that the form of the noun <span class= "ital">woman </span>is unusual.<p><span class= "bld">That they may not.</span>--That this refers to the abortion which <span class= "ital">passed away without seeing the sun, </span>is certain. The grammatical difficulty of want of concord may be got over by taking <span class= "ital">abortion </span>as a collective noun. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/58.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 7.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Let them melt away as waters which run continually;</span> <span class="accented">i.e.</span> "let them waste away, and go to naught, like water, that runs off and accomplishes nothing." When he bendoth his bow to shoot <span class="cmt_word">his arrows,</span> <span class="cmt_word">let them be as cut in pieces;</span> <span class="accented">i.e.</span> "let the arrows be as though snapped in two, or headless." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/58-7.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">May they vanish</span><br /><span class="heb">יִמָּאֲס֣וּ</span> <span class="translit">(yim·mā·’ă·sū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3988.htm">Strong's 3988: </a> </span><span class="str2">To spurn, to disappear</span><br /><br /><span class="word">like</span><br /><span class="heb">כְמוֹ־</span> <span class="translit">(ḵə·mōw-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3644.htm">Strong's 3644: </a> </span><span class="str2">Like, as, when</span><br /><br /><span class="word">water</span><br /><span class="heb">מַ֭יִם</span> <span class="translit">(ma·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4325.htm">Strong's 4325: </a> </span><span class="str2">Water, juice, urine, semen</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that runs off;</span><br /><span class="heb">יִתְהַלְּכוּ־</span> <span class="translit">(yiṯ·hal·lə·ḵū-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1980.htm">Strong's 1980: </a> </span><span class="str2">To go, come, walk</span><br /><br /><span class="word">when they draw the bow,</span><br /><span class="heb">יִדְרֹ֥ךְ</span> <span class="translit">(yiḏ·rōḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1869.htm">Strong's 1869: </a> </span><span class="str2">To tread, to walk, to string a, bow</span><br /><br /><span class="word">may their arrows</span><br /><span class="heb">חִ֝צָּ֗יו</span> <span class="translit">(ḥiṣ·ṣāw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2671.htm">Strong's 2671: </a> </span><span class="str2">A piercer, an arrow, a wound, thunderbolt, the shaft of a, spear</span><br /><br /><span class="word">be blunted.</span><br /><span class="heb">יִתְמֹלָֽלוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(yiṯ·mō·lā·lū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4135.htm">Strong's 4135: </a> </span><span class="str2">To cut short, curtail, to blunt, to destroy</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/58-7.htm">Psalm 58:7 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/58-7.htm">Psalm 58:7 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/58-7.htm">Psalm 58:7 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/58-7.htm">Psalm 58:7 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/58-7.htm">Psalm 58:7 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/58-7.htm">Psalm 58:7 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/58-7.htm">Psalm 58:7 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/58-7.htm">Psalm 58:7 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/58-7.htm">Psalm 58:7 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/58-7.htm">Psalm 58:7 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/58-7.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 58:7 Let them vanish as water that flows (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/58-6.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 58:6"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 58:6" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/58-8.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 58:8"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 58:8" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>