Psalms 140:10
Psalms 140:10 in Multiple Translations
May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into the miry pits, never to rise again.
Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
Let burning coals fall upon them: Let them be cast into the fire, Into deep pits, whence they shall not rise.
Let burning flames come down on them: let them be put into the fire, and into deep waters, so that they may not get up again.
Let burning coals rain down on them! Let them be thrown into the fire, or into bottomless pits, never to rise again.
Let coles fal vpon them: let him cast them into the fire, and into the deepe pits, that they rise not.
They cause to fall on themselves burning coals, Into fire He doth cast them, Into deep pits — they arise not.
Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise.
Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not again.
The wicked shall fall in his net: I am alone until I pass.
Cause burning coals to fall on their heads! Cause them to be thrown into deep pits, from which they cannot climb out!
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 140:10
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 140:10 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
רֹ֥אשׁ
מְסִבָּ֑/י
עֲמַ֖ל
שְׂפָתֵ֣י/מוֹ
יכסו/מו
יְכַסֵּֽ/מוֹ
רֹ֥אשׁ
rôʼsh
H7218
head
N-ms
מְסִבָּ֑/י
mêçab
H4524
surrounds
V-Hiphil | Suff
עֲמַ֖ל
ʻâmâl
H5999
trouble
N-cs
שְׂפָתֵ֣י/מוֹ
sâphâh
H8193
lips
N-fd | Suff
יכסו/מו
kâçâh
H3680
to cover
V-Piel-Juss-3mp | Suff
יְכַסֵּֽ/מוֹ
kâçâh
H3680
to cover
V-Piel-Juss-3ms | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 140:10
רֹ֥אשׁ
rôʼsh
H7218
"head"
N-ms
This Hebrew word means chief or prince, and is used to describe leaders in the Bible, such as in the book of 1 Samuel. It signifies a position of authority and importance.
Definition: : head 1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning 1a) head (of man, animals) 1b) top, tip (of mountain) 1c) height (of stars) 1d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest) 1e) head, front, beginning 1f) chief, choicest, best 1g) head, division, company, band 1h) sum
Usage: Occurs in 547 OT verses. KJV: band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top. See also: Genesis 2:10; Numbers 17:18; 2 Samuel 4:7.
מְסִבָּ֑/י
mêçab
H4524
"surrounds"
V-Hiphil | Suff
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means something that surrounds or encloses a room or area, like a round table or a divan. It appears in descriptions of King Solomon's palace and the Temple in 1 Kings. The word is used to describe the surroundings of important places.
Definition: 1) round thing, surroundings, round about, that which surrounds, that which is round 1a) environs 1a1) surrounding places 1a2) round about (adv) 1b) round table
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: that compass about, (place) round about, at table. See also: 1 Kings 6:29; Job 37:12; Psalms 140:10.
עֲמַ֖ל
ʻâmâl
H5999
"trouble"
N-cs
This word refers to trouble or hard work that causes worry or pain, whether physical or mental, like the struggles of the Israelites in the book of Exodus.
Definition: 1) toil, trouble, labour 1a) trouble 1b) trouble, mischief 1c) toil, labour
Usage: Occurs in 54 OT verses. KJV: grievance(-vousness), iniquity, labour, mischief, miserable(-sery), pain(-ful), perverseness, sorrow, toil, travail, trouble, wearisome, wickedness. See also: Genesis 41:51; Ecclesiastes 1:3; Psalms 7:15.
שְׂפָתֵ֣י/מוֹ
sâphâh
H8193
"lips"
N-fd | Suff
This word refers to lips or language, and can also mean the edge or border of something. It is used in the Bible to describe the shore of a sea or the edge of a cup.
Definition: : lips/mouth 1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding 1a) lip (as body part) 1b) language 1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
Usage: Occurs in 164 OT verses. KJV: band, bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip, prating, (sea-)shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words. See also: Genesis 11:1; Psalms 120:2; Psalms 12:3.
יכסו/מו
kâçâh
H3680
"to cover"
V-Piel-Juss-3mp | Suff
To cover something means to fill up hollows or hide something from view, as seen in many biblical stories. This verb is used in various forms throughout the Bible, such as to cover oneself with clothing or to conceal something for protection. It can also mean to overwhelm or spread over something.
Definition: 1) to cover, conceal, hide 1a) (Qal) conceal, covered (participle) 1b) (Niphal) to be covered 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to cover, clothe 1c2) to cover, conceal 1c3) to cover (for protection) 1c4) to cover over, spread over 1c5) to cover, overwhelm 1d) (Pual) 1d1) to be covered 1d2) to be clothed 1e) (Hithpael) to cover oneself, clothe oneself
Usage: Occurs in 149 OT verses. KJV: clad self, close, clothe, conceal, cover (self), (flee to) hide, overwhelm. Compare H3780 (כָּשָׂה). See also: Genesis 7:19; Psalms 32:1; Psalms 32:5.
יְכַסֵּֽ/מוֹ
kâçâh
H3680
"to cover"
V-Piel-Juss-3ms | Suff
To cover something means to fill up hollows or hide something from view, as seen in many biblical stories. This verb is used in various forms throughout the Bible, such as to cover oneself with clothing or to conceal something for protection. It can also mean to overwhelm or spread over something.
Definition: 1) to cover, conceal, hide 1a) (Qal) conceal, covered (participle) 1b) (Niphal) to be covered 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to cover, clothe 1c2) to cover, conceal 1c3) to cover (for protection) 1c4) to cover over, spread over 1c5) to cover, overwhelm 1d) (Pual) 1d1) to be covered 1d2) to be clothed 1e) (Hithpael) to cover oneself, clothe oneself
Usage: Occurs in 149 OT verses. KJV: clad self, close, clothe, conceal, cover (self), (flee to) hide, overwhelm. Compare H3780 (כָּשָׂה). See also: Genesis 7:19; Psalms 32:1; Psalms 32:5.
Study Notes — Psalms 140:10
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 140:10 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 140:10
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 140:10
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 140:10
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 140:10
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 140:10
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 140:10
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 140:10
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 140:10
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 140:10
- Sermons on Psalms 140:10
Context — Rescue Me from Evil Men
8Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not promote their evil plans, lest they be exalted. Selah
9May the heads of those who surround me be covered in the trouble their lips have caused.
10May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into the miry pits, never to rise again.
11May no slanderer be established in the land; may calamity hunt down the man of violence. 12I know that the LORD upholds justice for the poor and defends the cause of the needy.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 11:6 | On the wicked He will rain down fiery coals and sulfur; a scorching wind will be their portion. |
| 2 | Psalms 21:9 | You will place them in a fiery furnace at the time of Your appearing. In His wrath the LORD will engulf them, and the fire will consume them. |
| 3 | Revelation 21:8 | But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.” |
| 4 | Revelation 20:15 | And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. |
| 5 | Matthew 13:42 | And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. |
| 6 | Revelation 16:8–9 | Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given power to scorch the people with fire. And the people were scorched by intense heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had authority over these plagues; yet they did not repent and give Him glory. |
| 7 | Proverbs 28:10 | He who leads the upright along the path of evil will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good. |
| 8 | Psalms 18:13–14 | The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded— hailstones and coals of fire. He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them. |
| 9 | Proverbs 28:17 | A man burdened by bloodguilt will flee into the Pit; let no one support him. |
| 10 | Genesis 19:24 | Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. |
Psalms 140:10 Summary
This verse is a prayer that God would bring justice to those who are doing evil. The psalmist is not asking for personal revenge, but rather that God would uphold what is right and just. This is similar to what we see in Psalms 11:6, where God's wrath is described as burning coals. As Christians, we can trust that God is a just and loving God, who will ultimately bring justice to all people, as seen in Romans 12:19, where it says that we should not take revenge, but rather leave room for God's wrath.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the psalmist pray for such severe punishment on his enemies?
The psalmist is not motivated by personal revenge, but rather by a desire to see God's justice upheld, as seen in Psalms 140:12, where it says that the LORD upholds justice for the poor and defends the cause of the needy.
What do the 'burning coals' and 'miry pits' represent in this verse?
The 'burning coals' and 'miry pits' are likely metaphorical expressions for God's judgment and punishment, similar to the imagery used in Psalms 11:6, where God's wrath is described as burning coals.
Is it ever okay for Christians to pray for harm to come to others?
While it may seem contradictory to Christian teachings on love and forgiveness, the psalmist's prayer is not rooted in personal hatred, but rather in a desire to see God's righteousness established, as seen in Psalms 69:22-28, where the psalmist prays for God's judgment on his enemies.
How can we balance our desire for justice with the command to love our enemies?
As seen in Matthew 5:44, we are called to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, but this does not mean that we should not also desire to see God's justice upheld, as the psalmist does in Psalms 140:10.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I have seen God's justice upheld in my own life or in the lives of others?
- How can I balance my desire for justice with the command to love my enemies, and what does this look like in practical terms?
- In what ways can I pray for my enemies, as Jesus commands in Matthew 5:44, and what might this look like in my daily life?
- What are some areas in my life where I need to trust God's justice and sovereignty, rather than taking matters into my own hands?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 140:10
Let burning coals fall upon them,.... From heaven, as the Targum, Aben Ezra, and Kimchi, by way of explanation; alluding to the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah with fire from thence: and may design
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 140:10
Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 140:10
Burning coals; Divine vengeance, which is compared to coals of fire, as , and elsewhere. Rise not up again; either to my danger, or their own comfort.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 140:10
Psalms 140:10 Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.Ver. 10. Let burning coals fall upon them] Conflagrent ut corruant. Haec sunt non tam vota quam vaticinia.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 140:10
(10) In this verse too there is a grammatical difficulty, which the margin, “Let there fall on them,” instead of “Let them bring upon them,” does not remove, since the subject of the next verb is third person singular. The first verb is usually taken impersonally, as by the LXX., which version is actually to be followed in rendering coals of fire (literally, coals accompanied with fire, or, coals as fire), and we get the somewhat awkward, but intelligible— “Let them bring upon them coals of fire; Let him cast them into pits that they rise not again.’ But a very slight change gives a plain grammatical sentence with the subject carried on from the last verse: “Let it (mischief) bring even upon themselves coals of fire; Let it cast them into pits, so that they rise no more.” (Burgess.) The word “pits” is peculiar to the passage. Gesenius, deriving from a root meaning “to boil up,” renders, “whirlpools,” which, as in Psalms 66:12, combines “water” with “fire,” as joint emblems of perils that cannot be escaped. But Symmachus, Theodotion, and Jerome render “ditches,” which is supported by a Rabbinical quotation, given by Delitzsch: “first of all they burned them in pits; when the flesh was consumed they collected the bones, and burned them in coffins.”
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 140:10
Verse 10. Let burning coals] The Chaldee considers this as spoken against Ahithophel, who was head of a conspiracy against David; and translates this verse thus: "Let coals from heaven fall upon them, precipitate them into the fire of hell, and into miry pits, from which they shall not have a resurrection to eternal life." This is a proof that the Jews did believe in a resurrection of the body, and an eternal life for that body, in the case of the righteous.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 140:10
10. Let the fate of Sodom overtake these defiant offenders! Possibly we should read, comparing Psalms 11:6, May he rain hot coals upon them! may he cast them into the fire!deep pits] A word of uncertain meaning, found here only. Some render whirlpools: cp. R.V. marg. floods. If they try to escape the fiery storm, may they be swept away by torrents! that they rise not up again] Let their fall be final and irremediable (Psalms 36:12), in contrast to that of the righteous, who falls to rise again (Proverbs 24:16).
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 140:10
Let burning coals fall upon them - Let them be punished, “as if” burning coals were poured upon them. See Psalms 11:6, note; Psalms 18:12-13, notes; Psalms 120:4, note.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 140:10
10. Let burning coals fall upon them—The verb is declarative: “He shall cause coals of fire to fall,” etc., “coals” being taken figuratively, for great distress, as Proverbs 25:22, “Thou shalt heap
Sermons on Psalms 140:10
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Spiritual Warfare - 5 "Our Position in Christ" by Jim Logan | In this sermon, the speaker shares various experiences and encounters with spiritual forces of darkness. He emphasizes the importance of prayer and rebuking these forces in the nam |
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The Cup of Wrath by Andrew Bonar | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the severity of God's wrath and the consequences of sin. He uses imagery of the seven seals, trumpets, and vials from the book of Revelation |
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The Folly of Looking Back in Fleeing Out of Sodom by Jonathan Edwards | Jonathan Edwards preaches about the folly of looking back when fleeing out of Sodom, drawing parallels between the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world to the judgment |
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The Vain Securities of the Wicked by Thomas Vincent | Thomas Vincent delivers a powerful sermon on the certainty and dreadfulness of the burnings of hell, emphasizing that they are prepared for the wicked and graceless individuals as |
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Fire and Brimstone in Hell, to Burn the Wicked by Thomas Vincent | Thomas Vincent preaches a powerful sermon on the horrors of hell, describing the future flames and torments awaiting the wicked in vivid detail. He emphasizes the certainty of hell |
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2 Queries About Hell by Christopher Love | Christopher Love preaches about the existence of hell, providing evidence from both the confessions of heathens and the testimony of Scripture. He emphasizes that the nature of sin |
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Hell No Exits by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the book of Revelation and highlights three aspects of it: Majesty, mystery, and misery. He encourages the audience to seek inspiration from |