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Psalm 140 · a question people ask

"Deliver me, LORD, from evil men" (140:1). The title names David. Who were these men?

In the text

The psalm doesn't say. Its title is "For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David" (140:1), and it names no occasion, as some titles do: "A contemplation by David, when he was in the cave" (Psalm 142:1). The psalm calls the men "evil men" and "violent men" (140:1), "the wicked" (140:4), "The proud" (140:5), and "those who surround me" (140:9). It says what they do: they devise mischief in their hearts, gather together for war, sharpen their tongues, and set traps (140:2-5). It gives no name, place or time. These notes don't supply one, and don't apply the psalm's words to anyone today.

The verses

“For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Deliver me, LORD, from evil men. Preserve me from violent men: those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper’s poison is under their lips. Selah. LORD, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet. The proud have hidden a snare for me, they have spread the cords of a net by the path. They have set traps for me. Selah.”
Psalm 140:1-5 · World English Bible
“As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.”
Psalm 140:9 · World English Bible
“A contemplation by David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer. I cry with my voice to the LORD. With my voice, I ask the LORD for mercy.”
Psalm 142:1 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 140

Psalm 140: You have covered my head

Psalm 140 prays about men who "have sharpened their tongues like a serpent" (Psalm 140:3), and its "Viper’s poison is under their lips" (Psalm 140:3) is nearly the words of Romans 3:13. Five of its Hebrew words come nowhere else in the Hebrew Bible. The LORD covered the psalmist's head (140:7), and he asks that the mischief of their own lips cover theirs (140:9).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions