21
Smoother than butterחָלְקוּ מַחְמָאֹתis his mouth,פִּיוbut battle is inוּקֲרָבhis heart;לִבּוֹsofterרַכּוּthan oilמִשֶּׁמֶןare his words,דְבָרָיוbut theyוְהֵמָּהare drawn swords.פְתִחוֹת
Psalms 55:21
Study it in the app“Smoother than butter is his mouth, but battle is in his heart; softer than oil are his words, but they are drawn swords.”
With the Hebrew beneath
Psalms 55:21, word by word
- Smoother than butterחָלְקוּchalku
flatter
Another word spelled the same: to be slippery, flatter falsely.
Where else “chalku” appears- Smoother than butterמַחְמָאֹתmachmaot
butter-smooth words
Something smooth like butter; figuratively, soft and flattering words.
Where else “machmaot” appears- is his mouthפִּיpi
mouth
The part of the face with which one speaks, eats and kisses.
Where else “pi” appears- but battle is inקֲרָבkarav
battle, war
Combat, battle; the moment when two sides draw near to fight. It comes from the idea of "drawing near." It is a different word from the usual one for "war."
Where else “karav” appears- his heartלִבּlib
heart
The deepest part of a person: where they think, feel and decide.
Where else “lib” appears- softerרַכּוּraku
be smooth
To become smooth like oil.
Where else “raku” appears- than oilשֶּׁמֶןshemen
oil
The fat pressed from olives, for eating, lighting or anointing.
Where else “shemen” appears- are his wordsדְבָרָיdevaray
word
What someone says or announces, above all what YHWH says.
Where else “devaray” appears- are drawn swordsפְתִחוֹתfetichot
drawn sword
A drawn sword; literally "something opened", that is, taken out of its sheath.
Where else “fetichot” appears
The context
20He stretched out his hands against those at peace with him; he profaned his covenant.
21 · This verse (above)
22Cast upon YHWH your burden, and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be moved.