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Swallow them up,בַּלַּעAdonai,אֲדֹנָיdivideפַּלַּגtheir tongue,לְשׁוֹנָםforכִּיI have seenרָאִיתִיviolenceחָמָסand strifeוְרִיבin the city.בָּעִיר
Psalms 55:9
Study it in the app“Swallow them up, Adonai, divide their tongue, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.”
With the Hebrew beneath
Psalms 55:9, word by word
- Swallow them upבַּלַּעbala
swallow
Swallow, swallow up; hence, destroy.
Where else “bala” appears- Adonaiאֲדֹנָadona
Adonai, Lord
"Adonai": "my Lord", said only to God. It is a title of respect that acknowledges his authority. It is not another god besides YHWH: often it goes with his name, "Adonai YHWH", Lord YHWH.
Where else “adona” appears- divideפַּלַּגpalag
divide
To separate into parts; at Babel, the peoples' speech was split into different languages.
Where else “palag” appears- their tongueלְשׁוֹנָleshona
tongue
The organ in the mouth used to taste and speak; hence, what one says.
Where else “leshona” appears- I have seenרָאִיתִיraiti
see
To see with one's eyes.
Where else “raiti” appears- violenceחָמָסchamas
violence
Violence; unjust harm done to others.
Where else “chamas” appears- and strifeרִיבriv
case
A matter brought before the judge.
Where else “riv” appears- in the cityעִירir
city
A settled place protected by a wall, with a gate and houses.
Where else “ir” appears
Translation note
“Divide their tongue”: it can be understood that they should not understand one another (compare Babel, Genesis 11:7-9). “Swallow them up”: the same verb is used of the earth that swallowed Korah (Numbers 16:32).
The context
8I would hurry to get myself to safety from the rushing wind, from the tempest.”
9 · This verse (above)
10Day and night they go around it on its walls, and wickedness and suffering are within it.