Psalms 10:7 · Bible study
Psalms 10:7 Commentary: The Wicked Tongue
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore Psalm 10:7's vivid portrait of the wicked tongue, cursing, deceit, oppression, and the hidden mischief 'under his tongue.' Paul quotes this in Romans 3:14 as a marker of
Research Summary
- Meaning: The wicked person’s speech is saturated with cursing, deceit, and oppression; hidden under his tongue lies mischief and wickedness stored for use or enjoyment.
- Key words: אָלָה (curse/oath), מִרְמָה (deceit), תֹּךְ (oppression), עָמָל (mischief/trouble), אָוֶן (wickedness).
- Main debate: Whether 'under his tongue' means hidden evil ready to be spoken (Barnes, Gill) or evil savored like sweet food (Cambridge Bible, citing Job 20:12).
- Theological theme: Total depravity, human sinfulness manifests in speech; even what is hidden condemns us.
- Best use: As a diagnostic passage in teaching about the tongue and as part of Paul’s case for universal sin in Romans 3.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and violence; trouble and malice are under his tongue.
WEB World English Bible 2000
His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
KJV King James Version 1769
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression: Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Of oaths his mouth is full, And deceits, and fraud: Under his tongue is perverseness and iniquity,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
His mouth is full of cursing, and deceit, and oppression; under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
He shall rain snares upon sinners: fire and brimstone, and storms of winds, shall be the portion of their cup.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Llena está su boca de maldición, y de engaños y fraude: debajo de su lengua, vejación y maldad.
Sua boca está cheia de maldição, e de enganos, e de falsidade; debaixo de sua língua há sofrimento e maldade.
Sa bouche est pleine de malédictions, de tromperies et de fraudes;
Sein Mund ist voll Fluchens, Falschheit und Trugs; seine Zunge richtet Mühe und Arbeit an.
Zijn mond is vol van vloek, en bedriegerijen, en list; onder zijn tong is moeite en ongerechtigheid.
La sua bocca è piena di esecrazione, di frodi, e di oppressione; sotto la sua lingua v’è malizia ed iniquità.
Usta jego pełne są złorzeczeństwa, i chytrości, i zdrady; pod językiem jego uprzykrzenie i nieprawość.
ибо Господь праведен, любит правду; лице Его видит праведника.
他滿 口 是咒罵、詭詐、欺壓，舌 底 是毒害、奸惡。
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and false words: under his tongue are evil purposes and dark thoughts.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Psalms 10:7
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Psalm 10:7 exposes the inner character of the wicked through their speech. The verse moves from what is openly said, cursing (אָלָה, a curse or oath used profanely), deceit (מִרְמָה, treachery), and oppression (תֹּךְ, violence), to what is concealed. Barnes notes that the wicked person’s mouth is full of profaneness; Gill sees in the word 'cursing' both false oaths and blasphemy. The phrase 'under his tongue' is read two ways. Most, including Barnes, Gill, Keil & Delitzsch, and Wesley, take it as evil stored for quick use, like venom in a serpent’s fangs (so Psalm 140:3). The Cambridge Bible, however, offers the alternative that the wicked man savors mischief as a sweet morsel kept under the tongue to be enjoyed (Job 20:12; Proverbs 19:28). Paul incorporates this verse in Romans 3:14 as part of his indictment that all humanity is under sin, showing that scriptural portrait of depravity begins with the words we speak.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Hidden venom ready to strike: Supported by Barnes, Gill, Keil & Delitzsch; compares serpent imagery in Psalm 140:3; fits context of the wicked man actively plotting murder (v.8-10)
- Evil savored as sweet morsel: Based on Job 20:12 and Proverbs 19:28; Cambridge Bible notes that wickedness is delicious to the wicked; explains why it stays under the tongue rather than being spat out
What is clear: The verse describes a person whose speech is corrupt and who harbors hidden evil, and Paul uses it to illustrate universal human sinfulness requiring divine grace.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| 'Under his tongue' image | The phrase indicates hidden evil associated with speech, whether stored for use or savored internally. | Some commentators (Barnes, Gill, Keil & Delitzsch) read it as evil kept ready like serpent venom; others (Cambridge Bible) see an allusion to Job 20:12, where wickedness is a sweet morsel kept under the tongue to enjoy. Both views are supported by Old Testament usage. |
| Meaning of 'cursing' (אָלָה) | The word refers to an oath or curse, often involving God’s name. | Whether it primarily means profane swearing (Barnes) or false oaths/perjury (Gill). The broader context of deceit and fraud makes perjury plausible, but the Psalmist’s emphasis on pride toward God (v.4-6) supports blasphemous speech. |
| Connection to Romans 3:14 | Paul uses this verse as part of a catena to demonstrate universal human sinfulness. | Whether Paul’s quotation is a direct citation of the Hebrew or follows the LXX. The LXX text closely matches the Hebrew. There is no debate that Paul means to include all people under this indictment. |
| The identity of the wicked in Psalm 10 | The wicked are proud, godless individuals who oppress the poor and believe God does not see. | Some interpreters (Gill) see a specific reference to antichrist or end-times oppressors; most commentators treat the wicked as a generic type of the ungodly wealthy persecutor. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Psalm 10 is an individual lament, often paired with Psalm 9 as part of an incomplete acrostic. The Psalmist cries out against the thriving wicked who believe God does not see (v.11). Verse 7 sits at the center of the description: the wicked man’s pride (v.4-6) issues directly in corrupt speech and then in violent acts (v.8-10).
In the ancient Near East, oaths and curses were weighty matters. A person who filled his mouth with cursing (אָלָה) abused the covenant name of God, perjury or blasphemy that carried legal and religious consequences. The words 'deceit' and 'oppression' point beyond personal dishonesty to systemic exploitation: the wicked use speech to defraud the vulnerable. The image 'under his tongue' likely draws on the common figure of serpent venom, as in Psalm 140:3, where the wicked tongue is compared to poison. The idea that hidden evil lies waiting beneath fair speech appears throughout wisdom literature (Proverbs 10:32; 26:24-26).
Paul’s later quotation of this verse in Romans 3:14 fits a Jewish catena tradition, where Old Testament texts are woven together to demonstrate that no one is righteous. By first century usage, Psalm 10:7 had become a standard proof for universal human sinfulness, not just Israel’s enemies but all people stand under this indictment.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Psalm 10:7. The Masoretic Text is consistent across Hebrew witnesses. The Septuagint (LXX) version, which Paul quotes in Romans 3:14, follows the Hebrew closely with minor differences in word order. The Douay English rendering provided in the data ('He shall rain snares upon sinners…') belongs to a different verse and is not relevant to the textual history of Psalm 10:7.
Reception History
Psalm 10:7 has been a standard text for teaching on the sinfulness of speech. The early church, including Augustine, used it in anti-Pelagian writings to argue that human nature is corrupted from the inside out, even hidden thoughts stand guilty. Medieval monastic tradition cited the verse in confessional manuals, pairing it with James 3 on taming the tongue. The Reformers (Calvin, Luther) saw it as proof of total depravity: the wicked person’s words are not occasional failures but the overflow of a heart set against God. In modern usage, the verse is frequently included in readings for Lent or penitential services, and is quoted in sermons on Romans 3 to show that no one escapes the need for grace. Its vivid imagery of hidden poison, whether as venom or a sweet morsel, continues to challenge readers to examine not only their public words but their private thoughts.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Words Reveal the Heart. The wicked man’s mouth overflows with cursing, deceit, and oppression. What we say exposes what we love. The Psalmist traces corruption from inner pride to outward speech (v.4-6; v.7).
- Hidden Evil Is Ready Evil. 'Under his tongue' suggests a store of mischief kept close for instant use, like poison in a serpent’s jaw. The wicked do not just stumble into sin; they stockpile it.
- Scripture Quotes Scripture. Paul quotes this verse in Romans 3:14 to show that Jewish and Gentile alike stand guilty. Our tongue is the first witness against us, and only grace can cleanse it.
Five-point outline
- The Mouth Full of Cursing: Profane oaths and blasphemy against God, not just angry words (Gill, Barnes).
- Deceit and Oppression: Lying words that defraud the innocent and advocacy for violence (Cambridge Bible).
- What Lies 'Under the Tongue': Two readings: hidden poison (Barnes, Gill) or savored sweet (Job 20:12). Both show evil is deliberate, not accidental.
- From Speech to Violence: Verse 7 leads directly to murder in v.8; words are the beginning of bloodshed.
- The Gospel Diagnosis: Romans 3:14 uses this verse to end human boasting. Only the cross can heal a tongue that curses and deceive.
Illustration hooks
- A kitchen utensil: a knife kept sharp in a drawer, ready to cut. The wicked have their tongues sharpened for harm before an argument starts.
- A computer hidden in a desk: files stored secretly, waiting to be used to defraud. Hidden mischief is still real mischief.
- A person who says sweet things to your face but spreads rumors behind your back, every congregation has experienced the poison under the tongue.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can I tell if my own tongue is becoming like the wicked person described here?
- Does this verse mean that Christians should never curse or use strong language, or is it about a heart condition?
- What do I do when I realize I have 'hidden' sins in my heart, bad thoughts, grudges, venom that I don’t speak aloud but nurse inside?
Leading a Discussion
This verse pulls back the curtain on the wicked person's speech. If the tongue is the overflow of the heart (Matthew 12:34), then what we find in Psalm 10:7 is not just an ancient enemy but a mirror for our own condition. Paul certainly thought so: he used this verse to show that every person, Jew and Gentile, needs a new heart and a new tongue.
Discussion questions
- Read the full context of Psalm 10:1-11. What do the wicked believe about God (v.4, v.11)? How does their speech reflect that belief?
- The word 'cursing' (אָלָה) can mean an oath used in lying or blaspheming. In what settings do we hear similar use of God’s name today? How is it different from casual profanity?
- Barnes and Gill see 'under his tongue' as venom; the Cambridge Bible sees it as a sweet morsel the wicked savors. Which of these two pictures fits our own experience of hidden sin, is it more like poison ready to strike, or something we secretly enjoy?
- Romans 3:14 quotes this verse. How does being placed in that context change the way you read Psalm 10:7?
- If someone convicted of hidden sin came to you for counsel, what would you say to help them see that grace can cleanse even a wicked tongue?
- The Psalmist asks God to act (v.12-15). How does the hope of God’s judgment shape our response to people who speak with cruelty or deceit?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Job 15:35 | They conceive mischief and produce iniquity. Their heart prepares deceit.” |
| Job 20:12 | “Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue, |
| Psalms 5:9 | For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. Their heart is destruction. Their throat is an open tomb. They flatter with their tongue. |
| Psalms 7:14 | Behold, he travails with iniquity. Yes, he has conceived mischief, and brought out falsehood. |
| Psalms 12:2 | Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart. |
| Psalms 36:3 | The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit. He has ceased to be wise and to do good. |
| Psalms 41:6 | If he comes to see me, he speaks falsehood. His heart gathers iniquity to itself. When he goes abroad, he tells it. |
| Psalms 52:4 | You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke calls this person a "finished character" — a completed portrait of evil. He draws attention to the three specific sins that fill the man's mouth: blasphemy, deception, and outright fraud. For Clarke, this is not ordinary wickedness but a fully developed and intentional corruption of speech and character.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that the psalmist moves from describing what the wicked feel inside to what they actually say and do. Their cursing includes profanity and blasphemy, and even an atheist may freely use God's name. He also points out that "fraud" likely means oppression or violence, and like a serpent's hidden poison, mischief lies beneath harmless-seeming words.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that "under his tongue" may picture mischief as a tasty morsel savored, not merely speech held ready. Wickedness, he suggests, is to the wicked man's taste, something he enjoys thoroughly. This reading shifts the image from the tongue's speech to its sense of taste.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva annotators note that the wicked person's sin is not just in open words but also in what is hidden and ready beneath the tongue. Both the visible cursing and the concealed mischief reveal a heart fully given to evil, with no part of speech left innocent.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights that the Hebrew word for "cursing" actually means "an oath," covering both profane swearing and perjury meant to deceive. He applies this to antichrist, whose great blasphemies against God and curses against the saints are like the poison of a serpent, hidden in the mouth until they strike. The bitterness of these sins, though sweet at first, ends in ruin for the deceiver.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB traces the wicked's inner hatred and deceit moving outward into open violence and fraud, pictured through a lion stalking prey and hunters setting traps. He also notes the psalmist uses a rare word for "poor" that means sorrowful in some lines but shifts to mean the devout sufferer in another.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch draws a sharp contrast between the believer's confidence, which rests on fellowship with God, and the wicked man's self-confidence, which is godless and sees himself as permanently secure from misfortune. This false security lets him spew cursing, deceit, and violence. Paul later uses this verse in Romans to illustrate humanity's universal corruption.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange notes that the psalm's acrostic pattern is incomplete. Only the final sections follow the alphabet, while verses 2-
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry observes that David's complaint about God standing far off actually reveals how deeply he values God's presence. Yet Henry adds a searching insight: when we accuse God of distance, we may be projecting our own unbelief, since we are the ones who stand far from Him.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley observes that smooth and persuasive words can conceal harmful intentions. He interprets the term "vanity" here not as emptiness but as active injury or oppression inflicted on others.