Psalms 64:4 · Bible study
Psalms 64:4 Commentary: Shooting in Secret, Unafraid
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Psalm 64:4 reveals the wicked's secret, fearless attacks. Explore the meaning of this verse and God's response to hidden evil.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The wicked attack secretly, suddenly, and without fear, targeting the innocent.
- Key words: “shoot in secret” (ambush), “perfect” (upright), “fear not” (no regard for God or man).
- Main debate: Whether “perfect” refers specifically to David, typologically to Messiah, or to all believers.
- Theological theme: God sees hidden evil and will bring justice, faithfulness in suffering.
- Best use: Comfort for those attacked by slander; a warning against secret sin; trust in God’s justice.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
ambushing the innocent in seclusion, shooting suddenly, without fear.
WEB World English Bible 2000
to shoot innocent men from ambushes. They shoot at him suddenly and fearlessly.
KJV King James Version 1769
That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
That they may shoot in secret places at the perfect: Suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
To shoot in secret places the perfect, Suddenly they shoot him, and fear not.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
The words of the wicked have prevailed over us: and thou wilt pardon our transgressions.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Para asaetear á escondidas al íntegro: de improviso lo asaetean, y no temen.
Para atirarem no inocente às escondidas; disparam apressadamente contra ele, e não têm medo.
Ils aiguisent leur langue comme un glaive,
daß sie heimlich schießen die Frommen; plötzlich schießen sie auf ihn ohne alle Scheu.
Die hun tong scherpen als een zwaard, een bitter woord aanleggen als hun pijl;
per colpire da luoghi nascosti l’uomo integro; lo colpiscono all’improvviso, e non hanno paura.
Którzy zaostrzyli język swój jako miecz, nałożyli strzałę swoję, słowo jadowite,
Дела беззаконий превозмогают меня; Ты очистишь преступления наши.
要在暗地 射 完全人；他們忽然 射他，並不 懼怕。
So that in secret they may let loose their arrows at the upright, suddenly and unseen.
Verse in Context
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree on the basic meaning: the wicked attack secretly, suddenly, and without fear. Barnes emphasizes they shoot from “an unobserved quarter,” concealed so the victim cannot trace the source. Calvin adds that they “shoot in secret” without fear of God or man. Clarke notes the suddenness: “when there is no fear apprehended, because none is seen.” The “perfect” (Hebrew tam) points to the upright, innocent person, David himself in Saul’s eyes, and typologically the Messiah. Gill expands this to include all God’s people, who are perfect in Christ. Cambridge Bible explains “fear not” as meaning they “neither fear God nor regard man” (cf. Psalm 55:19). Keil and Delitzsch observe the assonance between “fearlessly” (lo’ yira’u) and “suddenly” (pit’om), underscoring brazen confidence. The consensus is clear: evil may think itself hidden, but God sees.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The wicked attack secretly and fearlessly, but God sees and will bring justice.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The identity of 'the perfect' | Christians agree the term refers to an innocent, upright person, not sinless, but blameless in the specific conflict. | Some traditions (e.g., Reformers like Calvin) see David as primary; others (Gill, some Baptists) extend it typologically to Christ; still others apply it corporately to the church. |
| Nature of the attacks | All traditions recognize the metaphorical use of weapons for speech, 'bitter words' (v.3). | There is little debate; most read the attacks as verbal slander and slanderous plots, not physical violence, though some see literal assassination attempts. |
| Fearlessness as moral condition | The wicked's lack of fear is universally understood as a disregard for God and human accountability. | Not debated; it is a clear biblical theme (Psalm 55:19, Proverbs 1:7). |
Historical & Cultural Context
Psalm 64 is a lament from David, likely composed during a crisis such as Saul’s pursuit or Absalom’s rebellion. The opening verses set the scene: David cries out against a “conspiracy of the wicked” and a “noisy crowd of evildoers” (v.2). The imagery of swords, bows, and arrows is metaphorical for malicious speech (v.3). In ancient warfare, ambushes were common; shooting “in secret” from concealed positions gave the attacker an advantage and denied the victim any chance to defend. David’s enemies use the same tactic: they lurk unseen, speak slander secretly, and strike when no one expects.
Cross-references reinforce this pattern. In 1 Samuel 18:11 and 19:10, Saul physically throws a spear, a literal, sudden attack. In Nehemiah 4:11, enemies plot to kill the builders “before they know or see.” Psalm 10:8-9 describes the wicked “lying in wait” and “lurking in secret” to murder the innocent. Psalm 11:2 echoes the figure: “the wicked bend their bows, they set their arrows on the strings, that they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.”
The wicked’s fearlessness is striking. They do not fear God’s judgment or human discovery. Psalm 55:19 describes such men as those “who never change and don’t fear God.” Their confidence rests in their secrecy; they ask, “Who will see them?” (v.5). Yet the psalmist is certain: God sees. The second half of the psalm turns the tables: “But God will shoot at them. They will be suddenly struck down with an arrow” (v.7). The same word “suddenly” used of the wicked’s attack is turned back on them. The literary structure drives home the theme: evil may appear hidden, but the Lord is not deceived.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Psalm 64:4. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts. The Douay-Rheims translation differs markedly ('The words of the wicked have prevailed over us') but this appears to be a paraphrase or textual misalignment, not a variant supported by the commentary tradition used here.
Reception History
Psalm 64:4 has been read across traditions as a vivid portrayal of evil’s secrecy. The early church saw in it a warning against the hidden attacks of Satan. Reformers like Calvin and Luther drew comfort from David’s experience, applying it to the believer’s struggle against slander. Matthew Henry used it to encourage prayer for deliverance from ‘secret counsel of the wicked.’ In the Wesleyan tradition, the verse reinforced the doctrine of God’s justice, evil may be hidden, but God will expose it. Modern evangelical and charismatic readers often use it in intercessory prayer against spiritual attacks or gossip. Catholic interpretation generally emphasizes the moral lesson: those who sin in secret forget that God sees all. The verse also appears in Christian hymns about God’s protection from hidden dangers.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The method of the wicked: secrecy and surprise. They shoot from ambush, using hidden words like arrows (v.3-4).
- The target: the innocent and upright. The “perfect” are those who walk blamelessly before God, yet they suffer attack.
- The attitude: fearlessness. The wicked act without fear of God or consequences, a rebuke to human arrogance.
Five-point outline
- Evil uses hidden weapons (sharp tongues, slander, plots).
- Evil strikes when we least expect it (suddenly, from ambush).
- Evil feels no fear of consequences (they think no one sees).
- But God sees and will act (the second half of the psalm).
- The righteous can trust God’s justice.
Illustration hooks
- Rumors spread behind someone’s back, each whispered word like an arrow shot in secret.
- A betrayal by a trusted friend, like Absalom’s conspiracy against David (2 Samuel 15).
- Gossip at work or church that damages reputation without the victim ever knowing the source.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why do people sometimes think they can sin without consequences, especially with their words?
- How does gossip function like an arrow, and what should we do when we are its target?
- When have you felt attacked by hidden words, and where was God in that moment?
Leading a Discussion
Psalm 64:4 portrays evil as hidden yet fearless, a paradox that challenges our understanding of sin. The wicked act as though no one sees, but the psalmist knows God is watching. This passage invites us to examine both the harm of secret sin and the hope that God defends the innocent.
Discussion questions
- In what ways do you see people today “shooting in secret” with their words or actions?
- Why does the psalmist call the victim “perfect”? What does that term mean in context?
- How does the wicked’s fearlessness (Psalm 55:19) contrast with a healthy fear of God?
- What does this verse teach about the nature of human evil?
- How does the fact that God “will shoot at them” (v.7) shape your view of justice?
- When you have been hurt by hidden attacks, how can this psalm guide your prayer?
- How can we guard our own tongues against becoming weapons?
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Samuel 18:11 | and Saul threw the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” David escaped from his presence twice. |
| I Samuel 19:10 | Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence; and he stuck the spear into the wall. David fled and escaped that night. |
| II Samuel 15:14 | David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise! Let’s flee, or else none of us will escape from Absalom. Hurry to depart, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” |
| Nehemiah 4:11 | Our adversaries said, “They will not know or see, until we come in among them and kill them, and cause the work to cease.” |
| Psalms 10:8 | He lies in wait near the villages. From ambushes, he murders the innocent. His eyes are secretly set against the helpless. |
| Psalms 10:9 | He lurks in secret as a lion in his ambush. He lies in wait to catch the helpless. He catches the helpless when he draws him in his net. |
| Psalms 11:2 | For, behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrows on the strings, that they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart. |
| Psalms 55:19 | God, who is enthroned forever, will hear and answer them. Selah. They never change and don’t fear God. |
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
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What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights the cunning strategy of the wicked: they hide to take careful aim and strike suddenly, catching their victim completely off guard because no threat is visible. The attack is both precise and unexpected.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that the enemy's method is concealment, not open confrontation. They attack from hidden positions at unexpected moments, confident they will not be discovered. The "perfect" refers to one who is upright in how they treat others, not to sinless perfection.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin observes that David's detailed description of his enemies' cruelty and deceit is not mere complaint but a deliberate strategy to move God to compassion. He highlights the earnestness of David's prayer, conveyed by the word "voice," and the depth of human wickedness that only God can search out.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes highlight the sneaky and sudden way the wicked attack the upright. They strike in secret, without warning, and without any fear of being caught or punished.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill interprets the perfect as a layered figure: first David himself in his innocence regarding Saul, then Christ the sinless Messiah whom David typifies, and finally believers made perfect only in Christ's righteousness. The wicked secretly and boldly shoot at them, fearing neither God nor judgment.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB explains that "the perfect" here refers not to sinless perfection but to being innocent of the specific charges brought. His note on "fear not" clarifies it means having no regard for God, a mark of the wicked.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes that the wicked's secret plots and deep inner scheming are fully known to God, who turns their own tongues and devices against them. Their hidden conspiracies bring sudden ruin, and this divine judgment becomes a warning to all and a source of comfort and gladness for the righteous.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry draws attention to David's plea for preservation not just from the enemy but from the torment of fear itself. He notes that David follows his father Jacob's example in confessing fear openly, which is no mark of cowardice but honest dependence on God's protection.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley identifies the speaker as one already anointed king, not merely a future ruler. He defines "every one" as sincere worshippers who swear by God's name in