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Selected Verse: Psalms 12:2 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ps 12:2 |
Strong Concordance |
They speak [01696] vanity [07723] every one [0376] with his neighbour [07453]: with flattering [02513] lips [08193] and with a double [03820] heart [03820] do they speak [01696]. |
| |
King James |
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
| The want of it is illustrated by the prevalence of deceit and instability. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
They speak vanity - This is a statement of the "manner" in which the "godly" and the "faithful" fail, as stated in Psa 12:1. One of the ways was that there was a disregard of truth; that no confidence could be placed on the statements of those who professed to be pious; that they dealt falsely with their neighbors. The word "vanity" here is equivalent to "falsehood." What they spoke was a vain and empty thing, instead of being the truth. It had no reality, and could not be depended on.
Every one with his neighbour - In his statements and promises. No reliance could be placed on his word.
With flattering lips - Hebrew, "Lips of smoothness." The verb from which the word used here is derived - חלק chālaq - means properly to divide, to distribute; then, to make things equal or smooth; then, to make smooth or to shape, as an artisan does, as with a plane; and then, "to make things smooth with the tongue," that is, "to flatter." See Psa 5:9; Pro 5:3; Pro 26:28; Pro 28:23; Pro 29:5. The meaning is, that no confidence could be placed in the statements made. There was no certainty that they were founded on truth; none that they were not intended to deceive. Flattery is the ascribing of qualities to another which he is known not to possess - usually with some sinister or base design.
And with a double heart - Margin, as in Hebrew, "a heart and a heart;" that is, as it were, with two hearts, one that gives utterance to the words, and the other that retains a different sentiment. Thus, in Deu 25:13, the phrase in Hebrew, "a stone and a stone" means, as it is translated, "divers weights" - one stone or weight to buy with, and another to sell with. So the flatterer. He has one heart to give utterance to the words which he uses toward his neighbor, and another that conceals his real purpose or design. No confidence, therefore, could be placed in such persons. Compare the note at Job 32:22. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
They speak vanity every one with his neighbor - They are false and hollow; they say one thing while they mean another; there is no trusting to what they say.
Flattering lips, and with a double heart do they speak - בלב ולב beleb valeb, "With a heart and a heart." They seem to have two hearts; one to speak fair words, and the other to invent mischief. The old MS. both translates and paraphrases curiously.
Trans. Dayn spak ilkan til his neghbur: swykil lippis in hert, and thurgh hert thai spak.
Par - Sothfastnes es lessed, and falsed waxes: and al sa vayn spak ilkone to bygyle his neghbur: and many spendes thair tyme in vayne speche withoutyn profyte and gastely frute. And that er swyku lippis; that er jangelers berkand ogaynes sothfastnes. And swykel, for thai speke in hert and thurgh hert; that es in dubil hert, qwen a fals man thynkes ane, and sais another, to desaif hym that he spekes with.
This homely comment cannot be mended. |
22 For I know [03045] not to give flattering titles [03655]; in so doing my maker [06213] would soon [04592] take me away [05375].
13 Thou shalt not have in thy bag [03599] divers weights [068] [068], a great [01419] and a small [06996].
5 A man [01397] that flattereth [02505] his neighbour [07453] spreadeth [06566] a net [07568] for his feet [06471].
23 He that rebuketh [03198] a man [0120] afterwards [0310] shall find [04672] more favour [02580] than he that flattereth [02505] with the tongue [03956].
28 A lying [08267] tongue [03956] hateth [08130] those that are afflicted [01790] by it; and a flattering [02509] mouth [06310] worketh [06213] ruin [04072].
3 For the lips [08193] of a strange woman [02114] drop [05197] as an honeycomb [05317], and her mouth [02441] is smoother [02509] than oil [08081]:
9 For there is no faithfulness [03559] in their mouth [06310]; their inward [07130] part is very wickedness [01942]; their throat [01627] is an open [06605] sepulchre [06913]; they flatter [02505] with their tongue [03956].
1 To the chief Musician [05329] upon Sheminith [08067], A Psalm [04210] of David [01732]. Help [03467], LORD [03068]; for the godly man [02623] ceaseth [01584]; for the faithful [0539] fail [06461] from among the children [01121] of men [0120].