Psalms 58:4Their poison is like the poison of a snake; like a deaf cobra that stops its ear,
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~1000 BC. David or another psalmist, likely in the wilderness or palace, watching enemies spread lies like venom through the community...
The emotion here: seething with righteous anger at injustice
The original word
chêmâh (חֵמָה) — burning poison, venom mixed with fury
Why it matters
Ancient Near Eastern snake charmers were real professionals who used music to handle deadly cobras
Read with care
What most readers miss in Psalms 58:4
The 'deaf cobra' was the most dangerous kind — it couldn't be controlled by music
Common misconceptionPeople think this is just about evil people in general, but it's specifically about those who spread lies and slander — people whose words are literally poisonous to communities.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Psalms 58:4
Bible Genome reading
Psalms 58:4 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Psalms 58:4 comes from the book of Psalms, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to David. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the psalm genre of biblical literature. Key themes include wickedness, stubbornness, deception. Notable phrases: poison of a snake; deaf cobra.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does Psalms 58:4 mean to you, today?
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