The Meaning of Psalms 12:3 Explained

Psalms 12:3

KJV: The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

YLT: Jehovah doth cut off all lips of flattery, A tongue speaking great things,

Darby: Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh proud things,

ASV: Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that speaketh great things;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The LORD  shall cut off  all flattering  lips,  [and] the tongue  that speaketh  proud  things: 

What does Psalms 12:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 12:1-8 - God Our Refuge And Defense
The first of these is a debate between fear and faith, and dates from Saul's persecutions. Timid friends, anxious for David's safety, urged him to flee to the mountains. Such counsels of expediency are frequently given to the servants of God, Nehemiah 6:1-19. Luther's diaries are full of such references. But unless our duty is performed, we must stand our ground; we "can do no other." We must remember that God's love is with us, and that He always exchanges glances of love with His suffering ones. Compare Psalms 11:7 with Exodus 3:7.
The opening words of the next psalm appeal for help in bad and evil days. See Micah 7:2. A double heart is literally "a heart and a heart," Psalms 12:2. Let us be true in act and speech, else we forfeit the Spirit of truth, Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9. Our sighing will make God arise, Acts 7:56. We shall be helped and kept, Psalms 12:7 and Isaiah 54:17. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 12

1  David, destitute of human comfort, craves help of God
3  He comforts himself with God's promises, and his judgments on the wicked

What do the individual words in Psalms 12:3 mean?

May cut off Yahweh all lips flattering [And] the tongue that speaks proud things
יַכְרֵ֣ת יְ֭הוָה כָּל־ שִׂפְתֵ֣י חֲלָק֑וֹת לָ֝שׁ֗וֹן מְדַבֶּ֥רֶת גְּדֹלֽוֹת

יַכְרֵ֣ת  May  cut  off 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּרַת  
Sense: to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant.
יְ֭הוָה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
שִׂפְתֵ֣י  lips 
Parse: Noun, fdc
Root: שָׂפָה  
Sense: lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding.
חֲלָק֑וֹת  flattering 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: חֶלְקָה 
Sense: portion, parcel.
לָ֝שׁ֗וֹן  [And]  the  tongue 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: לָשֹׁון  
Sense: tongue.
מְדַבֶּ֥רֶת  that  speaks 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, feminine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
גְּדֹלֽוֹת  proud  things 
Parse: Adjective, feminine plural
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.