The Meaning of Psalms 120:3 Explained

Psalms 120:3

KJV: What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?

YLT: What doth He give to thee? And what doth He add to thee? O deceitful tongue!

Darby: What shall be given unto thee, what shall be added unto thee, thou deceitful tongue?

ASV: What shall be given unto thee, and what shall be done more unto thee, Thou deceitful tongue?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

What shall be given  unto thee? or what shall be done  unto thee, thou false  tongue? 

What does Psalms 120:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 120:1-7 - Where To Find Help
This is the first of the "Songs of Degrees." It has been suggested that they were pilgrim-songs to beguile the journeys from all parts of the country to the great annual feasts. They have been associated with the reign of the good Hezekiah. Mesech and Kedar are typical enemies, who forced their way into the kingdom of Judah and vexed the people of God. They are compared to sharp swords and arrows in Psalms 57:4; Psalms 64:3, but now in turn they shall be pierced and scorched. How many who start on a pilgrimage to the Celestial City must run a similar gauntlet! Their enemies arise from their own household. In such distress of soul, prayer is our only hope, Psalms 120:1.
Psalms 121:1-8
The keynote of this psalm is the word keep, which occurs in one form or another six times. In Psalms 121:1 and Psalms 121:2 the soloist suggests that in hours of trial we should look beyond mountains and hills to the Lord who made them all. In Psalms 121:3-8 the chorus endorses and commends the choice. All the saints of every dispensation add their cumulative testimony to the wisdom of entrusting the keeping of soul and body to our faithful Creator. Notice the exquisite sequence of phrases: neither slumber nor sleep; by day, by night; thy going out, and thy coming in; thee and. thy soul; this time forth and for evermore. The meshes are woven very closely. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 120

1  David prays against Doeg
3  Reproves his tongue
5  Complains of his necessary conversation with the wicked

What do the individual words in Psalms 120:3 mean?

What shall be given to you Or what shall be done to you tongue You false
מַה־ יִּתֵּ֣ן לְ֭ךָ וּמַה־ יֹּסִ֥יף לָ֗ךְ לָשׁ֥וֹן ؟ רְמִיָּֽה

יִּתֵּ֣ן  shall  be  given 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לְ֭ךָ  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
וּמַה־  Or  what 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
יֹּסִ֥יף  shall  be  done 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָסַף 
Sense: to add, increase, do again.
לָ֗ךְ  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
לָשׁ֥וֹן  tongue 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: לָשֹׁון  
Sense: tongue.
؟ רְמִיָּֽה  You  false 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: רְמִיָּה 
Sense: laxness, slackness, slackening, deceit, treachery.

What are the major concepts related to Psalms 120:3?

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