Psalm 55:21
New International Version
His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.

New Living Translation
His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers!

English Standard Version
His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

Berean Standard Bible
His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.

King James Bible
The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

New King James Version
The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, But war was in his heart; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.

New American Standard Bible
His speech was smoother than butter, But his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.

NASB 1995
His speech was smoother than butter, But his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.

NASB 1977
His speech was smoother than butter, But his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.

Legacy Standard Bible
His speech was smoother than butter, But his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.

Amplified Bible
The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, But his heart was hostile; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.

Christian Standard Bible
His buttery words are smooth, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, but they are drawn swords.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
His buttery words are smooth, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, but they are drawn swords.

American Standard Version
His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.

Contemporary English Version
His words were smoother than butter, and softer than olive oil. But hatred filled his heart, and he was ready to attack with a sword.

English Revised Version
His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
His speech is smoother than butter, but there is war in his heart. His words are more soothing than oil, but they are like swords ready to attack.

Good News Translation
His words were smoother than cream, but there was hatred in his heart; his words were as soothing as oil, but they cut like sharp swords.

International Standard Version
His mouth is as smooth as butter, while war is in his heart. His words were as smooth as olive oil, while his sword is drawn.

Majority Standard Bible
His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.

NET Bible
His words are as smooth as butter, but he harbors animosity in his heart. His words seem softer than oil, but they are really like sharp swords.

New Heart English Bible
His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

Webster's Bible Translation
The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

World English Bible
His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
His mouth has been sweeter than honey, "" And his heart [is] war! His words have been softer than oil, "" And they [are] drawn [swords].

Young's Literal Translation
Sweeter than honey hath been his mouth, And his heart is war! Softer have been his words than oil, And they are drawn swords.

Smith's Literal Translation
They were divided from the wrath of his mouth, and his heart drew near: his words were soft above oil, and they drawn swords.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
they are divided by the wrath Of his countenance, and his heart hath drawn near. His words are smoother than oil, and the same are darts.

Catholic Public Domain Version
They were divided by the wrath of his countenance, and his heart has drawn near. His words are smoother than oil, and they are arrows.

New American Bible
Softer than butter is his speech, but war is in his heart. Smoother than oil are his words, but they are unsheathed swords.

New Revised Standard Version
with speech smoother than butter, but with a heart set on war; with words that were softer than oil, but in fact were drawn swords.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
They were afraid because of the anger in his countenance and the wrath in his heart; his words were smoother than butter, yet were they sharp like the point of a spear.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
They were troubled by the passion of his Person and by the anger of his heart; his words were softer than oil and effective as spearheads.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Smoother than cream were the speeches of his mouth, But his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, Yet were they keen-edged swords.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
They were scattered at the anger of his countenance, and his heart drew nigh them. His words were smoother than oil, yet are they darts.
Audio Bible



Context
Cast Your Burden upon the LORD
20My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. 21His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed. 22Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.…

Cross References
Proverbs 5:3-4
Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil, / in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword.

Proverbs 26:24-25
A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart. / When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.

Jeremiah 9:8
Their tongues are deadly arrows; they speak deception. With his mouth a man speaks peace to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him.

Proverbs 12:18
Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 10:18
The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

Proverbs 29:5
A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.

Matthew 26:48-49
Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him.” / Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

Matthew 23:27-28
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. / In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Romans 16:18
For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

James 3:8-10
but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. / With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. / Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!

2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. / And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. / It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

Psalm 28:3
Do not drag me away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors while malice is in their hearts.

Psalm 62:4
They fully intend to cast him down from his lofty perch; they delight in lies; with their mouths they bless, but inwardly they curse. Selah

Isaiah 30:10
They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions.

Ezekiel 33:31
So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.


Treasury of Scripture

The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

The words

Psalm 28:3
Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.

Psalm 57:4
My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

Psalm 62:4
They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.

war

John 13:2
And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;

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Butter Cream Drawn Heart Honey Keen-Edged Mouth Oil Sharp Smooth Smoother Soothing Speech Speeches Sweeter Swords War Words
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Butter Cream Drawn Heart Honey Keen-Edged Mouth Oil Sharp Smooth Smoother Soothing Speech Speeches Sweeter Swords War Words
Psalm 55
1. David in his prayer complains of his fearful case
9. He prays against his enemies, of whose wickedness and treachery he complains
16. He comforts himself in God's preservation oh him, and confusion of his enemies














His speech is smooth as butter
The phrase "His speech is smooth as butter" uses the imagery of butter to convey a sense of ease and pleasantness. In the Hebrew text, the word for "smooth" can also imply deceitfulness or flattery. This suggests that the speaker's words are designed to charm and disarm, much like butter that melts easily and spreads smoothly. Historically, this reflects the cunning nature of those who use eloquence and charm to mask their true intentions. In a biblical context, it serves as a warning against those who use persuasive language to deceive, reminiscent of the serpent's words to Eve in Genesis.

yet war is in his heart
The contrast here is stark. While the speech is smooth, the heart harbors war. The Hebrew word for "war" indicates conflict, strife, and hostility. This dichotomy between outward expression and inward intention is a common theme in Scripture, highlighting the deceitful nature of humanity's heart as described in Jeremiah 17:9. The historical context may reflect the treachery of false friends or political alliances in ancient Israel, where outward peace often masked inner conflict.

his words are softer than oil
Oil in biblical times was a symbol of blessing, healing, and anointing. The phrase "softer than oil" suggests words that are gentle, soothing, and seemingly beneficial. However, the softness here is deceptive. The Hebrew root for "softer" can imply a false gentleness, much like the false prophets who spoke peace when there was no peace (Ezekiel 13:10). This serves as a reminder to discern the true nature of words and intentions, aligning with Jesus' warning about false prophets in Matthew 7:15.

yet they are drawn swords
The imagery shifts dramatically with "yet they are drawn swords." Swords are instruments of war and destruction, and the Hebrew word for "drawn" implies readiness for battle. This phrase reveals the true nature of the speaker's intentions—despite the soft and smooth words, there is a readiness to attack and harm. In a scriptural context, this reflects the spiritual battle believers face, where the enemy often disguises his attacks with seemingly benign words. It underscores the need for spiritual discernment and the armor of God as described in Ephesians 6:10-18.

(21) The words of his mouth.--The ancient versions and the grammatical anomalies point to a corruption of the text. Read, Smoother than butter is his face. The reading face for mouth is suggested by the LXX., though their version has wandered far from the text even thus amended.

Drawn swords.--The comparison of the tongue to a sword is frequent; that of the words themselves not so usual, but apt. We may compare Shakespeare's

"I will speak daggers to her, but use none."--Hamlet.

Verse 21. - The words of his mouth wore smoother than butter; literally, smooth were the butters of his mouth - i.e., his flattering utterances. But war was in his heart; literally, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords; i.e. keen, cutting - according to our own idiom, "like daggers."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
His speech
פִּיו֮ (pîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

is smooth
חָלְק֤וּ ׀ (ḥā·lə·qū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 2505: To be smooth, to apportion, separate

as butter,
מַחְמָאֹ֣ת (maḥ·mā·’ōṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 4260: Something buttery, as, flattery

but war
וּֽקֲרָב־ (ū·qă·rāḇ-)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7128: Hostile encounter

is in his heart.
לִ֫בּ֥וֹ (lib·bōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

His words
דְבָרָ֥יו (ḏə·ḇā·rāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

are softer
רַכּ֖וּ (rak·kū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7401: To be tender, weak or soft

than oil,
מִשֶּׁ֗מֶן (miš·še·men)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8081: Grease, liquid, richness

yet they are
וְהֵ֣מָּה (wə·hêm·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

swords unsheathed.
פְתִחֽוֹת׃ (p̄ə·ṯi·ḥō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 6609: Something opened, a drawn sword


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OT Poetry: Psalm 55:21 His mouth was smooth as butter (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 55:20
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