Psalms 58:6

My Notes

What Does Psalms 58:6 Mean?

"Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD." The most VISCERAL imprecatory prayer in the Psalms: 'Break their TEETH.' The request is for God to remove the enemies' ability to DEVOUR — to destroy their primary weapon. The teeth are the instrument of predatory consumption. Breaking them disarms the predator. The prayer is for DEFANGING, not killing.

The phrase "break their teeth, O God, in their mouth" (haras shinnemo bephimo Elohim — shatter their teeth in their mouth, O God) uses HARAS — to tear down, to demolish, to shatter. The teeth are to be DEMOLISHED — not just loosened but SHATTERED. The destruction is thorough. The defanging is complete. The instrument of devouring is reduced to fragments.

The phrase "break out the great teeth of the young lions" (malte'ot kephirim nettotz YHWH — the fangs of the young lions, break out, O LORD) specifies the FANGS: malt'ot are the MOLARS or FANGS — the large teeth that crush and tear. The young lions (kephirim) represent enemies at the HEIGHT of their predatory power. Not old lions past their prime. YOUNG lions at full strength. The prayer targets the STRONGEST predators' MOST POWERFUL teeth.

The LION IMAGERY throughout the Psalms represents enemies as PREDATORS: the wicked are repeatedly compared to hunting animals. Breaking the teeth removes the predator's ability to function AS a predator. The lion without teeth is a lion without threat. The prayer doesn't ask God to destroy the lion. It asks God to destroy the lion's CAPACITY to devour.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What predatory capacity do you want God to break — and have you been honest enough to ask?
• 2.What does breaking TEETH (disarming) rather than killing teach about the precision of this prayer?
• 3.How does targeting YOUNG lions (enemies at full strength) describe praying against the most powerful threats?
• 4.What uncomfortable prayer are you suppressing that might be more faithful if directed honestly to God?

Devotional

BREAK THEIR TEETH. The most raw, visceral, uncomfortable prayer in the Psalms. Not 'change their hearts' or 'redirect their energy.' BREAK. THEIR. TEETH. Remove the weapon. Shatter the instrument of devouring. Defang the predator. Make the lion incapable of biting.

The prayer targets the WEAPON, not the person: David doesn't ask God to kill the lions. He asks God to break the TEETH. The request is for DISARMAMENT — removing the capacity to do harm while leaving the creature alive. The defanged lion can still exist. It just can't DEVOUR. The prayer is surgical: destroy the FUNCTION, not necessarily the being.

The 'YOUNG lions' (kephirim) are enemies at FULL STRENGTH: not aged, weakened, declining predators. YOUNG lions — at the peak of their power, with the strongest jaws, the sharpest teeth, the most aggressive appetites. David's prayer targets the STRONGEST enemy at the HEIGHT of their capacity. The defanging is for the most powerful predator, not the weakest.

The DISCOMFORT with this prayer is modern, not biblical: the canonical Psalter includes this prayer without apology. God inspired its inclusion. The prayer is HONEST — it names what the heart wants (the enemy disarmed) and directs that desire to GOD (not to personal vengeance). The honesty directed Godward is WORSHIP — raw, uncomfortable, unflinching worship that tells God exactly what you want Him to do.

What 'teeth' — what predatory capacity — do you want God to BREAK? And have you been honest enough to ask?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture