Skip to Content
Commentary Library

Psalms 55:21

John Gill - Exposition - John Gill

Read in KJV Bible Reader

[The words] of his mouth were smoother than butter,.... Such were the words of Ahithophel, when in counsel with David; and such the words of Judas, when he said to Christ, "hail, master", and kissed him,

Matthew 26:49;

but war [was] in his heart; even a civil war, rebellion against his prince; that was what Ahithophel meditated in his heart; and nothing less than to take away the life of Christ was designed by Judas. The words may be rendered, "they were divided" (e); that is, his mouth and his heart: "his mouth [was] butter, and his heart war"; the one declared for peace, when the other intended war; see Jeremiah 9:8;

his words were softer than oil; at one time full of soothing and flattery:

yet [were] they drawn swords: at another time sharp and cutting, breathing out threatening and slaughter, destruction and death.

(e) חלקו διεμερισθησαν, Sept. "divisi sunt", V. L. Hammond.

Other commentaries on this verse

All commentaries on this verse

Other commentaries on this chapter