Proverbia 120:4

Nova Vulgata

Sagittae potentis acutae cum carbonibus iuniperorum.

Parallel Translations

Clementine Latin Vulgate (1592)
Ecce non dormitabit neque dormiet qui custodit Isra�l.

Jerome's Latin Vulgate (405)
Ecce non dormitabit neque dormiet
qui custodit Isra�l.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Sharp: etc. or, It is as the sharp arrows of the mighty man, with coals of juniper. Psalms 57:4, Psalms 59:7, Proverbs 11:9, Proverbs 11:12, Proverbs 11:18, Proverbs 16:27, Proverbs 18:8, Proverbs 18:21, James 3:5-8

arrows: Psalms 7:13, Psalms 52:5, Psalms 140:9, Psalms 140:11, Deuteronomy 32:23, Deuteronomy 32:24, Proverbs 12:22, Proverbs 19:5, Proverbs 19:9, Revelation 21:8

Reciprocal: Judges 9:20 - let fire come out 1 Chronicles 1:29 - Kedar Job 20:26 - a fire Psalms 18:13 - coals Psalms 59:12 - For the Psalms 140:10 - burning coals Proverbs 10:31 - the froward Proverbs 25:18 - General Proverbs 26:21 - General Song of Solomon 8:6 - the coals Isaiah 3:11 - given him Isaiah 5:28 - arrows Romans 12:20 - coals

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper. Some think these words describe lying lips, and a false tongue; which are like arrows, sharp ones, sent out from a bow drawn with a mighty hand, which come with great force, suddenly and swiftly, and do much mischief; see

Psalms 11:2; and to "coals of juniper", very distressing and tormenting; the tongue being a fire, set on fire of hell, and sets on fire the course of nature; and throws out devouring words, which consume like fire, James 3:6. But rather the punishment of an evil tongue from the Lord is intended, whose sore judgments are often compared to arrows, Deuteronomy 32:23; because they come from above, and bring swift and sudden destruction with them; and are very sharp in the hearts of his enemies; are very severe and cutting, and come with power irresistible, being the arrows of the Almighty, Job 6:4; see Jeremiah 50:9; and these may be compared to "coals of juniper", which are very vehement and strong, and very lasting and durable. Jerom w and Isidore x say they will last a whole year; and the Midrash on the place reports of two men, who had prepared food with them, and at the end of a year returned and found them burning, and warmed their feet at them. These fitly express the lake of fire and brimstone, the portion of liars; whose fire is very strong, and flames devouring, being kindled by the breath of the Lord of hosts, like a stream of brimstone: and the fire of hell is everlasting; its burnings are everlasting burnings; a worm that dieth not, a fire that is not quenched; the smoke of the torments of which ascend for ever and ever,

Isaiah 30:23. The Targum speaks of these arrows as lightnings from above, and of the coals of juniper as kindled in hell below; and they are interpreted of hell in the Talmud y.

w Ad Fabiolam de 42. Mans. tom. 3. fol. 15. I. x Origin. l. 17. c. 7. Schindler. col. 1776. y T. Bab. Eracin, c. 3. fol. 15. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Sharp arrows of the mighty - This is an answer to the question in Psalms 120:3. The consequence - the effect - of such a use of the tongue must be like sharp and piercing arrows, or like intensely burning coals. The “sharp arrows of the mighty” are the arrows of the warrior - as war was conducted mainly by bows and arrows. Those arrows were, of course, sharpened to make them piercing, penetrating, more deadly.

With coals of juniper - On the word here rendered “juniper,” see the notes at Job 30:4. The idea here is, that coals made from that would be intensely hot, and would cause severer pain than if made from other wood. The word refers to a species of broom or shrub growing in the deserts of Arabia, with yellowish flowers and a bitter root. See “Robinson’s Biblical Researches,” vol. i., p. 299. Burchardt says that he found the Bedouin of Sinai burning the roots into coal, and says that they make the best charcoal, and throw out the most intense heat. The shrub sometimes grows so large as to furnish a shade to those exposed to the heat of the sun in the desert, 1 Kings 19:4; “Land and the Book” (Thomson), vol. ii., pp. 438, 439. The cut given below will give an idea of this plant.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Psalms 120:4. Sharp arrows — The Chaldee has, "The strong, sharp arrows are like lightning from above, with coals of juniper kindled in hell beneath." On the juniper, Job 30:4, where this passage is explained. Fiery arrows, or arrows wrapped about with inflamed combustibles, were formerly used in sieges to set the places on fire. Ephesians 6:16.