Psalm 58:8

ESV Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime, like the stillborn child who never sees the sun.

NIV May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along, like a stillborn child that never sees the sun.

NASB May they be like a snail which goes along in slime, Like the miscarriage of a woman that never sees the sun.

CSB Like a slug that moves along in slime, like a woman’s miscarried child, may they not see the sun.

NLT May they be like snails that dissolve into slime, like a stillborn child who will never see the sun.

KJV As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.

NKJV Let them be like a snail which melts away as it goes, Like a stillborn child of a woman, that they may not see the sun.

What does Psalm 58:8 mean?

"Imprecatory" psalms are songs calling on God to deliver harsh punishment to evil people. These can use graphic terminology, such as this verse. David expresses his emotional response to the violence of wicked judges (Psalm 58:1–2) who deliberately sin for their own reasons (Psalm 58:3–5). He does not plan to take revenge himself, however. This is not a promise that David will take these steps, or a request that he be allowed to do so. David is asking for the Lord's gruesome intervention, but leaving that to God, alone (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19).

David's first image is that of a snail or slug; in Hebrew, the word for this creature implies "melting." The root word can also imply something being crushed or destroyed. Stomping on a slug leaves nothing but a smear of goo. David wishes a similar fate on the oppressive, wicked leaders. The second comparison is to a miscarriage or stillbirth. This plays on both emotional and physical ideas. The suggestion is provocative and meant to inspire a deep, gut-wrenching response, reflecting David's intense anger.

As with the disarming of dangers (Psalm 58:6–7), he wishes for these depraved people to not merely be defeated, but to be obliterated in gruesome fashion. David's commentary is not about the value of snails or miscarried children, but the idea that the wider world barely even knows they existed.

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