Psalm 58:4
“Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;”
KJV
Read in Psalm 58Meaning
The metaphor emphasizes danger and resistant hearing. It remains poetic rhetoric and must not become a license to treat opponents or social groups as less than human.
Entrenched resistance pictured
The psalm uses birth and serpent imagery to portray corruption as deep-rooted, dangerous, and resistant to correction.
Read carefully
It is a poetic image of danger and resistance, not permission to strip people of human dignity.
Reflection
Set boundaries, verify claims, and seek accountability without adopting dehumanizing labels yourself.