3:13–15
Here Paul used verses from the Old Testament which talk about body parts: throats, tongues, lips, mouths, feet. Each of these is a figure of speech. The throat, tongue, lips, and mouth refers to speaking. The feet refers to doing. In each case consider whether the figure of speech is clear. Also consider how to make these verses poetic.
3:13a
Their throats are open graves: This clause is a figure of speech. Looking down someone’s throat is to see a deep hole. An open grave is also a deep hole. It indicates that what people say is like a dead body, full of rottenness or bad things.
In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Make it a simile. For example:
Their throats are ⌊like⌋ an open grave
• Explain the connection in the text. For example:
Their throats are ⌊full of rottenness like⌋ an open grave
• Explain the meaning of throats and the connection in the text. For example:
⌊The words coming out of⌋ their ⌊open⌋ throats are ⌊full of rottenness like⌋ an open grave
-or-
Their words are ⌊full of rottenness like⌋ an open grave
• Translate the literal meaning and explain it in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:
This saying indicates that what people say is like a dead body, full of rottenness or bad things.
open graves: This phrase refers to a hole with a dead body in it. The hole has not been filled with dirt.
3:13b
their tongues practice deceit: The Greek is literally “with their tongues they were deceiving.” It indicates that the people spoke words that deceived others. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
they use their tongue to deceive (English Standard Version)
-or-
they use their tongues for telling lies (New Century Version)
In some languages it is not natural to refer to tongues deceiving. If that is true in your language, translate in a natural way. For example:
They use their words to deceive their fellows
-or-
They are liars
General Comment on 3:13a–b
This quote is from Psalm 5:9. If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.
3:13c
The venom of vipers is on their lips: This clause is a figure of speech. These people’s words are hurtful like venom of vipers. Evil talk can hurt people greatly.
In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Make it a simile. For example:
⌊It is as if⌋ they have the venom of vipers on their lips
-or-
Their words are like snake poison (New Century Version)
• Explain the connection in the text. For example:
Their lips ⌊speak hurtful words⌋ ⌊like⌋ the venom of vipers ⌊hurts people⌋
• Translate the literal meaning and explain it in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:
This saying indicates that what people say is very hurtful, like the venom of vipers.
The venom of vipers: The word vipers refers to several kinds of snakes, including the Egyptian cobra, the European asp, and various vipers. Their bite and venom can kill a person.
Some languages do not have a word for vipers. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Use the name of a kind of poisonous snake in your area. For example:
The venom of asps (English Standard Version)
• Use the general word for snake and indicate that it is poisonous. For example:
The liquid/essence of venomous snakes
• Use the general word for snake and allow the context to indicate that it is poisonous. For example:
the venomous of snakes
venom: This word refers to the liquid in some snakes that is poisonous to other animals and people.
on their lips: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as on their lips is literally “under the lips” (as in the English Standard Version). It refers to the fangs containing the venom lying in the lower part of the mouth. They are concealed by the lips. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
from their lips (Good News Translation)
-or-
behind their lips (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Their lips hide the venom of poisonous snakes (God’s Word)
General Comment on 3:13c
This quote is from Psalm 140:3. If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.
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