What Does Psalm 64:4 Mean in the King James?
That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The arrow is aimed at the whole person: the Hebrew word translated “perfect” carries the sense of wholeness and integrity.
THE MEANING
The verse names a real shape of danger: a person is targeted from concealment and struck without warning, while the attackers feel no fear. The target is called whole, sound, blameless; integrity does not make someone immune to violence.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Integrity does not make a person untouchable; the verse names the whole and blameless person as the target.
THE ROOT
תָּם
tam
GROWS FROM
תמם
To be complete, whole, or finished.
“Perfect” can suggest flawlessness, while this word carries the sense of being whole, sound, or blameless. The verse makes that wholeness the target, so the attack is not evidence of some hidden defect in its victim.
ALSO GROWS
tamim: Complete, sound, or blameless.
תָּמִים
It shares the root’s sense of wholeness and shows the range behind “perfect.”
tom: Completeness or integrity.
תֹּם
It makes clear that the target’s “perfection” can mean integrity rather than flawlessness.
יֹרֻהוּ
yoruhu
GROWS FROM
ירה
To cast, throw, or shoot; in a related usage, to direct or teach.
“shoot” in this verse is yoruhu. The verb pictures force projected toward a chosen target. The same root family forms a word for instruction, something that directs a path, giving the act a sense of deliberate aim rather than random harm.
ALSO GROWS
yarah: To throw, shoot, or direct.
יָרָה
It names the directed force in the verse’s image of an arrow.
torah: Instruction or teaching.
תּוֹרָה
It shows the root family’s connection to direction: here, that directed force is turned toward a person.
מִסְתָּרִים
mistarim
GROWS FROM
סתר
To hide or conceal.
“in secret” in this verse is mistarim. This root’s hiddenness can name either concealment used for an attack or a hidden place of refuge. Psalm 91:1 uses the same word family for the “secret place” where a person abides under God’s shelter.
ALSO GROWS
seter: A hiding place or secret place.
סֵתֶר
It is the word family used for the shelter in Psalm 91:1, making concealment in this verse echo a place of refuge.
nistar: Hidden or concealed.
נִסְתָּר
It brings out the unseen quality of the attacker’s position.
THE PATTERN
Hidden intent can turn a person’s innocence or uprightness into a target before danger becomes visible.
For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.THE THREAD
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.Psalm 64 uses the same Hebrew root for the shooter’s concealment that Psalm 91 uses for the “secret place.” The root holds both hidden attack and hidden refuge, sharpening the difference between concealment that makes a person vulnerable and shelter where a person abides.
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