Lexical Summary maltaah: Jawbone Original Word: מַלְתָּעָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance great tooth Transp. For mthall'ah; a grinder, i.e. Back tooth -- great tooth. see HEBREW mthall'ah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origintransp. for methalleoth, q.v. Brown-Driver-Briggs מְתַלְּיוֺת noun feminine plural teeth (AV RV jaw-teeth) (perhaps gnawers, see √); — teeth, incisors, late (always "" שִׁנַּיִם): construct ׳מ Job 29:17 and (of lion) Joel 1:6; suffix מְתַלְּעֹתָיו Proverbs 30:14. Topical Lexicon Imagery and Sense The word denotes the powerful jaw‐fangs of a predatory animal—sharp, penetrating, and capable of rending prey. By extension it pictures the violent might of human oppressors whose words and actions “devour” the innocent. Biblical Occurrence Psalm 58:6 employs the term in David’s imprecatory prayer: “O God, shatter their teeth in their mouths; LORD, tear out the fangs of the lions” (Berean Standard Bible). Here the wicked are likened to young lions whose lethal bite must be neutralized for the protection of the godly community. Literary and Theological Context 1. Psalm 58 belongs to a cluster of psalms (Psalms 52–59) that expose the treachery of the wicked and call upon the Lord to act in decisive judgment. The imagery of jaw-fangs intensifies the plea, portraying evil as predatory and relentless. Historical and Cultural Background In the Ancient Near East, lions epitomized royal strength and terror. Kings boasted of hunting them; enemies feared becoming their prey. By invoking lion imagery, the psalmist situates the conflict within a well-understood motif: only a higher, sovereign power can restrain such ferocity. The prayer, therefore, acknowledges the Lord as the greater warrior-king who defends His covenant people. Doctrinal Reflections • Divine Justice: The verse upholds God’s role as the righteous Judge (Psalm 7:11; Romans 12:19). Disabling the “fangs” reflects God’s moral order in which evil is neither ignored nor allowed to prevail. Christological Perspective The metaphor foreshadows the victory of the Messiah, the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Revelation 5:5), who triumphs not by predatory force but by sacrificial authority. At Calvary He disarmed principalities (Colossians 2:15), figuratively breaking their fangs, and He will consummate that victory at His return. Practical Ministry Applications • Intercession Against Injustice: Believers may boldly ask God to dismantle systems and agents of violence, confident that He hears cries for righteous redress. Summary Used once in Scripture, מַלְתָּעָה evokes the lethal fangs of a lion to dramatize the destructive capacity of the wicked and the necessity of divine intervention. The term enriches biblical theology by highlighting the Lord’s commitment to break the power of evil, secure justice for His people, and point forward to the climactic reign of Christ, in whom every predatory force will finally be rendered toothless. Forms and Transliterations מַלְתְּע֥וֹת מלתעות mal·tə·‘ō·wṯ maltə‘ōwṯ malteotLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 58:6 HEB: שִׁנֵּ֥ימוֹ בְּפִ֑ימוֹ מַלְתְּע֥וֹת כְּ֝פִירִ֗ים נְתֹ֣ץ ׀ KJV: break out the great teeth of the young lions, INT: their teeth their mouth teeth of the young Break 1 Occurrence |
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