Written by Sue Sanders
“Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving, the poison of asps in under their lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness” (Romans 3: 13, 14, New American Standard Bible).
What a vivid description of the evil behind our words! Ellicott explains that the open or yawning grave is not just an open pit into which a man might fall but is a “sort of pestiferous chasm yawning and ravening, as it were, after its prey” (Ellicott). Their throat is compared to an open grave –the foul, rotten, decaying smell overpowering.
The asp, or adder, is a species of serpent whose poison “kills almost the instant that it penetrates, and that without remedy” (Barnes). It is one of the most poisonous of serpents. The asp is small and often conceals itself “in the ‘sand` in a road and strikes the traveler before he sees it” (Barnes).
Barnes explains that the “poison of the serpent is contained in a small bag which is concealed at the root of the tooth. When the tooth is struck into the flesh, the poison is pressed out, through a small hole in the tooth, into the wound” (Barnes). It is easy to see how the asp is a picture of the slanderer. The poison of the asp is “rapid, certain, spreading quickly through the system, and producing death” (Barnes). The slanderer’s words are quick, subtle, powerful and deadly to one’s reputation.
James says “the tongue is a fire. . .set on fire by hell. . . an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” He indicates that from our mouths flow both cursings and blessings. Let us observe the course of our conversation, as it flows from the heart, by the avenue of our throats, our tongues, and our lips because much of our sin consists in words (Bengel).
“Take control of what I say, O LORD, and guard my lips.
Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness” (NLT, Psalm 141:3, 4a).
Barnes, Albert. Notes on the Bible (1834). Text Courtesy of Internet Sacred Texts Archive. Bible Hub. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
Bengel, Johann. The Gnomon of the New Testament Commentary and Dictionary (5 Vols) Droid MySword Version (Updated). Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Bible Hub. Web. 20 Nov. 2014.
Benson, Joseph. Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (8 vols.). British Methodists: 1811-1817. Bible Hub. Web. 19 Nov. 2014.
Ellicott, C. J., ed. A Bible Commentary for English Readers, Job—Isaiah. Cassell and Company: 1905. Bible Hub. Web. 19Nov. 2014.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1996, 2004, 2007. Bible Hub. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.
Updated edition, 1995. New American Standard Bible. Anaheim, California: Foundation Publications, 1995. Bible Hub. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.
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