Romans 3:13

Romans 3:13

Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

1. “Their throat is an open sepulchre; …”

a. Their [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

b. throat [Strong: 2995 larugx lar'-oongks of uncertain derivation; the throat ("larynx"):--throat.]

c. is an open [Strong: 455 anoigo an-oy'-go from 303 and oigo (to open); to open up (literally or figuratively, in various applications):--open.]

d. sepulcher [Strong: 5028 taphos taf'-os masculine from 2290; a grave (the place of interment):--sepulchre, tomb.]

1). Paul’s description of mankind in general inspired by the Holy Ghost matches what Jesus said about unconverted religious leaders.

a). Matthew 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

2. “…with their tongues they have used deceit…”

a. [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

     

b. [with] their [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

c. tongues [Strongs: 1100 glossa gloce-sah' of uncertain affinity; the tongue; by implication, a language (specially, one naturally unacquired):--tongue.]

d. they have used deceit [Strong: 1387 dolioo dol-ee-o'-o from 1386; to be guileful:--use deceit.]

2. “…the poison of asps is under their lips:”

a. [the] poison [Strong: 2447 ios ee-os' perhaps from eimi (to go) or hiemi (to send); rust (as if emitted by metals); also venom (as emitted by serpents):--poison, rust.]

b. [of] asps [Strong: 785 aspis as-pece' of uncertain derivation; a buckler (or round shield); used of a serpent (as coiling itself), probably the "asp":--asp.]

c. [is] under [Strong: 5259 hupo hoop-o' a primary preposition; under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither (underneath) or where (below) or time (when (at)):--among, by, from, in, of, under, with. In the comparative, it retains the same general applications, especially of inferior position or condition, and specially, covertly or moderately.]

d. their [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

e. lips [Strong: 5491 cheilos khi'-los from a form of the same as 5490; a lip (as a pouring place); figuratively, a margin (of water):--lip, shore.]

     

1). Psalm 140:3 They havesharpened their tongues like a serpent; adder’s poison is under their lips.

2). Here the fallen nature of mankind (the law of sin and death, Romans 7:14-24), that entered into him at the fall in the garden is compared to the poison of asps. I believe this links the entering in of sin into man with the entering in of carnivorus natures into the animals.