Psalm 59:6

 Psalm 59:6

They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.

a. ASV: They return at evening, they howl like a dog, And go round about the city.  [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

b. YLT: They turn back at evening, They make a noise like a dog, And go round about the city.  [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. Classic Amplified: They return at evening, they howl and snarl like dogs, and go [prowling] about the city.  [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Tehillim/Psalms [Psalm 59:6 in our Bible is Psalm 59:7 in the Jewish Bible]: They return toward evening, they howl like the dog and go round about the city.   [THE ARTSCROLL TANACH SERIES TEHILLIM / PSALMS PERSONAL SIZE EDITION VOL.1, VOL. II, VOL. III, VOL. IV, VOL. V. Ⓒ Copyright 1977, 1985, 1996 by MESORAH PUBLICATIONS, Ltd.]

e. ESV: Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. [Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

1. “They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.”

a. [They] return [Strong: shûwb, shoob; a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again:—((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) × again, (cause to) answer ( again), × in any case (wise), × at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, × certainly, come again (back), × consider, continually, convert, deliver (again), deny, draw back, fetch home again, × fro, get (oneself) (back) again, × give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, × needs, be past, × pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, × surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw.]

b. [at] evening [Strong: 6153 ʻereb, eh'-reb; from H6150; dusk:— day, even(-ing, tide), night.]

c. [they make a] noise [Strong: 1993 hâmâh, haw-maw'; a primitive root (compare H1949); to make a loud sound (like English 'hum'); by implication, to be in great commotion or tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor:—clamorous, concourse, cry aloud, be disquieted, loud, mourn, be moved, make a noise, rage, roar, sound, be troubled, make in tumult, tumultuous, be in an uproar.]

d. [like a] dog [Strong: 3611 keleb, keh'-leb; from an unused root means. to yelp, or else to attack; a dog; hence (by euphemism) a male prostitute:—dog.]

1). Unger’s Bible Dictionary: In Bible times, as now, troops of hungry and half-wild dogs roamed the fields and the streets feeding upon dead bodies and other refuse (1 Kings 14:11; 1 Kings 16:4; 1 Kings 21:19; 1 Kings 21:23; 2 Kings 9:10, 2 Kings 9:36; Jeremiah 15:3), and thus became objects of dislike. Fierce and cruel enemies were called dogs (Psalm 22:16; Jeremiah 15:3). The dog being an unclean animal, the terms “dog,” “dead dog,” “dog’s head” were used as terms of reproach, or of humiliation is speaking of one’s self (1 Samuel 24:14; 2 Samuel 3:8; 2 Samuel 9:8; 2 Kings 8:13). In the East “dog” is used for impure and profane persons and was used by the Jews respecting the Gentiles (Matthew 15:26). False prophets are called “dogs’ on account of impurity and love of gain (Philippians 3:2). Those who are shut out of the kingdom of heaven are also called “dogs” (Revelation 22:15) on account of their vileness, probably a reference to homosexuality.

e. [and go] round about [Strong: 5437 çâbab, saw-bab'; a primitive root; to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively:—bring, cast, fetch, lead, make, walk, × whirl, × round about, be about on every side, apply, avoid, beset (about), besiege, bring again, carry (about), change, cause to come about, × circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, round), drive, environ, × on every side, beset (close, come, compass, go, stand) round about, inclose, remove, return, set, sit down, turn (self) (about, aside, away, back).]

f. [the] city [Strong: 5892 ʻîyr, eer; or (in the plural) עָר ʻâr; or עָיַר ʻâyar; (Judges 10:4), from H5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post):—Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.]