¹³ “Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving,” “The poison of asps is under their lips”; ¹⁴ “whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”…

Obscure texts are not Paul’s choice to support his point that even the Jews have failed to meet up to God’s righteousness. He quotes three more passages, very picturesque ones at that—but very sober pictures. The first: “Their throat is an open grave.” The context of Psalm 5, from which this is taken, says, “There is nothing reliable in what they say; their inward part is destruction itself … They flatter with their tongue. Hold them guilty, O God…” (Ps 5:9-10a). In referring to this passage, Paul reminds the reader that King David made similar observations about his generation.

What does he mean that their throat is an open grave? He employs multiple figures of speech, which are common in Scripture. We must be careful when we say that we read the Bible literally—that does not mean woodenly. To read literally means we understand the use of literary devices such as metaphors and similes, where one thing is compared to another. Jesus, for example, said things like, “I am the door.” We understand Him to be using a metaphor indicating that in a certain way, He provides the entrance. In our text today, Paul (quoting David) uses first of all an expression called a metonymy, where one word is replaced with another that is associated with it. Here, a person’s voice—what he says—is referred to as his throat. Another figure of speech is layered on top of that: a hypocatasis, which likens one thing with another. In this case, their throat is like a grave that captures people in death. The Jews, who had the Words of God and who should be speaking the truth that should bring people to God, were in reality giving a message that had no hope, or at best, false hope. In the end, living the way the Jews taught brings death.

The next figure of speech (taken from Psalm 140:3) follows with similar imagery, likening the message of the Jews to the venom of a feared snake (possibly an Egyptian cobra). Finally, their mouths are pictured as being filled up with cursing and bitterness (from Psalm 10:7). In context, that Psalm addresses “the wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, [who] does not seek [God]. All his thoughts are, ‘There is no God’” (Ps 10:4). Paul compares the Jews of his day to an atheist who denies God’s existence. They may give lip service to God, but by their teachings they are no better than crude atheists.

Any religion or message about living righteously before God that begins with human efforts is ultimately a message of blatant deception.

Lord, help me never put my own efforts of righteousness before You for reward.