Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
Ver. 21. Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue] That is, from reproaches and slanders, which is a tongue smiting, Jeremiah 18:18, as smart as any hand smiting, and draws blood, Ezekiel 22:9. Backbiting is backbeating (Speed.). The devil is both a liar and a murderer, John 8:44. Humphrey, duke of Gloucester, was by the people of England thought to be doubly murdered (saith the chronicler), viz. by detraction and deadly practice. Plato commendeth that law of the Lydians that punished detracters like as they did murderers; because their words are swords, and their breath, as fire, devoureth, Isaiah 33:10. Now from such pests the Lord promiseth to hide his people, that either the traducer shall not find them, or not fasten upon them: Dabbar is the Hebrew for a word, Debher for a pest (Drus.). Some render the text thus, He shall be hid, cum vagabitur lingua, when the tongue wandereth or walketh about. Their tongue walketh through the earth, Psalms 73:9, it runs all the world over, and, like a mad dog, snaps at every one. Hence the Hebrew word Ragal, to defame or slander, Psalms 15:3, properly noteth a footing it up and down, a going to and fro to carry tales and rumours, 2 Samuel 19:27. Now from such a mischief, from the lash of such lewd tongues, God will hide his people under the hollow of his hand, because he knows that many a good heart is more afflicted with words than with blows, Psalms 42:3. St Paul reckoned that it were better for him to die than that any man should make his glorying void, that is, take away his good name, and so disable him from doing good by his ministry, 1 Corinthians 9:15 .
Neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh] Much less at the rumour of it, Mat 24:6 Luke 24:6. Thou shalt walk about the world as a conqueror, being above fear, then when others are below hope. Noah like-thou shall be, - mediis tranquillus in undis, calm in the midst of the waves, and not as Magormissabib, a terror to thyself and all about thee, Jeremiah 20:3 .