Their tongue is as an arrow shot out,.... As an arrow out of a bow, which moves swiftly, and comes with great force; or, "drawn out" u; as out of a quiver. The word is used of gold, and rendered "beaten gold", 1 Kings 10:16, gold drawn out into plates; and here of an arrow drawn out of a quiver; and so it is interpreted in the Talmud w; or is "wounding", as the Septuagint, or "slaying" x; denoting the mischief and injury done to the characters of men, by a deceitful, detracting, and calumniating tongue. The Targum is, "as a sharp arrow their tongue"; which pierces deep, and is deadly; Jeremiah 9:3,
it speaketh deceit; deceitful words, by which men are imposed upon, and are led into wrong ways of thinking and acting:
one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth; salutes him in a friendly manner; wishes him all health, peace, and prosperity; professes a sincere and cordial friendship for him, and pretends a strong affection to him:
but in his heart he layeth wait; to draw him into snares, and circumvent, trick, and defraud him.
u שוחט "extensa, [vel] tracta", Vatablus w T. Bab. Cholin, fol. 30. 2. & Gloss. in ib. x Jugulans, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.