3:13 “Their throats are open graves, 4
they deceive with their tongues,
the poison of asps is under their lips.” 5
1 tc Most
2 tn Grk “men.” This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo"), referring to both males and females.
3 sn In Judaism to come into contact with the dead or what is associated with them, even without knowing it, makes one unclean (Num 19:11-22; Lev 21:1-3; Mishnah, m. Demai 2:3). To Pharisees, who would have been so sensitive about contracting ceremonial uncleanness, it would have been quite a stinging rebuke to be told they caused it.
4 tn Grk “their throat is an opened grave.”
5 sn A quotation from Pss 5:9; 140:3.