Psalm 37/Notes/Phrasal.v. 14.689258

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The clause translated they have drawn their swords is literally "they have opened their swords." In Hebrew, a sword is like a mouth that devours (e.g., Deut 23:42—וְחַרְבִּ֖י תֹּאכַ֣ל בָּשָׂ֑ר). Just as a person opens their mouth to prepare to eat, so a warrior "opens" his sword to prepare to slay someone. English uses the verb "to draw" (so most English translations; so LXX: ῥομφαίαν ἐσπάσαντο; cf. BDB, DCH; cf. Ezek 21:33—חֶ֣רֶב חֶ֤רֶב פְּתוּחָה֙ לְטֶ֣בַח מְרוּטָ֔ה).