Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
His mischief - The mischief which he had designed for others.
Shall return upon his own head - Shall come upon himself. The blow which he aimed at others shall recoil on himself. This is but stating in another form the sentiment which had been expressed in the two previous verses. The language used here has something of a proverbial cast, and perhaps was common in the time of the writer to express this idea.
And his violent dealing - Which he shows to others. The word rendered violent dealing means violence, injustice, oppression, wrong.
Shall all come down upon his own pate - The word here rendered "pate" means properly vertex, top, or crown - as of the head. The idea is that it would come upon himself. He would be treated as he had designed to treat others. The sentiment here expressed is found also in Psalms 9:15; Psalms 35:8; Psalms 37:15. Compare Eurip. Med. 409, and Lucretius v. 1151.
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