Psalms91
King James Version · Public Domain
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Study
Psalms 91Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 91. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The safety of those who have God for their refuge. (1–8). Their favour with Him. (9–16).
vv1-8
He that by faith chooses God for his protector, shall find all in him that he needs or can desire. And those who have found the comfort of making the Lord their refuge, cannot but desire that others may do so. The spiritual life is protected by Divine grace from the temptations of Satan, which are as the snares of the fowler, and from the contagion of sin, which is a noisome pestilence. Great security is promised to believers in the midst of danger. Wisdom shall keep them from being afraid without cause, and faith shall keep them from being unduly afraid. Whatever is done, our heavenly Father's will is done; and we have no reason to fear. God's people shall see, not only God's promises fulfilled, but his threatenings. Then let sinners come unto the Lord upon his mercy-seat, through the Redeemer's name; and encourage others to trust in him also.
vv9-16
Whatever happens, nothing shall hurt the believer; though trouble and affliction befal, it shall come, not for his hurt, but for good, though for the present it be not joyous but grievous. Those who rightly know God, will set their love upon him. They by prayer constantly call upon him. His promise is, that he will in due time deliver the believer out of trouble, and in the mean time be with him in trouble. The Lord will manage all his worldly concerns, and preserve his life on earth, so long as it shall be good for him. For encouragement in this he looks unto Jesus. He shall live long enough; till he has done the work he was sent into this world for, and is ready for heaven. Who would wish to live a day longer than God has some work to do, either by him or upon him? A man may die young, yet be satisfied with living. But a wicked man is not satisfied even with long life. At length the believer's conflict ends; he has done for ever with trouble, sin, and temptation.
Key Words
יָשַׁב: properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
סֵתֶר: a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative sense)
עֶלְיוֹן: an elevation, i.e. (adj.) lofty (compar.); as title, the Supreme
לוּן: to stop (usually over night); by implication, to stay permanently; hence (in a bad sense) to be obstinate (especially in words, to complain)
צֵל: shade, whether literal or figurative
שַׁדַּי: the Almighty
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
מַחֲסֶה: a shelter (literally or figuratively)
מָצוּד: a net, or (abstractly) capture; also a fastness
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
Cross References
Psalms 91Satan explicitly quotes verses 11-12 to tempt Jesus in the wilderness.
Parallel account of Satan's temptation of Jesus, citing the angelic protection promise.
Jesus grants disciples power to tread on serpents and scorpions, echoing verse 13.
Paul promises that God will bruise Satan (the dragon/serpent) under believers' feet.
Supported by Matthew Henry
God protecting Israel like an eagle fluttering over her young with her wings.
Supported by JFB
Jesus uses the same maternal bird imagery of gathering children under wings.
Supported by JFB
Prayer to be hidden under the shadow of God's wings.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel designation of the Lord as our dwelling place or habitation.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Defines angels as ministering spirits sent to serve heirs of salvation.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The historic pestilence under David, considered by commentators as the Psalm's occasion.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Literal fulfillment of safety from venomous beasts when Paul survives a viper.
Direct parallel: calling upon God in trouble and Him delivering the believer.
Promise that the sun shall not smite by day, nor moon by night.
Wisdom promises that thy foot shall not stumble, and no fear of sudden terror.