Psalms91
World English Bible · Public Domain
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of Yahweh, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that wastes at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked.
9 Because you have made Yahweh your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,
10 no evil shall happen to you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
11 For he will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.
12 They will bear you up in their hands, so that you won’t dash your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and cobra. You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot.
14 “Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high, because he has known my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him, and honor him.
16 I will satisfy him with long life, and show 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.