Psalms 121:7

The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

The LORD {H3068} shall preserve {H8104} thee from all evil {H7451}: he shall preserve {H8104} thy soul {H5315}.

ADONAI will guard you against all harm; he will guard your life.

The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul.

Jehovah will keep thee from all evil; He will keep thy soul.

Context of Psalms 121:7

Psalm 121 is one of the "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), traditionally sung by pilgrims as they traveled uphill to Jerusalem for the great annual festivals. These psalms often express a sense of reliance and trust in God during a vulnerable journey. Verse 7 specifically builds upon the preceding verses, which establish the LORD as the ever-watchful "keeper" (Hebrew: shomer) of His people, emphasizing His constant vigilance over them. The journey itself symbolized life's challenges, requiring divine protection. For more on the context of this psalm, you might read Psalm 121:1.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Preservation: The central theme is God's active and continuous preservation of His people. The word "preserve" (Hebrew: shamar, meaning to guard, watch, keep, attend to) is used twice for emphasis, underscoring the certainty and totality of God's protective care.
  • Comprehensive Protection: "From all evil" signifies that God's protection is not limited to specific threats but extends to every form of harm—physical dangers, moral corruption, spiritual attacks, and even the general adversities of life. This promise offers profound assurance.
  • Preservation of the Soul: The second clause, "he shall preserve thy soul," highlights a deeper dimension of God's safeguarding. It's not just about physical safety, but about the inner being, one's spiritual life, character, and eternal destiny. This implies God's care for one's spiritual well-being, faith, and integrity, ensuring that the core of who a person is remains secure in Him. This resonates with the New Testament concept of God's faithfulness, as seen in 2 Thessalonians 3:3, which states, "But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil."
  • Sovereignty and Trust: The verse places the ultimate responsibility for preservation squarely on "The LORD," emphasizing His sovereign power and unwavering commitment to His covenant people. It invites absolute trust in His unfailing guardianship.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word repeated for "preserve" is shamar (שָׁמַר). This verb conveys the idea of guarding, keeping watch over, protecting, and diligently attending to. Its double usage in this verse—first generally ("preserve thee") and then specifically ("preserve thy soul")—intensifies the promise, indicating a comprehensive and profound level of divine care that extends to both external circumstances and internal spiritual life.

Practical Application

For believers today, Psalms 121:7 offers immense comfort and strength. It reminds us that no matter the challenges or evils we face—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—God's protective hand is upon us. This verse encourages us to release anxiety and fear, resting in the assurance that our ultimate well-being, especially our spiritual life, is secure in the LORD. It's a call to unwavering faith, knowing that the God who neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4) is actively preserving our souls for His eternal purposes. This divine promise of preservation is a source of peace in a turbulent world.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Timothy 4:18

    And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve [me] unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.

  • Psalms 91:9

    ¶ Because thou hast made the LORD, [which is] my refuge, [even] the most High, thy habitation;

  • Psalms 91:12

    They shall bear thee up in [their] hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

  • Psalms 41:2

    The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; [and] he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

  • Proverbs 12:21

    ¶ There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

  • Romans 8:35

    Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

  • Romans 8:39

    Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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