Psalms 55:8

I would hasten my escape from the windy storm [and] tempest.

I would hasten {H2363}{H8686)} my escape {H4655} from the windy {H7307} storm {H5584}{H8801)} and tempest {H5591}.

I would quickly find me a shelter from the raging wind and storm."

I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.โ€

I would haste me to a shelter From the stormy wind and tempest.

Commentary

Psalm 55:8 KJV Commentary: Seeking Refuge from Life's Storms

Context

Psalm 55 is a profound lament by David, expressing deep distress, fear, and the pain of betrayal by a trusted friend (implied in verses 12-14). Overwhelmed by his enemies and the treachery around him, David longs for immediate relief. This verse, "I would hasten my escape from the windy storm [and] tempest," follows his desperate wish for wings like a dove to fly away and find rest (Psalm 55:6-7). The "windy storm and tempest" serve as powerful metaphors for the intense, chaotic, and destructive troubles he faces, symbolizing the overwhelming nature of his emotional and physical distress.

Key Themes

  • Desire for Escape and Peace: The verse vividly portrays a universal human longing to flee from overwhelming pain, conflict, and chaos. David's intense wish for a swift escape highlights the severity of his suffering and his yearning for tranquility.
  • Overwhelming Adversity: The imagery of a "windy storm and tempest" powerfully conveys the uncontrollable, violent, and destructive nature of the psalmist's trials. These are not minor inconveniences but life-threatening or soul-crushing difficulties.
  • Seeking Refuge: Though expressing a desire to escape physically, the broader context of the Psalms often points to God as the ultimate refuge and strength in such times.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words for "windy storm" (ruach sa'ar - ืจื•ื— ืกืขืจ) and "tempest" (saphah - ืกืคื”) both emphasize a violent, destructive force. Ruach can mean wind, breath, or spirit, suggesting a powerful, unseen force. Sa'ar specifically denotes a whirlwind or tempest. Saphah implies a sweeping away or destruction. The pairing of these terms intensifies the imagery, painting a picture of an inescapable, all-consuming disaster from which the psalmist desperately wishes to flee. This linguistic emphasis underscores the immense pressure and fear David felt.

Practical Application

Psalm 55:8 resonates deeply with anyone who has felt overwhelmed by life's challengesโ€”whether personal crises, relational conflicts, or societal turmoil. It acknowledges the natural human desire to escape pain and find safety. While we may long to physically remove ourselves from difficult circumstances, this verse encourages us to recognize that true and lasting escape from life's "storms" is ultimately found in seeking refuge in God. He is the one who can provide peace in the midst of the tempest, acting as a shelter from the storm (see Isaiah 25:4). This verse invites us to bring our desperate cries for relief to the Lord, trusting Him to be our ultimate haven.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 4:6

    And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

  • Matthew 7:25

    And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

  • Matthew 7:27

    And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

  • Psalms 18:4

    The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

  • Isaiah 17:12

    ยถ Woe to the multitude of many people, [which] make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, [that] make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!

  • Isaiah 17:13

    The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but [God] shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.
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