In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
In God {H430} have I put my trust {H982}{H8804)}: I will not be afraid {H3372}{H8799)} what man {H120} can do {H6213}{H8799)} unto me.
in God I trust; I have no fear; what can mere humans do to me?
in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
In God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid; What can man do unto me?
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.
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Psalms 27:1
¶ [A Psalm] of David. The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? -
Isaiah 51:12
I, [even] I, [am] he that comforteth you: who [art] thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man [that] shall die, and of the son of man [which] shall be made [as] grass; -
Isaiah 51:13
And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where [is] the fury of the oppressor? -
Isaiah 51:7
Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart [is] my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. -
Isaiah 51:8
For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation. -
Psalms 112:7
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. -
Psalms 112:8
His heart [is] established, he shall not be afraid, until he see [his desire] upon his enemies.
Psalm 56:11 is a powerful declaration of faith and courage from King David, written during a time of intense personal danger.
Context
Psalm 56 is titled "Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath." This places the psalm during a period when David was fleeing from King Saul and sought refuge among the Philistines, only to find himself recognized and captured (see 1 Samuel 21:10-15). Surrounded by enemies and facing potential death, David expresses his distress and fear in the earlier verses. However, verse 11 marks a turning point, revealing his deliberate choice to place his reliance entirely on God despite his terrifying circumstances.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "trust" is bāṭaḥ (בָּטַח), which carries the sense of leaning on, feeling secure, or being confident. It's a strong word indicating complete reliance. The word for "afraid" is yārē' (יָרֵא), here meaning dread or terror. The contrast shows a conscious decision to replace dread with confident reliance. The term for "man" is 'ĕnôš (אֱנוֹשׁ), often referring to mortal, frail human beings, emphasizing their inherent limitations compared to the eternal God.
Reflection and Application
This verse offers profound encouragement for believers today who face opposition, criticism, or threats from others. Like David, we may encounter situations where people seek to harm us or undermine our faith. Psalm 56:11 calls us to consciously shift our focus from the power of those who oppose us to the unshakeable power and faithfulness of God. By choosing to put our trust in the Lord, we find a peace and courage that transcends our circumstances and the actions of others. It reminds us that while man can affect our physical lives, they cannot ultimately thwart God's plan or separate us from His love and protection (see Romans 8:38-39).