Psalms 56:4

KJV

In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

KJV (with Strong's)

In God {H430} I will praise {H1984}{H8762)} his word {H1697}, in God {H430} I have put my trust {H982}{H8804)}; I will not fear {H3372}{H8799)} what flesh {H1320} can do {H6213}{H8799)} unto me.

Complete Jewish Bible

In God - I praise his word -in God I trust; I have no fear; what can human power do to me?

Berean Standard Bible

In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

American Standard Version

In God (I will praise his word), In God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid; What can flesh do unto me?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 56:4 stands as a profound declaration of unwavering faith from David, penned during a perilous period when he was seized by the Philistines in Gath. Amidst overwhelming human opposition and immediate danger, David articulates a steadfast commitment to laud God's revealed word and to place his complete, unreserved trust in the Almighty. This verse powerfully encapsulates the triumph of divine confidence over human fear, asserting that the finite capabilities of "flesh" are utterly insignificant when juxtaposed with the infinite sovereignty and unfailing faithfulness of God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 56 is introduced as a "Michtam of David," a term often interpreted as a "golden psalm" or a "psalm of enduring significance," suggesting a composition of profound spiritual and artistic value. The superscription precisely situates the psalm "when the Philistines took him in Gath," immediately establishing the dire circumstances of David's life. The preceding verses vividly depict David's anguish and the relentless pursuit of his adversaries, as he cries out for mercy and deliverance from those who "would swallow me up" and "fight against me all the day" [Psalms 56:1-3](/psalms/56-1-3 "Psalm 56:1-3 - David's Plea for Mercy Amidst Oppression"). Yet, amidst this lament and description of distress, David consistently pivots to powerful affirmations of trust and confidence in God. Verse 4 serves as a pivotal declaration, articulating the theological bedrock of his courage, which then informs his subsequent pleas, vows, and expressions of certainty in God's intervention later in the psalm, such as his conviction that "God is for me" [Psalms 56:9-11](/psalms/56-9-11 "Psalm 56:9-11 - God is for Me and My Vows"). This structural movement from lament to trust underscores the psalm's central message of faith overcoming fear.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Psalm 56 is meticulously recorded in [1 Samuel 21:10-15](/1_samuel/21-10-15 "1 Samuel 21:10-15 - David's Flight to Gath and Feigned Madness"). Following his desperate flight from King Saul's relentless pursuit, David sought refuge in Gath, a formidable Philistine city and the ancestral home of Goliath, the giant David had famously slain. This was an extraordinarily perilous and counterintuitive move, as the Philistines were Israel's sworn and most potent enemies. David's life was immediately jeopardized when he was recognized by the servants of King Achish, who identified him as "David the king of the land." To escape certain death or capture, David resorted to feigning madness, scribbling on the city gates and allowing saliva to run down his beard—a culturally understood sign of insanity that would typically render an individual harmless and unworthy of attention. In this verse, "flesh" (Hebrew: _bâśâr_) refers specifically to these mortal, hostile Philistines and, more broadly, to the limited, vulnerable nature of all human beings and their capacity for harm. David's profound declaration of not fearing "what flesh can do" is a direct and courageous challenge to the overwhelming human power arrayed against him, asserting God's ultimate and unassailable authority over all earthly forces and transient threats.
* **Key Themes:** Psalms 56:4 powerfully encapsulates several foundational themes that resonate throughout the Psalter and the wider biblical narrative. Foremost among these is the theme of **unwavering trust in God** despite dire and life-threatening circumstances. This is a recurring motif in David's life, evident in his numerous psalms of lament and praise, where he consistently models radical dependence on the divine. This profound trust is inextricably linked to **the power and reliability of God's word** (Hebrew: _dâbâr_), which is presented not merely as static text but as a dynamic source of strength, comfort, and the very foundation for praise. David's commitment to "praise his word" signifies an active, defiant affirmation of God's promises, character, and faithfulness, even when his immediate reality seems to contradict them. Finally, the verse powerfully addresses the theme of **conquering the fear of man**. By declaring that he will "not fear what flesh can do," David demonstrates a profound theological insight: human power is inherently limited and ultimately subservient to divine sovereignty. This truth is echoed in the New Testament's call to fear God alone, who has power over both body and soul, rather than fearing those who can only harm the body [Matthew 10:28](/matthew/10-28 "Matthew 10:28 - Fear God, Not Man"). This spiritual defiance forms the bedrock of true courage, peace, and spiritual liberty in the face of any adversity.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Praise (Hebrew, _hâlal'_):** Derived from a primitive root meaning "to be clear (originally of sound, but usually of color); to shine," this verb extends to "make a show, to boast," and thus "to be (clamorously) foolish" or "to rave." Causatively, it means "to celebrate." In the context of divine praise, _hâlal_ signifies an active, enthusiastic, and often public declaration of God's inherent worth, His mighty acts, and His glorious attributes. For David, praising God's word is not a passive acknowledgment but a defiant, celebrative affirmation of its truthfulness, reliability, and power, even amidst the overwhelming distress of his capture. It is an act of spiritual warfare, declaring God's faithfulness despite the overwhelming evidence of his perilous circumstances.
* **Trust (Hebrew, _bâṭaḥ'_):** This word signifies a deep, secure reliance, implying "to hide for refuge," "to be confident or sure," or "to lean upon." It conveys a profound sense of confident surrender, akin to falling backward into a strong, utterly dependable embrace. David's trust (H982) is not a fleeting emotion or a mere intellectual assent, but a settled conviction—a deliberate, active choice to rest his entire being, his present predicament, and his uncertain future upon the unshakeable character and unfailing promises of God. It stands as the direct antithesis to anxiety, self-reliance, and the fear of man.
* **Flesh (Hebrew, _bâsâr'_):** This term, derived from its freshness, refers to humanity in its inherent weakness, mortality, and frailty. It encompasses the physical body, the person, and by extension, all of humanity in its limited, temporal, and vulnerable state, often contrasted with the eternal, mighty, and spiritual nature of God. In Psalms 56:4, "flesh" (H1320) specifically denotes mortal human beings and their limited capacity for harm. David's declaration emphasizes that human threats, malicious schemes, or physical violence are ultimately constrained by divine sovereignty; they cannot ultimately touch the soul, thwart God's eternal purposes, or separate those who trust in Him from His ultimate care.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"In God I will praise his word":** This opening clause establishes the ultimate source and object of David's response to adversity: it is "in God"—within His sphere of influence, empowered by His Spirit, and as the ultimate focus of his faith—that David finds the capacity to praise. His praise is specifically directed toward God's "word" (Hebrew: _dâbâr_), which encompasses God's revealed truth, His covenant promises, His divine commands, and His authoritative utterances. This is an active, volitional choice to affirm the reliability and efficacy of God's truth, even when his immediate circumstances seem to contradict it. It is an act of worship and spiritual defiance, declaring God's faithfulness and sovereignty over the apparent reality of his danger and vulnerability.
* **"in God I have put my trust":** This phrase powerfully reiterates and deepens the preceding statement, emphasizing the singular source and unwavering object of David's confidence. The deliberate repetition of "in God" underscores that his reliance is not placed upon his own strength, human alliances, or cunning strategies, but solely and completely upon the divine. This trust is presented as a settled, past decision with ongoing, profound implications, providing the unshakeable bedrock for his subsequent declaration of fearlessness. It is a profound declaration of absolute dependence on the One who is utterly dependable, omnipotent, and faithful.
* **"I will not fear what flesh can do unto me":** This culminating declaration is a powerful statement of defiance, spiritual liberty, and profound peace. Having firmly anchored his praise and trust in God, David arrives at the logical and triumphant conclusion: if God is his ultimate trust and refuge, then mortal "flesh"—human enemies, their malicious schemes, their physical power, or their capacity for harm—holds no ultimate terror or sway over him. This is not a naive denial of danger but a radical reorientation of fear. The fear of man, which often ensnares, paralyzes, and compromises, is utterly overcome by the greater, more profound reverence and confident trust in God's omnipotence, His protective care, and His ultimate control over all things.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 56:4 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound message of unwavering faith and divine confidence. **Repetition** is prominently featured with the phrase "In God," which appears twice at the beginning of the verse. This **anaphora** powerfully emphasizes that God alone is the singular and ultimate source of David's strength, his capacity for praise, and the object of his unshakeable trust, reinforcing the theological truth that all genuine security and spiritual power originate solely from Him. **Contrast** is central to the verse's profound impact, dramatically setting the limited, transient, and vulnerable power of "flesh" (humanity) against the infinite, eternal, and sovereign power of God. This stark juxtaposition highlights the utter futility of fearing mortal man when one's trust is firmly placed in the immortal, omnipotent God. The phrase "I will not fear" functions as a powerful **declaration** or **affirmation**, a resolute and volitional statement of David's will and conviction, rather than a mere statement of fact or emotion. This active choice to reject fear, deeply grounded in his settled trust, serves as an inspiring model for the reader. Finally, the verse exhibits a clear form of **parallelism**, specifically **synthetic parallelism**, where the first two clauses ("In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust") build upon and reinforce each other, establishing the foundational acts of faith, before the third clause ("I will not fear what flesh can do unto me") presents the triumphant and liberating consequence that flows directly from that established faith.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 56:4 resonates deeply with the overarching biblical theme of God's absolute sovereignty and the profound security afforded to the believer who trusts in Him. David's courageous declaration of trust in God, even when surrounded by mortal enemies intent on his destruction, mirrors the consistent biblical teaching that God is the ultimate refuge, an unassailable fortress, and a very present help in times of trouble. This verse powerfully affirms that true courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the profound presence of a faith that transcends and ultimately conquers the fear of human opposition. It underscores the vital theological truth that God's word is not merely a collection of ancient precepts but a living, active, reliable, and powerful revelation of His unchanging character and unfailing promises, upon which believers can confidently stake their very lives and eternal destiny. The conquest of the fear of man, as so boldly expressed here, is a hallmark of a life lived in radical, uncompromising dependence on God, acknowledging that while humans can inflict physical harm and temporary suffering, they cannot ultimately thwart God's eternal purposes or separate His beloved children from His unwavering love and protective care.

* [Proverbs 3:5-6](/proverbs/3-5-6 "Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart")
* [Psalm 119:105](/psalms/119-105 "Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet")
* [Hebrews 13:6](/hebrews/13-6 "Hebrews 13:6 - The Lord is my helper; I will not fear")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 56:4 offers timeless encouragement and a powerful, divinely inspired blueprint for navigating the anxieties and threats of contemporary life. In a world frequently characterized by pervasive fear—fear of economic instability, social rejection, physical harm, political turmoil, or even the unknown future—David's resolute declaration serves as a potent and liberating reminder that our ultimate security, peace, and freedom rest not in human systems, our own limited strength, or fleeting circumstances, but solely in the unchanging character and unfailing promises of God. To "praise His word" in the face of adversity means actively recalling, meditating on, internalizing, and affirming the immutable truths of Scripture, allowing them to profoundly reshape our perspective and calm our deepest fears. It is an active, volitional choice to place our trust in God, not as a passive hope, but as a deliberate act of leaning into His omnipotence, His faithfulness, and His sovereign control over all things. When we truly believe, deep within our being, that God is unequivocally for us, the perceived power of "flesh"—whether it manifests as critics, adversaries, daunting circumstances, or even our own internal anxieties—diminishes significantly, freeing us to live with profound courage, unwavering integrity, and spiritual peace, knowing with absolute certainty that no human force or earthly threat can ultimately undermine God's perfect plan for our lives or His eternal purposes for His children.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What specific "flesh" (e.g., human opposition, societal pressures, fear of failure, or personal anxieties) do you currently fear, and how might David's declaration in this verse challenge and reorient that fear?**
* **Beyond intellectual assent, how can you more intentionally and actively "praise God's word" in your daily life, especially when facing difficult or uncertain circumstances that tempt you to fear?**
* **In what practical, tangible ways can you deepen your "trust" in God, moving beyond a superficial acknowledgment to a profound, settled reliance on His character and promises?**
* **How does a deeper understanding of God's absolute sovereignty and His protective care impact your ability to overcome the fear of what others might think, say, or do to you?**

### FAQ
**What does it mean for David to "praise his word" in the midst of danger, and how is this different from simply believing God's word?**

Answer: For David to "praise his word" in the midst of extreme danger means far more than merely acknowledging God's commands or intellectually assenting to His existence. It signifies an active, defiant, and celebrative affirmation of the truth, reliability, and inherent power of God's promises, His character, and His revealed will. In a moment of acute vulnerability, when human threats were overwhelming, David chose to actively laud and extol God's character as revealed in His word. This act of praise was a spiritual weapon, a deliberate declaration that God's truth was more real, more potent, and more trustworthy than his immediate, terrifying circumstances. It implies a deep meditation on God's faithfulness, a conscious recalling of His past acts of deliverance, and an unwavering clinging to His covenant promises, thereby strengthening his faith and profoundly diminishing the paralyzing fear of man. It is an act of worship that intentionally reorients his perspective from the pressing problem to the all-sufficient, sovereign God, a theme beautifully articulated throughout the [Psalms](/psalms/119 "Psalm 119 - The Longest Psalm on God's Word") regarding the power and comfort of God's law.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 56:4 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. David's declaration of absolute trust and freedom from the fear of "flesh" perfectly foreshadows Christ's own unwavering reliance on the Father and His triumphant victory over all human and spiritual opposition. Jesus, as the incarnate Word of God, perfectly embodied and fulfilled the command to "praise His word" through His life of perfect obedience, His steadfast commitment to the Father's will, and His ultimate submission even unto death on the cross [Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience unto Death"). He faced the ultimate "flesh"—the combined hatred of religious and political powers, the betrayal of His closest disciples, and the excruciating reality of physical torture and crucifixion—yet He did "not fear what flesh can do" because His trust in the Father was absolute and unshakeable [Luke 23:46](/luke/23-46 "Luke 23:46 - Jesus' Last Words of Trust"). Through His victorious death and glorious resurrection, Christ decisively disarmed the power of death and the devil, thereby freeing those who were held in slavery by their lifelong fear of death [Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Christ Destroys the Power of Death"). For believers, our ability to declare, with David, "I will not fear what flesh can do unto me," is not rooted in our own strength or fleeting courage, but fundamentally in our spiritual union with Christ. Because He has conquered all things, we, who are "more than conquerors through Him who loved us" [Romans 8:37](/romans/8-37 "Romans 8:37 - More Than Conquerors"), can stand firm in the face of any human power or earthly threat, knowing with divine certainty that nothing—absolutely nothing—can separate us from the boundless love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord [Romans 8:38-39](/romans/8-38-39 "Romans 8:38-39 - Nothing Can Separate Us from God's Love"). Our confidence is not in the strength of our own faith, but in the perfect faithfulness of the One who has already overcome the world [John 16:33](/john/16-33 "John 16:33 - Jesus Overcomes the World").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 118:6

The LORD [is] on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

Hebrews 13:6

So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Romans 8:31

¶ What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?

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.

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 41:10

¶ Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Psalms 56:10

In God will I praise [his] word: in the LORD will I praise [his] word.