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Psalms 91

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The Security of Dwelling in the Most High 1–2

1
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. ​
2
I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. ​

Deliverance from Calamity and Fear 3–8

3
Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. ​
4
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. ​
5
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. ​
7
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

The Habitation of the Faithful 9–13

9
Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; ​
10
There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. ​
12
They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. ​

The Lord's Personal Promise 14–16

14
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. ​
15
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16
With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for Psalms 91

Verse 1

the secret place of the most High — Seter is a covering or hiding place, the 'secret of his tabernacle' where the LORD hides his own (Ps 27:5). 'Abide' is lun, to lodge for the night; the one who dwells there stays under the 'shadow' (tsel) of Shaddai, the Almighty, as under 'the shadow of thy wings' (Ps 17:8).

Verse 2

my refuge and my fortress — Machaseh is a shelter to flee to, and metsudah a stronghold, the word David uses in 'The LORD is my rock, and my fortress… in whom I will trust' (Ps 18:2). The speaker names the LORD first, then 'my God', and 'trust' (batach) is his own resolve: 'will I trust'.

Verse 3

the snare of the fowler — Yaqush is the bird-catcher and pach his spring-net, the picture of Ps 124:7, 'Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken.' 'Pestilence' is deber, which returns in v.6; the two dangers, hidden trap and deadly plague, frame the first promise.

Verse 4

cover thee with his feathers — Sakak is to screen or cover over; the bird imagery matches 'the covert of thy wings' (Ps 61:4) and the eagle that 'spreadeth abroad her wings' over her young (Deut 32:11). 'Trust' here is chasah, to flee for refuge. 'Truth' (emet) is the LORD's faithfulness, the 'shield and buckler' that surrounds.

Verse 6

the pestilence that walketh in darkness — Deber, the word of v.3, now seen stalking unseen, while 'destruction' (qeteb) 'wasteth at noonday', in full light. Together with v.5 the verse runs night and day, as Ps 121:6: 'The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.'

Verse 9

which is my refuge — The speaker breaks in with his own testimony, using machaseh from v.2, and then addresses the hearer: 'thou hast made… the most High, thy habitation.' Ma'on is a dwelling-place, the word of Moses' 'Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations' (Ps 90:1), the psalm just before.

Verse 11

give his angels charge over thee — Tsavah, to command. The devil quoted this verse and the next to Christ in the temptation (Matt 4:6; Luke 4:10), stopping before 'in all thy ways'. The promise itself stands: angels are 'ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation' (Heb 1:14).

Verse 13

tread upon the lion and adder — Four creatures, shachal and kephir (lion, young lion), pethen (adder) and tannin (the dragon or serpent), are put under the feet. Christ gives the like authority: 'power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy' (Luke 10:19); cf. Rom 16:20.

Verse 14

set his love upon me — The LORD himself now speaks. Chashaq is to cling to, a love that holds fast; 'set him on high' is sagab, to put out of reach of danger. 'Known my name' means knowing the LORD by his revealed character: 'they that know thy name will put their trust in thee' (Ps 9:10).

Verse 16

With long life — Literally 'length of days' (orek yamim), the blessing of Prov 3:2 and the gift asked in Ps 21:4, 'length of days for ever and ever'. 'Satisfy' (saba') is to fill to the full. The psalm ends on 'my salvation' (yeshuah), deliverance that the LORD himself will let him see.