Psalms 91:10

KJV

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

KJV (with Strong's)

There shall no evil {H7451} befall {H579}{H8792)} thee, neither shall any plague {H5061} come nigh {H7126}{H8799)} thy dwelling {H168}.

Complete Jewish Bible

No disaster will happen to you, no calamity will come near your tent;

Berean Standard Bible

no evil will befall you, no plague will approach your tent.

American Standard Version

There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 91:10 stands as a profound declaration of God's comprehensive and unwavering protection for those who intentionally abide in His presence. This verse, "There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling," encapsulates a divine promise of safety and security, assuring the faithful that under the Almighty's sovereign care, no destructive harm or calamitous affliction will ultimately prevail against them or their household.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 91 is a magnificent psalm of trust, confidence, and divine protection, immediately establishing the foundational condition for its promises in [verse 1](/psalms/91-1 "Psalms 91:1 - Dwelling in the Secret Place of the Most High"), which speaks of "dwelling in the secret place of the most High" and "abiding under the shadow of the Almighty." The psalm then elaborates on God's character as a [refuge and a fortress](/psalms/91-2 "Psalms 91:2 - My Refuge and My Fortress"), promising deliverance from the fowler's snare, the noisome pestilence, and the terror by night. It assures the believer that God's truth will be their shield and buckler, protecting them from various dangers, including arrows, pestilence, and destruction (cf. [Psalms 91:3-6](/psalms/91-3 "Psalms 91:3-6 - Protection from Snares and Pestilence")). Verse 10 serves as a direct, emphatic culmination of these assurances, explicitly stating that because the believer has "made the Lord... thy habitation" ([Psalms 91:9](/psalms/91-9 "Psalms 91:9 - Making the Lord Your Dwelling Place")), they will experience a unique preservation from both general harm and specific afflictions, extending this divine watchcare not only to the individual but also to their home.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, life was inherently precarious, marked by constant threats from warfare, banditry, famine, and widespread diseases for which there was little understanding or remedy. Homes and families were particularly vulnerable, serving as both the center of life and the primary unit of security. The concept of a "dwelling" (Hebrew: _'ohel_ or _bayit_) was deeply significant, representing not just a physical structure but the entire household, including family, possessions, and lineage. In such a world, the promise of divine protection against "evil" (calamity) and "plague" (pestilence) was not merely comforting but revolutionary. It contrasted sharply with the prevalent reliance on human defenses, superstitious practices, or the capricious nature of pagan deities. This psalm offers a theological framework where the one true God is the ultimate, reliable, and all-encompassing protector, whose shelter is far more secure than any human fortress or medical intervention available at the time.
* **Key Themes:** The central theme of Psalms 91:10, and indeed the entire psalm, is **Divine Protection**, emphasizing God's active, comprehensive, and personal safeguarding of His faithful. This is not a passive hope but an assurance of God's direct intervention against threats. A related theme is **Immunity from Specific Harms**, as the verse explicitly names "evil" (_ra'_, encompassing general calamity or misfortune) and "plague" (_nega'_, referring to affliction, disease, or disaster). This highlights God's ability to shield His people from both broad adversity and specific outbreaks of illness, underscoring the thoroughness of His care. Furthermore, the theme of **Protection for the Dwelling** is prominent, signifying that God's care extends beyond the individual to their home, family, and personal space, offering profound comfort regarding the safety of loved ones and property. Finally, these promises are deeply rooted in **Covenantal Assurance**, indicating that this protection is a benefit for those who genuinely seek, trust, and rely on God, making Him their ultimate refuge and habitation, as articulated in [Psalms 91:1](/psalms/91-1 "Psalms 91:1 - Dwelling in the Secret Place of the Most High") and [Psalms 91:9](/psalms/91-9 "Psalms 91:9 - Making the Lord Your Dwelling Place").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Evil (Hebrew, _ra'_):** This broad Hebrew term (רַע) encompasses anything from moral wickedness to physical calamity, disaster, misfortune, or adversity. In the context of Psalms 91:10, it primarily refers to destructive harm, misfortune, or any form of adversity that might befall an individual or their household. It signifies a comprehensive protection from all manner of detrimental occurrences.
* **Plague (Hebrew, _nega'_):** The word _nega'_ (נֶגַע) literally means a "stroke," "blow," or "affliction." In the Old Testament, it is frequently used to describe a divinely sent disease, a skin affliction (like leprosy), or a severe calamity/disaster. Here, it specifically denotes protection from pestilence, epidemics, or any form of severe, widespread illness that could devastate a community or household.
* **Dwelling (Hebrew, _'ohel'_):** The term _'ohel_ (אֹהֶל) refers to a tent or, by extension, a home or habitation. It is a significant word that emphasizes the extension of God's protection beyond the individual's person to their entire household, including family members, possessions, and the very space they inhabit. This underscores the completeness and intimacy of God's protective care.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"There shall no evil befall thee":** This clause declares a comprehensive promise of divine protection, assuring the individual that no general calamity, misfortune, or destructive harm will ultimately come upon them. It speaks to God's sovereign control over adverse circumstances, ensuring that nothing will happen to His faithful ones that is outside of His divine permission or ultimate purpose.
* **"neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling":** This second clause specifies the nature of the protection, focusing on deliverance from "plague" or severe affliction, particularly disease. The extension of this protection to "thy dwelling" (your home or household) highlights God's holistic care, encompassing not only the individual but also their family and the physical space they inhabit. It is a profound assurance of safety for one's most intimate sphere of life.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 91:10 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message of divine protection. **Parallelism** is evident in the two balanced clauses: "There shall no evil befall thee" and "neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling." This synonymous parallelism reinforces and expands the central idea, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of God's protection from both general adversity ("evil") and specific afflictions ("plague"), extending it from the individual to their entire household. The use of **Hyperbole** or strong assurance is also present; while believers are not entirely immune to all suffering in a fallen world, the verse uses absolute language ("no evil," "no plague") to convey the *certainty* and *prevailing power* of God's ultimate protective oversight. It speaks to a divine sovereignty that ensures no harm will ultimately conquer or separate the believer from God's purposes. Furthermore, "dwelling" functions as a form of **Metonymy** or **Synecdoche**, where the physical structure represents the entire household, including family members and all that is contained within it, thereby broadening the scope of the promised protection.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 91:10 profoundly connects to the theological understanding of God as a faithful and sovereign Protector, whose character is inherently good and whose promises are unfailing. It underscores the concept of divine providence, where God actively watches over and intervenes on behalf of those who trust in Him. This protection is not merely passive but an active shield against the forces of harm and destruction, rooted in the covenantal relationship established through faith and abiding in His presence. While not a guarantee of an absence of all trials in a fallen world, it assures that no ultimate evil or destructive plague will prevail against the believer, aligning with the broader biblical truth that God works all things for the good of those who love Him, even amidst hardship.

* [Proverbs 1:33](/proverbs/1-33 "Proverbs 1:33 - Dwelling Securely")
* [Isaiah 41:10](/isaiah/41-10 "Isaiah 41:10 - Do Not Fear, For I Am With You")
* [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "Romans 8:28 - All Things Work for Good")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 91:10 offers profound comfort and unwavering assurance to believers navigating a world fraught with uncertainties, diseases, and dangers. It encourages a deeper, more radical trust in God's sovereignty and His benevolent watchcare, reminding us that our ultimate security rests not in human strength, medical advancements, or economic stability, but in the Almighty's protective embrace. While this verse does not promise an exemption from all suffering or trials—as believers, like all humanity, still face hardships in a fallen world—it assures us that no evil or plague will ultimately prevail against or destroy those who are truly committed to God and abide in His presence. It speaks to an ultimate divine oversight, where even difficulties are subject to God's higher purpose and cannot separate us from His love or thwart His ultimate plan for our lives. This verse is a powerful call to continually seek refuge in God, especially in times of fear or crisis, knowing that His protective hand is upon His people and their homes, transforming our anxieties into peace and our fear into faith.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this verse challenge or affirm your understanding of God's protection in a world where believers still experience suffering and illness?**
* **What does it mean practically to "abide in the secret place of the Most High" (Psalms 91:1) in your daily life, and how does this abiding relate to experiencing God's protection?**
* **When facing personal fears, global crises, or health concerns, how can you apply the assurance of Psalms 91:10 to strengthen your faith and find peace?**

### FAQ

**Does Psalms 91:10 promise that believers will never get sick or experience misfortune?**

Answer: No, Psalms 91:10 does not promise absolute immunity from all suffering, illness, or misfortune in a fallen world. The psalm is a declaration of God's *ultimate* and *sovereign* protection for those who abide in Him, ensuring that no evil or plague will *ultimately* prevail or separate them from God's purposes. Believers, like all people, live in a world impacted by sin and its consequences, including sickness and hardship (cf. [John 16:33](/john/16-33 "John 16:33 - In the World You Will Have Tribulation")). Rather than guaranteeing an absence of all trials, the verse assures believers of God's presence, preservation, and ultimate triumph *through* such difficulties. It means that no evil or plague will befall you in a way that thwarts God's ultimate plan for your life or separates you from His love (cf. [Romans 8:35-39](/romans/8-35 "Romans 8:35-39 - Nothing Can Separate Us From God's Love")).

**How does "dwelling" in God relate to receiving the protection promised in this verse?**

Answer: The "dwelling" or "abiding" mentioned in Psalms 91:1, which sets the condition for the promises of verse 10, signifies a continual, intentional, and intimate relationship of trust, dependence, and fellowship with God. It's not a one-time act but a lifestyle of seeking God's presence, making Him one's ultimate refuge, and living in obedience to His will. This deep, personal commitment to God is the foundation for experiencing the comprehensive protection described in the psalm. It implies a posture of faith where one consistently seeks shelter under God's wings, allowing His truth to be their shield. This active "dwelling" ensures that the believer remains within the sphere of God's protective care, even as the world around them experiences turmoil.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 91:10 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While the psalm speaks of God's protective care for His people, it is in Christ that believers truly find their ultimate "dwelling place" and refuge from all evil and spiritual plague. Jesus Himself experienced the full onslaught of evil and affliction, enduring the cross, the ultimate "plague" of sin and death, to secure our eternal protection. Through His death and resurrection, He conquered the powers of darkness, ensuring that for those who are "in Christ," no spiritual evil or eternal plague can ultimately befall them (cf. [Colossians 1:13](/colossians/1-13 "Colossians 1:13 - Delivered from the Domain of Darkness")). He is our true "habitation," and by His indwelling Spirit, we are kept from the dominion of the evil one (cf. [1 John 5:18](/1_john/5-18 "1 John 5:18 - The Evil One Cannot Touch Us")). The promise that "no evil shall befall thee" is realized in the spiritual security and eternal life found in Him, where there is "no condemnation" for those who are in Christ Jesus (cf. [Romans 8:1](/romans/8-1 "Romans 8:1 - No Condemnation in Christ Jesus")). Our dwelling in Him guarantees our ultimate safety, not necessarily from all earthly suffering, but from any harm that could separate us from God's eternal love and purpose.

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

Proverbs 12:21

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

Psalms 121:7

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

Deuteronomy 7:15

And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all [them] that hate thee.

Job 5:24

And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle [shall be] in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.

Romans 8:25

But if we hope for that we see not, [then] do we with patience wait for [it].