TRV
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Psalms 91:1–8. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
In these verses we have,
I.A great truth laid down in general, That all those who live a life of communion with God are constantly safe under his protection, and may therefore preserve a holy serenity and security of mind at all times (Psa 91:1): He that dwells, that sits down, in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty; he that by faith chooses God for his guardian shall find all that in him which he needs or can desire. Note,
1.It is the character of a true believer that he dwells in the secret place of the Most High; he is at home in God, returns to God, and reposes in him as his rest; he acquaints himself with inward religion, and makes heart-work of the service of God, worships within the veil, and loves to be alone with God, to converse with him in solitude.
2.It is the privilege and comfort of those that do so that they abide under the shadow of the Almighty; he shelters them, and comes between them and every thing that would annoy them, whether storm or sunshine. They shall not only have an admittance, but a residence, under God's protection; he will be their rest and refuge for ever.
II.The psalmist's comfortable application of this to himself (Psa 91:2):
I will say of the Lord, whatever others say of him, "He is my refuge; I choose him as such, and confide in him. Others make idols their refuge, but I will say of Jehovah, the true and living God, He is my refuge: any other is a refuge of lies. He is a refuge that will not fail me; for he is my fortress and strong-hold." Idolaters called their idols Mahuzzim, their most strong-hold (Dan 11:39), but therein they deceived themselves; those only secure themselves that make the Lord their God, their fortress. There being no reason to question his sufficiency, fitly does it follow, In him will I trust. If Jehovah be our God, our refuge, and our fortress, what can we desire which we may not be sure to find in him? He is neither fickle nor false, neither weak nor mortal; he is God and not man, and therefore there is no danger of being disappointed in him. We know whom we have trusted.
III.The great encouragement he gives to others to do likewise, not only from his own experience of the comfort of it (for in that there might possibly be a fallacy), but from the truth of God's promise, in which there neither is nor can be any deceit (Psa 91:3, Psa 91:4, etc.): Surely he shall deliver thee. Those who have themselves found the comfort of making God their refuge cannot but desire that others may do so. Now here it is promised,
1.That believers shall be kept from those mischiefs which they are in imminent danger of, and which would be fatal to them (Psa 91:3), from the snare of the fowler, which is laid unseen and catches the unwary prey on a sudden, and from the noisome pestilence, which seizes men unawares and against which there is no guard. This promise protects,
(1.)The natural life, and is often fulfilled in our preservation from those dangers which are very threatening and very near, while yet we ourselves are not apprehensive of them, any more than the bird is of the snare of the fowler. We owe it, more than we are sensible, to the care of the divine Providence that we have been kept from infectious diseases and out of the hands of the wicked and unreasonable.
(2.)The spiritual life, which is protected by divine grace from the temptations of Satan, which are as the snares of the fowler, and from the contagion of sin, which is the noisome pestilence. He that has given grace to be the glory of the soul will create a defence upon all that glory.
2.That God himself will be their protector; those must needs be safe who have him for their keeper, and successful for whom he undertakes (Psa 91:4): He shall cover thee, shall keep thee secret (Psa 31:20), and so keep thee safe, Psa 27:5. God protects believers,
(1.)With the greatest tenderness and affection, which is intimated in that, He shall cover thee with his feathers, under his wings, which alludes to the hen gathering her chickens under wings, Mat 23:37. By natural instinct she not only protects them, but calls them under that protection when she sees them in danger, not only keeps them safe, but cherishes them and keeps them warm. To this the great God is pleased to compare his care of his people, who are helpless as the chickens, and easily made a prey of, but are invited to trust under the shadow of the wings of the divine promise and providence, which is the periphrasis of a proselyte to the true religion, that he has come to trust under the wings of the God of Israel, Rut 2:12.
(2.)With the greatest power and efficacy. Wings and feathers, though spread with the greatest tenderness, are yet weak, and easily broken through, and therefore it is added, His truth shall be thy shield and buckler, a strong defence. God is willing to guard his people as the hen is to guard the chickens, and as able as a man of war in armour.
3.That he will not only keep them from evil, but from the fear of evil, Psa 91:5, Psa 91:6. Here is,
(1.)Great danger supposed; the mention of it is enough to frighten us; night and day we lie exposed, and those that are apt to be timorous will in neither period think themselves safe. When we are retired into our chambers, our beds, and have made all as safe as we can about us, yet there is terror by night, from thieves and robbers, winds and storms, besides those things that are the creatures of fancy and imagination, which are often most frightful of all. We read of fear in the night, Sol 3:8. There is also a pestilence that walketh in darkness, as that was which slew the first-born of the Egyptians, and the army of the Assyrians. No locks nor bars can shut out diseases, while we carry about with us in our bodies the seeds of them. But surely in the day-time, when we can look about us, we are not so much in danger; yes, there is an arrow that flieth by day too, and yet flies unseen; there is a destruction that wasteth at high-noon, when we are awake and have all our friends about us; even then we cannot secure ourselves, nor can they secure us. It was in the day-time that that pestilence wasted which was sent to chastise David for numbering the people, on occasion of which some think this psalm was penned. But,
(2.)Here is great security promised to believers in the midst of this danger: "Thou shalt not be afraid. God by his grace will keep thee from disquieting distrustful fear (that fear which hath torment) in the midst of the greatest dangers. Wisdom shall keep thee from being causelessly afraid, and faith shall keep thee from being inordinately afraid. Thou shalt not be afraid of the arrow, as knowing that though it may hit thee it cannot hurt thee; if it take away the natural life, yet it shall be so far from doing any prejudice to the spiritual life that it shall be its perfection." A believer needs not fear, and therefore should not fear, any arrow, because the point is off, the poison is out. O death! where is thy sting? It is also under divine direction, and will hit where God appoints and not otherwise. Every bullet has its commission. Whatever is done our heavenly Father's will is done; and we have no reason to be afraid of that.
4.That they shall be preserved in common calamities, in a distinguishing way (Psa 91:7): "When death rides in triumph, and diseases rage, so that thousands and ten thousands fall, fall by sickness, or fall by the sword in battle, fall at thy side, at thy right hand, and the sight of their fall is enough to frighten thee, and if they fall by the pestilence their falling so near thee may be likely to infect thee, yet it shall not come nigh thee, the death shall not, the fear of death shall not." Those that preserve their purity in times of general corruption may trust God with their safety in times of general desolation. When multitudes die round about us, though thereby we must be awakened to prepare for our own death, yet we must not be afraid with any amazement, nor make ourselves subject to bondage, as many do all their life-time, through fear of death, Heb 2:15. The sprinkling of blood secured the first-born of Israel when thousands fell. Nay, it is promised to God's people that they shall have the satisfaction of seeing, not only God's promises fulfilled to them, but his threatenings fulfilled upon those that hate them (Psa 91:8): Only with thy eyes shalt thou behold and see the just reward of the wicked, which perhaps refers to the destruction of the first-born of Egypt by the pestilence, which was both the punishment of the oppressors and the enlargement of the oppressed; this Israel saw when they saw themselves unhurt, untouched. As it will aggravate the damnation of sinners that with their eyes they shall behold and see the reward of the righteous (Luk 13:28), so it will magnify the salvation of the saints that with their eyes they shall behold and see the destruction of the wicked, Isa 66:24; Psa 58:10.
Historical interpretation
Two Centuries of Reception
6 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
He said these things about the just and wise person and these are said in the blessings, "You will sleep and there will not be anyone who frightens you." For if I am made just, no one can frighten me; I am afraid of nothing else, if I fear God. For it says, "the just is confident as a lion," and for this reason, he does not fear the lion, the devil, or "the dragon," Satan, or "his angels"; but, according to David, he says, "I shall not be afraid of the nocturnal fear, nor the dart which flies during the day, nor the terror which walks in the darkness nor the ruin and the midday demon." And he adds that "the Lord is my light and my Savior, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defender of my life, at what shall I tremble?" And again, "If an army stands against me, my heart will not fear." You see the steadfastness and vigor of the soul that keeps the commandments of God and has confidence in the freedom that God gives.
When the great David heard and understood this, he [David] said to him “who dwells in the shelter of the most High; He will overshadow you with his shoulders,” which is the same as being behind God (for the shoulder is on the back of the body). Concerning himself David says, “My soul clings close to you, your right hand supports me.” You see how Psalms agree with the history. For as the one says that the right hand is a help to the person who has joined himself close behind God, so the other says that the hand touches the person who waits in the rock on the divine voice and prays that he might follow behind.
“Say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God.’ ” I am hemmed in by enemies. You, therefore, are my refuge. “ ‘In whom I will trust.’ For he will rescue you from the snare of the hunters.’ ” Note carefully that the psalmist did not say “I trust” but “I will trust.” As long as we continue in a life of sin, we certainly are not trusting; if we put an end to sin, then our hope is confident. “For he will rescue you from the snare of the hunters.” There are many hunters in this world that go about setting traps for our soul. Nimrod the giant was a “mighty hunter before the Lord.” Esau, too, was a hunter, for he was a sinner. In all of holy Scripture, never do we find a hunter that is a faithful servant; we do find faithful fishermen.“For he will rescue you from the snare of the hunters.” “We were rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare; broken was the snare, and we were freed.” What snare is this that has been broken? “The Lord,” says the apostle, “will speedily crush Satan under our feet”;10 “that you may recover yourselves from the snare of the devil.” You see, then, that the devil is the hunter, eager to lure our souls unto perdition. The devil is master of many snares, deceptions of all kinds. Avarice is one of his pitfalls, disparagement is his noose, fornication is his bait. “And from the destroying word.” As long as we are in the state of grace, our soul is at peace; but once we begin to play with sin, then our soul is in trouble and is like a boat tossed about by the waves.
“Nor the attack of the noonday demon.” This is better expressed by the Greek. Symptosis implies a chance occurrence when something strange happens unexpectedly; or symptoma may denote a disaster in which many perish at the same time. Grasp, then, what it means. Even though many have been seduced, nevertheless, you who are in the state of grace may escape seduction. I shall give you an example so that even the more simple[-minded] among you may understand what I mean. If you should go to the city, a monk all by yourself, and while you are strolling about you hear a shout in the circus and someone says to you, “Come and see, it is the circus,” and you hold back remonstrating, “I have no permission, I cannot go”; if he should call your attention to the thousands of people there and say to you, “Two hundred thousand people are there, are they all going to be lost, and you alone be saved?” You have to be aware that symptoma is the devil’s own doing. What I am trying to say is that you have to know that many do perish and are lost.
"His truth shall surround you with a shield" [Psalm 91:5]. What are "the wings," the same is "the shield:" since there are neither wings nor shield. If either were literally, how could the one be the same as the other? Can wings be a shield or a shield wings? But all these expressions, indeed, are figuratively used through likenesses. If Christ were really a Stone, [Acts 4:10-11] He could not be a Lion; if a Lion, [Revelation 5:5] He could not be a Lamb: but He is called both Lion, and Lamb, [John 1:29] and Stone, and Calf, and anything else of the sort, metaphorically, because He is neither Stone, nor Lion, nor Lamb, nor Calf, but Jesus Christ, the Saviour of all of us, for these are likenesses, not literal names. "His truth shall be your shield," it is said: a shield to assure us that He will not confound those whose trust is in themselves with those who hope in God. One is a sinner, and the other a sinner: but suppose one that presumes upon himself is a despiser, confesses not his sins, and he will say, if my sins displeased God, He would not suffer me to live. But another dared not even raise his eyes, but beat upon his breast, saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner." [Luke 18:13] Both this was a sinner, and that: but the one mocked, the other mourned: the one was a despiser, the other a confessor, of his sins. But the truth of God, which respects not persons, discerns the penitent from him who denies his sin, the humble from the proud, him who presumes upon himself from him who presumes on God. "You shall not be afraid for any terror by night."
“When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, made from a woman, made under the law.” People are upset by “made from a woman,” because we confess that he was born of a virgin. It is only of man that we confess he was made; God is always the one who makes, he cannot be made in order to be. God cannot be made; but he is made into, or becomes, something for someone, in the way in which it is said of him, “Lord, you have become (or have been made into) a refuge for us”; and, “The Lord has become (has been made) my helper.” How many things he has been made into, though he never was made at all! Now the Lord Christ was made man, … in order for him who was always the creator to be a creature. While remaining God, you see, he became man in order to become what he was not, not in order to stop being what he was.
Continue studying Psalms 91:5 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
Summary
Psalms 91:5 offers a profound assurance of divine protection and unwavering confidence to those who dwell in the presence of the Most High. This verse declares that the faithful believer will not be overcome by sudden, overwhelming dangers, whether they manifest as unseen terrors under the cover of night or as overt, striking threats in the clear light of day, thereby promising comprehensive deliverance from fear and harm.
Context
Literary Context
Psalms 91:5 is an integral part of Psalm 91, a magnificent hymn of trust and divine protection. The psalm opens by establishing the foundational relationship between the believer and God, emphasizing that those who "dwell in the secret place of the most High" and "abide under the shadow of the Almighty" (as declared in Psalm 91:1) are the recipients of its incredible promises. The psalmist articulates a personal declaration of trust in Psalm 91:2, followed by a series of divine assurances spoken from God's perspective or through the voice of a prophetic speaker. Verse 5 specifically addresses the nature of the threats from which God delivers, building upon the general promise of rescue from snares and pestilence mentioned in Psalm 91:3 and Psalm 91:4, showcasing the comprehensive and vigilant scope of His care. The promises continue into Psalm 91:6, reinforcing the idea of God's all-encompassing shield.
Historical & Cultural Context
In ancient Israel, life was fraught with various dangers, both natural and human-made. "Terror by night" could evoke the very real threats of nocturnal raids by bandits, wild animals, or the psychological dread of the unknown, including nightmares or spiritual oppression believed to be more potent in darkness. The lack of artificial light made night a time of heightened vulnerability and fear. "The arrow that flieth by day" vividly represents overt dangers such as warfare, sudden attacks from enemies, or even the swift onset of pestilence (which is further elaborated upon in Psalm 91:6). The imagery reflects a world where security was precarious, and reliance on divine protection was not merely a theological concept but a practical necessity for survival. The psalm speaks to the universal human experience of vulnerability in the face of unseen and seen threats, offering a divine antidote to fear rooted in God's character as a mighty protector and refuge.
Key Themes
Psalms 91:5 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the psalm and broader biblical theology. The primary theme is Divine Safeguard, portraying God as an active, unwavering, and comprehensive protector against all forms of danger, whether subtle or overt. This leads directly to the theme of Freedom from Fear, emphasized by the emphatic declaration, "Thou shalt not be afraid." God's protection is not merely external but also internal, granting inner peace and courage, echoing the frequent biblical admonition to "fear not," as found in passages like Isaiah 41:10 and Joshua 1:9. Finally, the imagery of "terror by night" and "arrow that flieth by day" establishes the theme of Comprehensive Deliverance, illustrating God's protection extending to every aspect of life and every type of threat, from the psychological and spiritual to the physical and public. This merism (night and day) signifies the totality of dangers from which God promises to deliver His faithful ones, assuring them of His vigilant care at all times.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This primitive root (H3372) signifies to fear, but also to revere. In the context of Psalms 91:5, it refers to a paralyzing dread or apprehension that would normally accompany the presence of danger. The promise is not the absence of external threats, but the absence of internal, debilitating fear in the believer who trusts in God. It speaks to a state of inner composure and confidence, rather than panic.
This word (H6343) denotes a sudden alarm, dread, or the object of fear itself. It describes a deep, unsettling psychological or spiritual fright, often associated with unseen or unexpected dangers that cause one to tremble or be overwhelmed. It captures the essence of an internal, often irrational, fear that can grip the heart, particularly in the vulnerability of night.
The Hebrew term (H2671) literally refers to a projectile, specifically an arrow, but it functions metaphorically in Scripture. Here, it represents a swift, direct, and often lethal calamity or attack. It symbolizes overt, visible dangers that strike suddenly and forcefully, such as military assaults, pestilence, or other public misfortunes that are clearly discernible, even in the light of day.
Verse Breakdown
"Thou shalt not be afraid"
This opening clause is a powerful declaration, functioning both as a divine command and a profound promise. It is an imperative born out of the security found in God's refuge. The assurance is not that dangers will cease to exist, but that the believer's response to them will be one of fearless trust, rooted in God's sovereign protection. This freedom from fear is a direct fruit of abiding in the Most High, a state of mind and spirit cultivated through faith.
"for the terror by night"
This phrase describes dangers that are hidden, sudden, and often psychological or spiritual in nature. "Terror" (pachad) suggests a deep, unsettling dread or panic that can arise from the unknown or from spiritual oppression. "By night" symbolizes the time of vulnerability, when unseen forces are perceived to be more active, or when one is most susceptible to nightmares, anxieties, or the creeping fears of isolation and darkness. It speaks to the fears that creep in when defenses are down or when the source of threat is unclear.
"nor for the arrow that flieth by day"
This clause contrasts with the previous one, describing dangers that are overt, visible, and often physical or public. "The arrow" is a metaphor for swift, direct, and often lethal attacks, whether from human enemies, sudden calamities, or even widespread pestilence (as implied in the following verse, Psalm 91:6). "By day" signifies dangers that are clearly seen, faced in the open, and against which one might normally attempt to defend oneself. Together with "terror by night," this phrase forms a merism, encompassing the totality of all possible threats, both hidden and apparent, at all times.
Literary Devices
Psalms 91:5 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message of comprehensive divine protection. The most prominent is Parallelism, specifically a form of synthetic or antithetical parallelism, where "terror by night" is set against "arrow that flieth by day." While distinct in their imagery, both phrases contribute to the singular idea of God's all-encompassing protection. This pairing also creates a Merism, a rhetorical device where two contrasting parts (night and day) represent the whole, signifying that God's protection extends to all times and against all types of dangers—from the hidden and psychological to the overt and physical. Furthermore, Metaphor and Imagery are central, with "terror" vividly personifying an unseen dread and "arrow" serving as a potent symbol for swift, destructive calamity. These images are concrete and evoke a sense of vulnerability, against which God's promise of protection shines even brighter. The cumulative effect of these devices is to assure the reader of a holistic and unwavering divine safeguard, covering every moment and every kind of threat.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Psalms 91:5 powerfully articulates the biblical truth of God's comprehensive sovereignty and His intimate care for those who trust in Him. It underscores the theme of divine immanence, where God is not a distant deity but an ever-present refuge actively shielding His people. This protection is not merely physical but extends to the psychological and spiritual realms, addressing the root of fear and replacing it with divine peace. The verse implicitly highlights the covenant faithfulness of God, who remains true to His promises to those who abide in Him. It also reinforces the theological concept that true security is found not in human strength or worldly defenses, but in absolute reliance on the Almighty, fostering a life lived in courageous faith rather than paralyzing dread. This divine assurance empowers believers to live boldly, knowing their ultimate well-being is secured in the hands of their faithful Protector.
Reflection and Application
In a world often marked by uncertainty, anxiety, and various forms of real or perceived threats, Psalms 91:5 remains a potent source of comfort and strength for modern believers. This verse encourages us to place our ultimate trust in God's sovereign care, recognizing that our security is found not in the absence of danger, but in His steadfast presence through every trial. It reminds us that divine protection enables us to face life's challenges with courage rather than succumbing to paralyzing fear. This promise does not guarantee immunity from all difficulties or suffering, but rather assures us of God's unwavering faithfulness and empowering presence, allowing us to live fearlessly under His protective wing, knowing that even in the midst of "terrors by night" or "arrows by day," He is our ultimate refuge and strength. It calls us to actively rest in His promises, transforming our anxieties into opportunities for deeper trust and reliance on His unfailing love.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does this verse mean believers will never experience harm or danger?
No, the verse does not promise an absence of danger or suffering in the life of a believer. Instead, it promises protection from fear in the face of danger and comprehensive divine oversight through all forms of threats. The "terror by night" and "arrow by day" are real dangers, but the promise is that those who abide in God will not be afraid of them, nor will these threats ultimately overcome them. God's protection is about His presence, His ultimate deliverance, and His working all things for good for those who love Him, as affirmed in Romans 8:28. Believers may still face trials, sickness, or even death, but the promise assures them that God is their refuge in these circumstances, and He will ultimately deliver them, whether in this life or into eternal life. The broader context of the Psalms, and indeed the entire Bible, acknowledges human suffering while continually pointing to God as the ultimate source of security and hope, as seen in the experiences of figures like Job or the apostles who faced immense persecution.
What is the "terror by night" and "arrow by day" in a modern context?
In a modern context, the "terror by night" can symbolize the unseen, insidious, and often psychological or spiritual threats that plague us. This might include debilitating anxiety, chronic worry, panic attacks, nightmares, spiritual oppression, the fear of the unknown, or the sudden, unexpected crises that disrupt our peace when we least expect them. It represents the internal dread that can consume us. The "arrow that flieth by day" represents the overt, visible, and often physical or public dangers we face. This could be literal physical threats, public health crises, economic instability, social injustice, direct opposition or conflict, sudden accidents, or the rapid spread of misinformation. Essentially, the pairing of "night" and "day" and "terror" and "arrow" forms a merism, signifying the totality of all possible threats—from the subtle and internal to the obvious and external. The verse assures us that God's protection covers every conceivable danger, at every moment, demonstrating His comprehensive care for His faithful ones.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Psalms 91:5 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the true "secret place" and "shadow of the Almighty" where believers find their refuge, as He Himself declared, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). The "terror by night" and "arrow that flieth by day" represent the full spectrum of human vulnerability—sin, death, fear, and the attacks of the enemy—all of which Christ definitively conquered. On the cross, Jesus bore the ultimate "arrow" of divine judgment for humanity's sin, becoming the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!. Through His resurrection, He disarmed the "terror" of death and the grave, offering eternal life and true freedom from fear to all who believe, thereby delivering those who "through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:14-15). Christ's promises of peace, "My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27), directly address the "thou shalt not be afraid" of Psalm 91:5. Furthermore, His assurance that no one can snatch His sheep out of His hand (John 10:28-29) speaks to His comprehensive and unwavering protection. In Christ, believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit, who is a "Spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind," not of fear (2 Timothy 1:7), enabling them to face all of life's challenges with divine courage and unwavering hope, knowing that their ultimate security rests in Him.