Psalms 91:1-6

The Protection of the Most High

1 The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.^[a]

2 I will say^[b] to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."^[c]

3 He Himself will deliver you from the hunter's net,^[d] from the destructive plague.^[e]

4 He will cover you with His feathers; you will take refuge under His wings.^[f] His faithfulness will be a protective shield.

5 You will not fear the terror of the night, the arrow that flies by day,

6 the plague^[g] that stalks in darkness, or the pestilence that ravages at noon.

Psalms 91:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 91

Jarchi and others think this psalm was written by Moses {m}, as was the preceding; but the Targum ascribes it to David; as do the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions; and very probably, as is generally thought, was penned by him on occasion of the pestilence which came upon the people, through his numbering of them, 2Sa 24:1. The person all along spoken of, and to, according to the Targum, is Solomon his son; and, according to the title in the Syriac version, King Hezekiah, so Theodoret, who is called the son of David; neither of which are probable. Some think the Messiah is meant; and that the psalm contains promises of protection and safety to him, as man, from diseases, beasts of prey, evil spirits, and wicked men, under the care of angels; and this not because that Satan has applied one of these promises to him, Mt 4:6, but because they seem better to agree with him than with any other: and one part of the title of the psalm, in the Syriac version, runs thus,

``and spiritually it is called the victory of the Messiah, and of everyone that is perfected by him.''

It seems best to understand it of every godly man, who is always safe under the divine protection. The Talmudisis {n} call it Myegp ryv, "a song of the occursions", or "meetings with evil spirits."

Footnotes

• [a]. Ps 121:5; Isa 49:2; Hs 14:7
• [b]. LXX, Syr, Jer read Almighty, saying, or Almighty, he will say
• [c]. Ps 18:2; 61:4; 62:7-8
• [d]. Ps 124:7; 141:9; Ec 9:12
• [e]. Ex 5:3; Lv 26:25; Nm 14:12
• [f]. Ps 57:1; Dt 32:11; Ru 2:12
• [g]. Ex 5:3; Lv 26:25; Nm 14:12