Psalms 121:5

5 The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

Images for Psalms 121:5

Psalms 121:5 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
5 The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
New Living Translation (NLT)
5 The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.
The Message Bible (MSG)
5 God's your Guardian, right at your side to protect you -
American Standard Version (ASV)
5 Jehovah is thy keeper: Jehovah is thy shade upon thy right hand.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
5 The LORD is your guardian. The LORD is the shade over your right hand.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
5 The Lord protects you; the Lord is a shelter right by your side.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
5 The LORD watches over you. The LORD is like a shade tree at your right hand.

Psalms 121:5 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 121:5

The Lord [is] thy keeper
This explains more fully who it is that keeps Israel and particular believers, and confirms the same; not a creature, but the Lord; the Word of the Lord, as the Targum, in ( Psalms 121:7 ) : Christ, the Word and Wisdom of God; who is the keeper of his people by the designation of his Father, who has put them into his hands to be kept by him; and by their full will and consent, who commit the keeping of their souls to him; for which he is abundantly qualified, being able as the mighty God; faithful to him that has appointed him; tender and compassionate to those under his care, whom he keeps as the apple of his eye; and diligent and constant, for he keeps them night and day, lest any hurt them: he keeps them as they are his flock, made his care and charge; as they are the vineyard of the Lord of hosts; as they are a city, which, unless the Lord keeps, the watchmen watch in vain; as they are his body and members of it, and as they are his jewels and peculiar treasure: these he keeps in the love of God; in his own hands; in the covenant of grace; in an estate of grace; and in his own ways, safe to his kingdom and glory;

the Lord [is] thy shade upon thy right hand;
he is at the right hand of his people, to hold their right hand; to teach them to go, lead them into communion with himself, and hold them up safe; and to strengthen their right hand, assist them in working, without whom they can do nothing; and to counsel and direct them, and to protect and defend them against all their enemies. So a shadow signifies defence; see ( Numbers 14:9 ) ( Ecclesiastes 7:12 ) ; and such great personages are to others; in which sense Virgil F14 uses the word "shadow"; and much more true is this of God himself. And he is like the shadow of a great rock in a weary land; or of a spreading tree, which is a protection from heat, and very reviving and refreshing; see ( Isaiah 32:2 ) ( Song of Solomon 2:3 ) . The allusion may be to the pillar of cloud by day, which guided and guarded the Israelites in the wilderness, and was a shadow from the heat, ( Isaiah 4:5 Isaiah 4:6 ) ( Isaiah 25:4 Isaiah 25:5 ) ; as Christ is from the heat of a fiery law, the flaming sword of justice, the wrath of God, and the fiery darts of Satan.


FOOTNOTES:

F14 "Et magnum reginae nomen obumbrat", Aeneid. l. xi.

Psalms 121:5 In-Context

3 He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;

Cross References 1

  • 1. S Psalms 1:6; Isaiah 25:4
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