Psalms 55:5

5 Fear and 1trembling come upon me, And 2horror has overwhelmed me.

Psalms 55:5 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 55:5

Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me
Fear and dread of mind, and trembling of body;

and horror hath overwhelmed me;
or "covered me"; he was in the utmost consternation and surprise at what he apprehended would be the issue of things; so Christ in the garden is said to be "sore amazed", ( Mark 14:33 ) ; all which terror, fearfulness, trembling, and horror, arose from a sense of sin imputed to him, even of all the sins of his people, the faith of which must be nauseous to him, and the guilt thereof pressing upon him; and from a feeling of the wrath of God, and the curse of the law, which he endured in the room and stead of his people; and this shows the truth of his human nature, and the weakness and insufficiency of that, without his divine nature, to have performed the great work of redemption; also the evil of sin, the exceeding sinfulness of it, and the strictness of divine justice; and likewise the wonderful love of Christ in becoming a surety for his people, and what ease and pleasure they may take; all the pain, the trembling, and horror, were his, and all the joy is theirs.

Psalms 55:5 In-Context

3 Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the pressure of the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me And in anger they bear a grudge against me.
4 My heart is in anguish within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5 Fear and trembling come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me.
6 I said, "Oh , that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.
7 "Behold, I would wander far away, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Psalms 119:120
  • 2. Job 21:6; Isaiah 21:4; Ezekiel 7:18

Footnotes 1

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.