Psalm 11 1

Psalm 11:1 kjv

In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?

Psalm 11:1 nkjv

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. In the LORD I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your mountain"?

Psalm 11:1 niv

For the director of music. Of David. In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: "Flee like a bird to your mountain.

Psalm 11:1 esv

In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, "Flee like a bird to your mountain,

Psalm 11:1 nlt

I trust in the LORD for protection.
So why do you say to me,
"Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!

Psalm 11 verses

Psalm 11 1 Meaning

Psalm 11:1 opens with King David's unshakeable declaration of trust and refuge in the Lord, setting his faith against the backdrop of counsel he receives to abandon his position and flee from danger out of fear. This counsel suggests he should escape like a helpless bird seeking shelter on a mountain, implying that God is unable or unwilling to protect him. David vehemently rejects this notion, reaffirming his steadfast reliance on the Almighty God amidst dire circumstances.

Psalm 11 1 Context

Psalm 11 is a "Psalm of David" and functions as a psalm of confidence or trust. It appears to capture a specific moment of profound distress where David's very commitment to God is being challenged. The immediate context is a verbal assault on his faith, likely from advisors, friends, or even his own inner doubts, urging him to abandon his trust in God and save himself through worldly means. This indicates a period when his life was genuinely in peril and escape seemed like the most logical course of action from a human perspective. Historically, this aligns with periods such as David's flight from King Saul (e.g., 1 Samuel 19-27) or possibly Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 15-18), where his enemies had considerable power, and human strategies for survival seemed more practical than divine intervention. The psalm's opening verse immediately establishes David's counter-argument: his unwavering faith in the Lord.

Psalm 11 1 Word analysis

• Lord (Yahweh - יְהוָ֑ה): The divine covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal, self-existent, faithful, and unchanging character. David's trust is rooted in the Person of God Himself, not just His attributes or past actions. It implies an intimate and enduring relationship.
• Trust (chasiti - חָסִ֣יתִי): This Hebrew verb means to seek refuge, to find shelter, to rely upon, or to put confidence in. It vividly conveys the idea of an individual seeking protection under a higher power, much like a chick sheltering under a mother hen's wing. It denotes a deliberate choice of allegiance and security in God, a surrender of self-reliance. It directly contrasts with the "fleeing" counseled by others.
• How can you say (Eikh tomru - אֵ֣יךְ תֹּֽאמְר֑וּ): A rhetorical question expressing David's incredulity, indignation, and sharp rebuke. It questions the basis, the rationality, or the faith of those giving the counsel. It signifies his complete rejection of their worldly perspective.
• Soul (Nafshi - לְנַפְשִׁ֑י): Refers to David's inner being, his life-force, his very core existence. The advice to flee is perceived as an assault not just on his physical safety but on his spirit and his fundamental trust in God. It highlights the deeply personal nature of this spiritual battle.
• Flee (Nudh/Nudu - נֽוּדוּ): An imperative command, meaning to flee, wander, tremble, or move erratically. In this context, it implies a panic-driven, faithless retreat or a wavering of conviction. It is not prudent escape, but rather an act of abandonment born of fear and distrust in divine protection.
• Bird (Tzippor - צִפּ֖וֹר): An imagery signifying vulnerability, helplessness, smallness, and panic. Birds typically flee rapidly when threatened. The comparison is meant to strip David of his kingly or warrior stature and reduce him to a creature whose only response to danger is terrified flight, implying a loss of hope or divine protection.
• Mountain (Harchem - הַרְכֶֽם): Historically a place of refuge or a stronghold. However, the crucial element here is the possessive "your." This signifies reliance on a self-made or human-provided refuge, a place or means of security apart from God. It contrasts with God as the true, unshakeable Mountain or Rock of refuge (Ps 18:2).

Words-group analysis

• "In the Lord I put my trust": This phrase immediately establishes David's unshakable theological position. It is an active, definitive statement of reliance and security found solely in God's person. This opening declaration anchors the entire psalm, providing the unmoving counter-point to the ensuing worldly counsel.
• "how can you say to my soul": This challenges the very authority and substance of the negative counsel. The advisers are speaking to his deepest convictions, attempting to corrupt his inner man. David expresses a profound spiritual dissonance with their fear-driven, faithless suggestions.
• "Flee as a bird to your mountain": This collective phrase captures the core of the temptation. It is a cynical call to cowardly escape, devoid of faith in God's providence or power. It highlights the contrast between divinely-ordained courage and human-centered panic, suggesting a move from reliance on the Lord to self-reliance or reliance on an earthly, unreliable escape.

Psalm 11 1 Bonus section

The identity of "you" in "how can you say" is often debated by scholars. It could represent:

• Well-meaning but fearful friends/advisors: Those who care about David but lack his depth of faith, genuinely believing he must save himself.
• Enemies seeking to sow doubt: While less direct, their threats might indirectly influence the call to flight, acting as a "voice" of fear.
• David's own internal struggles/temptations: The dialogue might be an externalization of his own battling thoughts, where his unwavering faith conquers his own human inclination to despair or flee. This makes the verse a powerful affirmation of internal spiritual discipline.

This psalm teaches that genuine trust in God is not a naive avoidance of danger, nor does it preclude prudent action, but it categorically rejects panic-driven, faithless flight born of a conviction that God is absent or powerless. True trust means staying aligned with God's will and resting in His sovereignty even when human logic dictates otherwise.

Psalm 11 1 Commentary

Psalm 11:1 opens a profound spiritual declaration of unwavering faith amidst the pressures of a world demanding otherwise. David's foundational truth, "In the Lord I put my trust," serves as an anchor in a tumultuous situation where those around him (or perhaps his own fearful thoughts) advise desperate and faithless escape. The counsel, "Flee as a bird to your mountain," metaphorically suggests abandoning one's position, relinquishing trust in God's protection, and seeking refuge in humanly contrived solutions born of fear, portraying himself as a helpless creature rather than a protected servant of the Almighty. David vehemently rejects this counsel, asserting that his security is in Yahweh, the immutable and faithful God of the covenant, rather than in his own agility or a mere physical hiding place. The essence of the verse is David's steadfast commitment to active faith over reactive fear, despite compelling logical arguments for flight from a worldly perspective.

For practical usage, this verse challenges believers to examine where their ultimate trust lies during times of crisis. When faced with financial ruin, do we default to desperate, dishonest measures (fleeing to 'our' mountain), or do we stand firm in trusting God for provision? When under unjust attack or slander, is our first inclination to retaliate in fear, or to remain steadfast, knowing God is our refuge and vindicator?