Psalm 115 11

Psalm 115:11 kjv

Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

Psalm 115:11 nkjv

You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield.

Psalm 115:11 niv

You who fear him, trust in the LORD? he is their help and shield.

Psalm 115:11 esv

You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.

Psalm 115:11 nlt

All you who fear the LORD, trust the LORD!
He is your helper and your shield.

Psalm 115 verses

Psalm 115 11 Meaning

Psalm 115:11 is a direct exhortation to those who hold God in reverent awe to place their complete and unwavering trust in Him. It declares unequivocally that the LORD Himself is their ever-present helper and their protective shield, assuring His active provision and defense for those who rely on Him.

Psalm 115 11 Context

Psalm 115 is a liturgical psalm, likely sung in a public worship setting, perhaps a Passover or pilgrimage festival. It opens with a plea for God's glory to be manifested (v. 1), then launches into a stark contrast between the true, living God and the lifeless idols of the nations (v. 2-8). While the idols have eyes but do not see, ears but do not hear, and hands but cannot feel, the LORD is in the heavens and does whatever He pleases.

Following this powerful polemic against idolatry, the psalm issues a series of exhortations (v. 9-13). It specifically calls three distinct groups to trust in the LORD: "O Israel, trust in the LORD!" (v. 9), "O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD!" (v. 10), and then our verse, "You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD!" (v. 11). This third group extends the call to all God-fearing individuals beyond the specific ethnic or priestly lineage, underscoring the universality of trust in the One true God. The promise of blessing (v. 12-18) then follows for those who heed this call, emphasizing God's benevolent provision and His eternal praise. The historical context reflects ancient Israel's constant struggle against the pervasive polytheism and idol worship of surrounding cultures. The Psalm actively challenges the notion that any visible, tangible idol could offer protection or provision like the invisible, omnipotent LORD.

Psalm 115 11 Word analysis

• "You who fear": The Hebrew word for "fear" is yare’ (יָרֵא), used here as a participle, yirei (יִרְאֵ֣י). In biblical usage, yare’ denotes not merely terror, but a profound reverence, awe, respect, and obedient submission to a superior power. It implies a worshipful acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty, holiness, and majesty, which forms the very foundation of wisdom and true relationship with Him (Prov 1:7). It speaks to an inward disposition of deep honor and careful attention to God’s commands.
• "the LORD": This translates the sacred, personal covenant name of God, YHWH (יהוה). This name reveals God’s eternal, self-existent nature and His active, faithful presence in the covenant relationship with His people. The consistent repetition of YHWH throughout the psalm and in this verse sharply contrasts with the impersonal, inanimate "gods of silver and gold" described earlier, underscoring that the object of fear and trust is the unique, living God.
• "trust": The Hebrew verb is bataḥ (בטח), presented here in the imperative plural form, bitḥu (בִּטְח֣וּ). This is a strong command to actively lean on, rely upon, feel secure in, and be confident in someone or something. It implies an abandonment of self-reliance or reliance on any other entity, in favor of absolute dependence on YHWH. It is a posture of faith that springs from and builds upon the reverential fear mentioned immediately prior.
• "he is": The pronoun Hu’ (הוּא) literally means "He." It points back directly to the LORD (YHWH), confirming that the promised help and protection emanate from His very being and character. This concise statement affirms God's inherent identity as the source of security.
• "their help": The Hebrew word is ‘ezer (עֵזֶר), meaning help, succor, assistance. It describes strong, active, and beneficial support, often divine aid in times of need, trouble, or weakness. This ‘ezer is not passive, but a powerful, delivering intervention. The suffix -am makes it "their" help, personalizing the promise to the specific group addressed: "You who fear the LORD."
• "and their shield": The Hebrew word magen (מָגֵן) means shield or buckler, a defensive weapon used to protect against blows or projectiles. In biblical metaphor, it represents God as a powerful protector who guards His people from harm, enemies, or any external threats (e.g., Ps 18:2, Gen 15:1). Like ‘ezer, magen illustrates God's active engagement in preserving those who trust Him. The suffix -am again personalizes this promise of protection.

Words-group analysis:

• The immediate sequence "You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD" creates a profound theological connection. It teaches that true fear (reverence) of God naturally leads to and necessitates unwavering trust in Him. The depth of one's awe for God dictates the degree of one's reliance on Him, creating an indivisible bond between piety and faith.
• The parallel phrases "he is their help and their shield" demonstrate a comprehensive scope of God's provision and protection. "Help" suggests active assistance in overcoming challenges and fulfilling needs, while "shield" implies defensive guardianship against adversaries and dangers. Together, these terms assure the believer of both divine offensive intervention and defensive safeguard, covering every aspect of human need for God’s care.
• The consistent use of the possessive pronoun "their" underscores the intimate, personal relationship God has with those who fear and trust Him. It's not a generic promise, but a specific, assured benefit for "their" lives, guaranteeing a personal application of His power and presence.

Psalm 115 11 Bonus section

This verse stands as a key affirmation of God's character and covenant faithfulness, completing a tripartite call to trust in the LORD in Psalm 115 (v. 9-11). While "the house of Israel" refers to the entire nation (God's chosen people) and "the house of Aaron" refers specifically to the priests (God's consecrated ministers), "You who fear the LORD" likely extends the call to a wider demographic. This could include devout proselytes or any individuals, both Israelite and non-Israelite, who genuinely hold YHWH in reverence. This broad inclusion foreshadows the New Testament concept of a broader spiritual family, where fear and trust in God define His people beyond mere lineage or national identity. The consistent structure of the psalm, moving from the critique of false gods to a command and then to a declaration of God's nature, functions as a powerful theological instruction, guiding believers from recognizing falsehood to embracing absolute truth and living in confident reliance upon it.

Psalm 115 11 Commentary

Psalm 115:11 encapsulates a core biblical truth about the posture of humanity toward the living God and His guaranteed response. It addresses "You who fear the LORD," a broad category encompassing all who revere His Name, acknowledging His sovereignty and holy character. This reverential fear is not one of terror but of profound awe and submission, recognizing God's omnipotence and absolute authority. For such individuals, the imperative command is clear: "trust in the LORD." This is an active decision to relinquish self-reliance and worldly dependencies, placing complete confidence in the One God has revealed Himself to be. This act of trust is the logical outcome of true fear, as recognizing God's greatness leads to leaning entirely on Him.

The verse then provides the powerful rationale for this command: "he is their help and their shield." This describes God's multifaceted relationship with His trusting people. As their "help" (‘ezer), God is the active, powerful aid and sustainer, providing assistance in times of need, strength in weakness, and deliverance from difficulty. As their "shield" (magen), He is their unfailing protector, guarding them from dangers, spiritual attacks, and the schemes of adversaries. This dual assurance signifies comprehensive divine care – both active intervention and steadfast defense. In essence, for those who hold Him in awe and lean entirely upon Him, God is their proactive deliverer and their unwavering guardian, proving His faithfulness against the backdrop of an uncertain world and the impotence of idols.

Examples abound in Scripture: Abraham, despite seemingly insurmountable odds, feared God and trusted His promise, leading to a lineage (Gen 15). The disciples, when facing storms on the sea, eventually learned to trust in Jesus' power as their helper and protector (Mark 4:35-41). For the Christian today, this verse echoes the call to cast all anxieties on God because He cares (1 Pet 5:7), to trust His providential care through every challenge, and to find refuge in His unfailing power against both seen and unseen foes.