Psalm 121:7 kjv
The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
Psalm 121:7 nkjv
The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.
Psalm 121:7 niv
The LORD will keep you from all harm? he will watch over your life;
Psalm 121:7 esv
The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
Psalm 121:7 nlt
The LORD keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
Psalm 121 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 91:3-4 | For he will deliver you from... his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. | God delivers and shields from dangers. |
| Ps 91:9-10 | Because you have made the LORD... no evil shall be allowed to befall you. | Protection results from trust in God. |
| Ps 37:23-24 | The steps of a man are established by the LORD... he will not be cast down. | God sustains the righteous. |
| Ps 37:28 | For the LORD loves justice... and will preserve them forever. | God's lasting preservation of His saints. |
| Prov 2:8 | He guards the path of the just and watches over the way of his saints. | God protects the righteous path. |
| 2 Thes 3:3 | But the Lord is faithful. He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. | God strengthens and protects from evil. |
| 1 Pet 1:5 | ...who are being guarded by God's power through faith for a salvation... | Believers guarded by God's power for salvation. |
| Jude 1:24 | Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling... | God keeps believers from stumbling. |
| Deut 33:27 | The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. | God is a secure refuge and support. |
| Ps 32:7 | You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble... | God preserves from trouble. |
| Ps 16:10 | For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol... | God protects one's soul from death. |
| Ps 33:19 | To deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine. | God preserves life even in hardship. |
| Ps 49:15 | But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol... | God's ultimate ransom of the soul. |
| Lk 12:4 | ...do not fear those who kill the body but after that have nothing more... | Fear God who can affect the soul/life. |
| Heb 10:39 | But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those... | Assurance of perseverance for salvation. |
| 2 Tim 4:18 | The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely to his... | God delivers from evil and secures heavenly kingdom. |
| Ps 116:8 | For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. | Comprehensive deliverance of life and well-being. |
| Lam 3:22-23 | The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases... great is your faithfulness. | God's unceasing faithfulness. |
| Heb 13:5 | I will never leave you nor forsake you. | God's constant presence and promise of support. |
| Isa 41:10 | Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God... | God's comforting presence and strength. |
| Phil 1:6 | ...that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion... | God completes His saving work. |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good. | God works all circumstances for good. |
| Gen 50:20 | As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good... | God turns evil intentions to good outcomes. |
| 1 Cor 10:13 | God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability... | God limits temptation and provides a way of escape. |
| Job 5:19 | He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil shall touch you. | God delivers from all manner of troubles. |
Psalm 121 verses
Psalm 121 7 Meaning
Psalm 121:7 declares the Lord's comprehensive and unwavering commitment to safeguard an individual from all forms of evil and harm, ensuring the preservation of their entire being. It assures the believer that God actively watches over them, shielding them from every adversary, whether spiritual, physical, or moral, thus securing their very life and inner person.
Psalm 121 7 Context
Psalm 121 is one of the fifteen Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134), traditionally sung by pilgrims journeying uphill to Jerusalem for the three annual festivals. The preceding verses (121:1-6) establish the sole source of help—the Creator of heaven and earth, not earthly powers or objects. Verse 7 specifically addresses the anxieties of such a perilous journey, which would involve dangers like robbers, wild animals, extreme weather, and general insecurity. In this context, the verse offers divine assurance that the pilgrims' reliance on God is well-placed, contrasting it implicitly with the futility of trusting in human strength, pagan deities, or other false sources of protection often associated with specific places or natural elements encountered on a journey. The emphasis is on the personal and continuous watchfulness of the Lord over every aspect of their existence.
Psalm 121 7 Word analysis
- The LORD (יְהוָה - Yahweh): This is the Tetragrammaton, God's sacred, covenant name, revealing Him as the eternally existent and faithful God who keeps His promises. It distinguishes Him as the personal and absolute God of Israel, unlike generic deities, emphasizing His reliability as protector.
- will keep (יִשְׁמָרְךָ - yishmar'kha; יִשְׁמֹר - yishmor): Derived from the Hebrew root "shamar" (שָׁמַר), meaning to guard, watch over, protect, preserve, or care for. The repetition of this verb twice in the verse, in different forms, intensifies the promise, emphasizing God's diligent, continuous, and personal action in protection. It implies active vigilance and effective preservation. The imperfect tense indicates a continuous future action—God will keep on keeping.
- you (ךָ - kha): This is a second-person masculine singular pronominal suffix, making the promise profoundly personal and directed to the individual who trusts in God.
- from all (מִכָּל - mikol): The Hebrew prefix "mi-" means "from" or "out of." "Kol" (כָּל) signifies "all," "every," or "whole." This combination denotes a comprehensive, exhaustive scope, implying no exceptions or limitations to the range of dangers from which God provides protection.
- evil (רָע - ra'): This term is broad in Hebrew, encompassing not just moral wickedness but also harm, calamity, adversity, misfortune, trouble, and physical danger. It refers to anything that might cause distress or detriment, whether originating from circumstances, other people, or spiritual forces.
- He (יִשְׁמֹר - yishmor - implicitly in verb form): The subject is clearly God (Yahweh), reiterating His active role in the protection.
- your soul (אֶת־נַפְשֶׁךָ - et-naf'shekha): "Nefesh" (נֶפֶשׁ) in Hebrew means "soul" but refers holistically to the entire person, their life, vital breath, innermost being, and essence of existence. It is not limited to just the spiritual component but encompasses one's mind, will, emotions, and physical life. The protection extends to the totality of the person.
- "The LORD will keep you": This phrase asserts God's exclusive agency and active, personal commitment to guarding the individual. It assures a deep, relational oversight.
- "from all evil": This signifies the extensive reach of God's safeguarding. It addresses both external dangers and internal spiritual or moral corruption, promising protection from every imaginable form of harm, ensuring comprehensive security.
- "He will keep your soul": This repetition of "will keep" intensifies the promise, stressing absolute certainty and God's unwavering faithfulness. The focus on "your soul" (nefesh) underscores that the protection is not superficial but penetrates to the very core of one's being, securing life itself, whether in this world or for eternity. It emphasizes God’s guardianship over one's entire essence.
Psalm 121 7 Bonus section
- This verse powerfully contrasts the frailty of human reliance with the unwavering faithfulness of the Creator, whose watchfulness (mentioned earlier as neither slumbering nor sleeping) is eternal and absolute.
- The scope of "all evil" addresses both the visible, tangible dangers pilgrims might face on a journey (robbers, accidents, wild beasts) and the unseen spiritual attacks or the corrosive effects of sin and despair.
- The personal address ("you," "your") ensures that this is a promise intended for each individual believer, establishing a deep, relational foundation for God's protection.
- The verse is not a guarantee against experiencing suffering or temporary hardship, but rather an assurance of ultimate preservation, maintaining one's foundational identity and destiny in God despite adverse experiences.
Psalm 121 7 Commentary
Psalm 121:7 is a profound affirmation of God's vigilant and complete guardianship over His beloved. The dual usage of "shamar" ("to keep" or "to guard") highlights the active and diligent nature of divine protection; it's not a passive defense but an ever-present, watchful care. "All evil" comprehensively encompasses every form of adversity, danger, suffering, and moral corruption. This protection, however, does not promise a life free of trials, but rather preservation through them, ensuring that no harm ultimately defeats the believer or separates them from God's purpose. Protecting "your soul" (nefesh), in its full Hebrew meaning, indicates safeguarding the very essence of a person—their life, being, mind, and spirit—ensuring eternal salvation and sustenance through temporal challenges. The verse offers unwavering comfort and reassurance for those facing uncertainties, reminding them that their Creator is their unfailing Preserver in all circumstances, unto eternity.