Psalm 140:7 kjv
O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
Psalm 140:7 nkjv
O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle.
Psalm 140:7 niv
Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle.
Psalm 140:7 esv
O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.
Psalm 140:7 nlt
O Sovereign LORD, the strong one who rescued me,
you protected me on the day of battle.
Psalm 140 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 18:2 | The LORD is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer... | God is the ultimate source of strength and salvation |
| Ps 27:1 | The LORD is my light and my salvation; ...the strength of my life | God provides strength for life and deliverance |
| Ps 28:7 | The LORD is my strength and my shield; ...I am helped | God serves as strength and protection |
| Isa 12:2 | Behold, God is my salvation... For YAH, the LORD, is my strength... | God Himself is both strength and salvation |
| Hab 3:19 | The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet... | God provides enabling strength for difficult paths |
| Ps 3:3 | But You, O LORD, are a shield for me... and the One who lifts up my head | God provides defense and uplifts in distress |
| Ps 5:12 | ...With favor You will surround him as with a shield. | God's favor surrounds His people like a shield |
| Ps 91:4 | He shall cover you with His feathers... His truth shall be your shield | God provides refuge and encompassing protection |
| Prov 2:7 | He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield... | God acts as a protector for the upright |
| Ps 121:5 | The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. | God consistently watches over and shades from harm |
| Deut 33:27 | The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms... | God is an eternal refuge and supporter |
| Isa 59:17 | ...He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; | God's own protective armor of salvation |
| Eph 6:17 | And take the helmet of salvation... | Believers wear the helmet of salvation spiritually |
| 1 Thess 5:8 | ...and for a helmet the hope of salvation. | The hope of salvation as spiritual head protection |
| Ps 7:1 | O LORD my God, in You I put my trust; Save me from all those who pursue me... | Prayer for divine deliverance from enemies |
| Ps 17:13 | Arise, O LORD, Confront him... Deliver my soul from the wicked... | Call for God to directly intervene against foes |
| Ps 31:4 | Pull me out of the net... For You are my strength. | Prayer for rescue from traps, affirming God as strength |
| Ps 59:1 | Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Defend me from those who rise up against me. | Plea for defense from attackers |
| 2 Sam 22:2-3 | The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer... My shield and the horn of my salvation... | David's profound declaration of God as his Savior from violence |
| Ps 71:4 | Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked... | Request for deliverance from oppressive individuals |
| Ps 20:7 | Some trust in chariots... But we will remember the name of the LORD our God. | Trust in God over human might in conflict |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the LORD with all your heart... And He shall direct your paths. | Foundational trust in God's guidance |
| Phil 4:13 | I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. | God empowering believers in all circumstances |
Psalm 140 verses
Psalm 140 7 Meaning
Psalm 140:7 declares God as the ultimate source of strength and deliverance for the psalmist in times of intense danger and conflict. It expresses David's confident recognition that it is the Lord Himself, in His supreme power and faithfulness, who has consistently acted as a personal shield and protector, specifically safeguarding his very life and strategic well-being in the most perilous moments, like a helmet defending one's head in a violent battle. The verse embodies a declaration of trust rooted in God's demonstrated faithfulness in past deliverance from overwhelming threats.
Psalm 140 7 Context
Psalm 140 is a fervent individual lament, a prayer of David seeking immediate divine intervention against deceitful, violent, and malicious adversaries. Throughout the psalm, David vividly describes his enemies who set traps and plan evil against him. He expresses his desperate plight but steadfastly appeals to God, relying on His righteousness and justice. Verse 7, therefore, stands as a pivotal affirmation of faith, a moment of profound trust and remembrance of God's past protective actions amid David's current intense spiritual and physical warfare. The historical context for David frequently involved facing literal battles and schemes from those who sought his life or sought to undermine his kingship, ranging from King Saul to Absalom and foreign adversaries. This psalm perfectly captures his deep dependency on the divine for survival in a hostile world.
Psalm 140 7 Word analysis
- O LORD, the Lord (יהוה אֲדֹנָי - YHWH Adonai): This address emphasizes God's dual nature: "YHWH" signifies God's covenant name, representing His faithfulness and personal relationship, while "Adonai" denotes His sovereign lordship and supreme authority. The combined usage magnifies the object of the psalmist's trust as the almighty and trustworthy covenant-keeping God.
- strength (עֹז - `oz): Refers to inherent power, might, a stronghold. It describes the very essence of God as powerful, not just that He gives strength, but He is strength. This term implies invincibility and robust capability.
- my salvation (יְשׁוּעָתִי - yeshu'ati): Means deliverance, help, victory, or rescue. Combined with "strength," it implies that God is the potent, living source of deliverance, who actively brings about rescue and ensures victory for the psalmist. It is a deeply personal confession.
- You have covered (סַכֹּתָה - sakkotha): From the root סכך (sakakh), meaning to cover, shelter, screen, or overshadow. This verb suggests an active, deliberate, and comprehensive act of protection, as one would set up a protective barrier. It implies an impenetrable defense by God.
- my head (לְרֹאשִׁי - l'roshi): "My head" refers to the seat of life, intellect, and vulnerability in battle. To protect the head is to protect one's very existence and honor. The protection is precise and vital.
- in the day of battle (לְיוֹם נָשֶׁק - l'yom nasheq): Literally "to the day of weapons" or "to the day of combat/conflict." This phrase vividly describes a moment of extreme peril, direct confrontation, and mortal danger where weapons are deployed. It's a critical, life-threatening situation where divine intervention is essential.
Words-group analysis:
- O LORD, the Lord, the strength of my salvation: This is a comprehensive declaration of God's identity and function for the psalmist. He is both the faithful covenant partner and the absolute sovereign, embodying and providing the power required for complete deliverance. It moves beyond just a belief in God to a confident trust of God as the active source of salvation's power.
- You have covered my head in the day of battle: This powerful military imagery expresses God's specific, personal, and decisive act of protection. It signifies God providing a complete and effective defense against the most direct and dangerous assaults, shielding the psalmist from mortal blows during periods of intense warfare or profound threat. It speaks of divine foresight and active intervention during vulnerable moments.
Psalm 140 7 Bonus section
- Past Faithfulness, Present Trust: This verse, being in the past tense ("You have covered"), functions as a ground for present and future trust. The psalmist recollects God's past, concrete acts of salvation to bolster his faith in the midst of current, ongoing dangers.
- Personal and Comprehensive Protection: "My head" highlights the personal nature of God's protection – it's specifically for the psalmist. "Covered" implies an all-encompassing protection that leaves no vital area exposed, assuring holistic safety in crisis.
- Metaphor for Spiritual Warfare: While literally referring to physical battle, "day of battle" can also metaphorically represent any severe trial, intense spiritual conflict, or moment of deep personal affliction where one faces overwhelming forces of evil or despair. In such "days of battle," God remains the ultimate protective cover for the believer.
Psalm 140 7 Commentary
Psalm 140:7 distills the psalmist's foundational confidence in God, drawing strength from a remembered history of divine deliverance. David's address to God as "O LORD, the Lord, the strength of my salvation" elevates God far beyond any earthly protector, identifying Him as the very essence and source of rescue, embodying omnipotent might for ultimate victory. The powerful imagery of God "covering my head in the day of battle" signifies God's direct, personal, and complete protective act in life's most perilous moments. This is not merely metaphorical; it reflects David's tangible experience of God's active presence as a shield against physical and spiritual adversaries. The verse asserts that just as God has faithfully acted as an unyielding helmet in past confrontations, He can be depended upon for ongoing and future protection, inspiring unwavering trust even when danger seems overwhelming. It affirms that true security rests not in human strength or elaborate defenses, but solely in the active, personal intervention of the Almighty.