Psalm 3 5

Psalm 3:5 kjv

I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

Psalm 3:5 nkjv

I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.

Psalm 3:5 niv

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.

Psalm 3:5 esv

I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.

Psalm 3:5 nlt

I lay down and slept,
yet I woke up in safety,
for the LORD was watching over me.

Psalm 3 verses

Psalm 3 5 Meaning

Psalm 3:5 powerfully declares King David's profound trust in God amidst extreme peril. Despite being pursued by enemies during Absalom's rebellion, he found peace enough to lie down and sleep soundly. His subsequent awakening was not a matter of chance or personal strength, but a direct result and clear evidence that the Lord, the covenant God, actively sustained and upheld him through the night. The verse articulates that divine sustenance is the ultimate basis for genuine rest and security, even in the most turbulent circumstances.

Psalm 3 5 Context

Psalm 3 is titled "A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son." This historical background (2 Sam 15-18) is critical to understanding the verse. David was a king, but at this moment, he was a refugee, pursued by his own son, with thousands of his subjects having turned against him. The preceding verses (Psa 3:1-2) express David's distress, acknowledging the "many are they that rise up against me" and the widespread mockery of his trust in God. Yet, in the face of such overwhelming odds and personal betrayal, David's response is one of remarkable confidence. This verse, Psalm 3:5, flows directly from David's declaration in verse 4 that he cried aloud to the Lord, and the Lord answered him from His holy hill. The peace to sleep and awake is a tangible demonstration of God's active protection and provision in the midst of turmoil. It is a testimony against the contemporary belief that one's fate was solely in the hands of circumstances or opposing gods; David's experience profoundly affirmed the living God's sovereign care.

Psalm 3 5 Word analysis

• I lay down: Hebrew: שָׁכַבְתִּי (shakhavti) - The verb shakhav (שָׁכַב) means to lie down, typically for rest or sleep. David intentionally, deliberately, assumed a posture of vulnerability. This was not a passive collapse but an active decision to trust and rest.
• and slept: Hebrew: וָאִישַׁנָה (va'ishanah) - The verb yashan (יָשַׁן) means to sleep. To sleep profoundly and fearlessly when thousands surround him and seek his life is a radical act of faith. It signifies an absence of anxiety and a surrendering of control, in stark contrast to the sleeplessness often associated with fear or distress (e.g., Ps 77:4).
• I awoke: Hebrew: הֱקִיצוֹתִי (heqitzoti) - The verb qitz (קִיץ) in Hiphil means "to awake" or "to arise." It implies God's hand in his waking. His awakening was not merely a biological process, but an affirmation of God's watchful care during the night. God preserved him, bringing him to a new day.
• for: Hebrew: כִּי (ki) - This conjunction acts as a causal explanation. It translates to "because," "for," or "indeed." It is crucial as it reveals the reason David could sleep and awake safely: not because his troubles had vanished, but because of God's steadfast action.
• the Lord: Hebrew: יְהוָה (YHWH) - The Tetragrammaton, God's personal covenant name. This name signifies God's self-existence, His eternal, unchanging nature, and His faithfulness to His covenant promises. It emphasizes that it is this specific, powerful, and committed God who is David's sustainer, not a generic deity or human strength.
• sustains me: Hebrew: יִסְמְכֵנִי (yismekhení) - The verb samakh (סָמַךְ) means to lean upon, to support, to uphold, to lay hands on. It conveys the imagery of someone holding up another so they do not fall. It's a very active, present-tense act of divine support, ensuring David's stability and survival. This highlights God's continuous, active preservation, not just protection from immediate danger.

Words-group analysis:

• "I lay down and slept; I awoke": This sequence illustrates a completed cycle of rest and rising, pointing to a profound, unwavering confidence. It transforms the common human experience of sleeping and waking into a testament of divine intervention and care. In the immediate, it shows David’s complete reliance on God to protect him during the most vulnerable hours.
• "for the Lord sustains me": This clause provides the theological grounding for David's physical experience. It establishes that David's security, his ability to rest and be preserved, is entirely dependent on YHWH's active, personal, and unfailing sustenance. It signifies God as the bedrock of David's very existence and well-being.

Psalm 3 5 Bonus section

• The profound contrast: while David's enemies were likely restless, strategizing, or in agitated pursuit, David, the threatened king, found profound peace. This stark difference underscores the power of trusting in the Divine Sustainer.
• This verse provides a powerful antithesis to the natural human reaction of fear, paranoia, and sleeplessness during a life-threatening crisis. David models a reliance on God that transcends circumstance.
• The repetition of the YHWH (Lord) in verse 5 ties back to David's cry "to the Lord" (YHWH) in verse 4, emphasizing the direct and personal relationship between the suffering psalmist and his ever-present God.
• This psalm, and especially this verse, foreshadows the tranquility of Christ who could sleep peacefully in a storm-tossed boat (Matt 8:23-27), demonstrating complete trust in the Father and control over all creation. It’s a testament to spiritual rest despite outward chaos.

Psalm 3 5 Commentary

Psalm 3:5 captures the heart of trust in a sovereign God, even when life feels completely out of control. David, the legitimate king, was reduced to a fugitive by his own son, surrounded by adversaries. Yet, in this crisis, he demonstrates extraordinary peace. His ability to "lie down and sleep" is a profound act of faith, showing a complete surrender of his fear and anxiety to God. It highlights that true rest does not depend on the absence of trouble, but on the presence of God.

His awakening, too, is attributed directly to the Lord's intervention: "for the Lord sustains me." The word "sustains" (samakh) implies active divine support and upholding, preventing David from succumbing to the overwhelming pressures and threats. It reveals a God who is intimately involved in the mundane, preserving His servant even during the unconscious hours of the night. This verse becomes a timeless model for believers facing tribulation: rather than succumbing to worry and sleeplessness, one can consciously choose to rest in God's promises, knowing He is actively upholding their life and protecting them, leading to a new morning.

Practical usage examples:

• When faced with overwhelming financial anxiety, intentionally lay worries before God in prayer and aim for restful sleep, trusting Him to provide.
• Before a crucial decision or challenge, take time for peaceful rest, rather than restless preparation, believing God will uphold you through the process.
• In times of intense personal conflict, refuse to be consumed by worry and bitterness; instead, trust God to be your ultimate defender and allow His peace to rule.