Psalm 4 8

Psalm 4:8 kjv

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8 nkjv

I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8 niv

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8 esv

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8 nlt

In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.

Psalm 4 verses

Psalm 4 8 Meaning

This verse expresses profound confidence and restful trust in God, even amidst difficulty or threats. The psalmist declares that he will sleep soundly because his security and peace come solely from the Lord. It signifies a state of inner tranquility and external protection granted by divine power, contrasting with the anxieties and false hopes of the world. True rest and safety are presented as gifts from God alone.

Psalm 4 8 Context

Psalm 4 is a psalm of individual lament, shifting into a song of confidence and trust in God. It opens with the psalmist crying out to God for deliverance (Psa 4:1) from adversaries who "turn my glory into shame" and "love worthless things and seek falsehood" (Psa 4:2). The psalmist distinguishes himself and those who belong to God, stating that "the Lord sets apart the godly for Himself" (Psa 4:3). He calls his listeners, likely those who doubt or mock, to "be angry, and do not sin" and to "tremble, and be silent" (Psa 4:4), urging them towards self-examination and right living by offering sacrifices of righteousness and trusting in the Lord (Psa 4:5).

In Psa 4:6, the psalm reveals a common cry of distress: "Many are asking, 'Who can show us anything good?'" contrasting this worldly desire for superficial or material prosperity with the psalmist's prayer: "Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord!" (Psa 4:6). He states that God has "put more joy in my heart than when their grain and new wine abound" (Psa 4:7), signifying spiritual joy surpassing earthly prosperity. Psalm 4:8 serves as the climactic expression of this trust, demonstrating the practical outcome of leaning on God's unwavering provision rather than on external circumstances or human solutions. In a world fraught with ancient dangers, nightfall brought particular vulnerability; to sleep in peace testified to absolute confidence in divine protection against visible and unseen foes.

Psalm 4 8 Word analysis

• In peace (בְּשָׁלוֹם - b'shalom): From the Hebrew word shalom, meaning completeness, soundness, well-being, wholeness, prosperity, security, tranquility. It is more than just the absence of conflict; it signifies a flourishing state of being, in right relationship with God and His creation. This internal peace transcends external circumstances.
• I will both lie down (אֶשְׁכְּבָה - eshk'vah): Derived from shakhav, "to lie down," often for resting or sleeping. This is a deliberate action, an act of yielding to rest. In a challenging situation, to lie down is an act of trust, refusing to stay awake in anxiety or watchfulness.
• and sleep (וְאִישָׁן - v'ishan): From yashen, "to sleep." This emphasizes the deep, undisturbed slumber that comes from freedom from fear and worry. It highlights profound rest that an anxious or fearful person cannot attain.
• for (כִּי - ki): A causal conjunction, meaning "because" or "for this reason." It introduces the fundamental ground for the psalmist's peace and sleep: God.
• you alone (אַתָּה לְבַדָּד - attah l'vaddad): Attah is "you" (masculine singular), emphasizing direct address to God. L'vaddad means "alone, by oneself, solitarily, only." This is a crucial phrase emphasizing exclusivity. The psalmist is declaring that his safety comes from no other source but YHWH. It is a powerful declaration against reliance on human power, alliances, or idolatrous systems prevalent in the ancient world that claimed to offer security.
• O Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): The tetragrammaton, the personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Moses (Exo 3:14-15). This name emphasizes God's self-existence, faithfulness, and His active presence in the lives of His people. It highlights the psalmist's personal relationship with a trustworthy God.
• make me dwell (תּוֹשִׁיבֵנִי - toshivēni): From yashav, meaning "to sit, remain, reside, dwell." In the Hiphil causative stem ("make me dwell"), it signifies God's active role in causing the psalmist to be settled, to reside securely. It's not a passive safety, but God's purposeful establishment of his dwelling in security. It suggests a permanent, settled state rather than fleeting protection.
• in safety (לָבֶטַח - la'vetach): From betach, meaning "security, trust, confidence, feeling safe." This goes beyond merely being free from danger; it implies an inner state of complete assurance and reliance upon God's protection. It's the confidence that comes from trusting completely in the one who secures you.

Psalm 4 8 Bonus section

The concept of betach (safety/security) linked with shalom (peace) and God as the singular source underscores a holistic biblical worldview of well-being. This profound peace is not circumstantial; it flows from a right relationship with God and an active choice to rely on His omnipotence and faithfulness. This contrasts starkly with any "peace" found through self-reliance or false gods, which are ultimately revealed as fleeting and untrustworthy. It hints at the deeper peace offered through Christ, who also commands peace in the storm, and promises peace that the world cannot give or take away. This verse encapsulates the theological truth that true repose and security are fundamentally a spiritual blessing.

Psalm 4 8 Commentary

Psalm 4:8 serves as a testament to radical trust in God. In a world that often measures security by visible assets, fortifications, or human power, the psalmist anchors his rest in an invisible, yet all-powerful, divine Protector. The desire to "lie down and sleep" in peace reflects an ultimate surrendering of anxieties. This is not naive optimism, but a deep theological conviction that arises from a conscious choice to entrust one's whole being to God's care. The emphatic declaration "You alone, O Lord," directly refutes any worldly pretenses to security, contrasting the temporary and often illusory peace offered by human achievements or idolatrous practices with the absolute and perfect peace bestowed by YHWH. God doesn't just provide safety; He makes one dwell in safety, signifying an ongoing, settled, and divinely maintained state of security. This peace encompasses the physical (ability to sleep), emotional (absence of fear), and spiritual (assurance of God's care) dimensions of life.

Examples for practical usage:

• In times of overwhelming anxiety about the future, pausing to consciously choose to trust God for what seems uncontrollable.
• Instead of letting worries about financial instability steal one's peace, acknowledging God as the sole provider and secure foundation.
• When faced with physical threats or uncertainties, finding rest in the biblical promise of God's safeguarding presence.