Psalm 55:7 kjv
Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
Psalm 55:7 nkjv
Indeed, I would wander far off, And remain in the wilderness. Selah
Psalm 55:7 niv
I would flee far away and stay in the desert;
Psalm 55:7 esv
yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah
Psalm 55:7 nlt
I would fly far away
to the quiet of the wilderness. Interlude
Psalm 55 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 11:1 | In the LORD I take refuge; How can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your mountain"? | Refuge in God, not physical escape. |
| Ps 46:1 | God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. | God as the true refuge from trouble. |
| Ps 57:1 | Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge... | Direct echo of "wings" for refuge in God. |
| Ps 91:4 | He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and a buckler. | God's wings provide spiritual refuge. |
| Pro 18:10 | The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe. | God as a secure haven for safety. |
| Heb 6:18 | ...so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. | Fleeing for spiritual refuge in God's promise. |
| Ps 4:8 | In peace I will both lie down and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety. | True rest and safety come from God. |
| Ps 23:2 | He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. | Divine provision for soul's rest. |
| Ps 116:7 | Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. | An exhortation to find rest in the Lord. |
| Isa 30:15 | For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength." | God's path to true rest and strength. |
| Jer 6:16 | Thus says the LORD, "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls." | Finding soul's rest by walking in God's ways. |
| Matt 11:28-29 | Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me...and you will find rest for your souls. | Christ as the ultimate source of rest for the soul. |
| Ps 6:6-7 | I am weary with my groaning; Every night I make my bed swim, I dissolve my bed with my tears. My eye wastes away because of grief... | Expressions of deep distress and grief. |
| Ps 38:6-8 | I am bent over and greatly bowed down; I go mourning all day long...for my loins are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh. | Physical manifestation of inner anguish. |
| Ps 69:1-3 | Save me, O God, For the waters have come up to my neck. I have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and a flood overwhelms me. | Desperate cry for salvation from overwhelming trouble. |
| Jon 4:8 | ...It is better for me to die than to live. | Extreme wish for escape from life's burdens. |
| Phil 1:23 | But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better... | Desire to depart from suffering world to be with Christ. |
| 2 Cor 5:8 | ...we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. | Paul's yearning for eternal rest with the Lord. |
| Gen 8:8-12 | So he sent out a dove from him, to see if the water was abated...But the dove found no resting place...Then he sent out the dove from him again, and behold, the dove came back to him toward evening, with an olive leaf...Then he waited yet seven days longer, and sent out the dove; and she did not return to him again. | Dove symbolizes seeking and finding a place of rest/security. |
| Hos 7:11 | Ephraim is like a silly dove, without sense; They call to Egypt, They go to Assyria. | Dove imagery for aimless seeking of refuge. |
| Matt 3:16 | After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him. | Dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit, purity, peace. |
Psalm 55 verses
Psalm 55 7 Meaning
Psalm 55:7 expresses the psalmist's intense longing for escape from overwhelming distress, fear, and turmoil. Faced with betrayal and danger, he ardently wishes for the physical means, like a dove's wings, to fly away swiftly to a place of permanent peace, solitude, and security, finding relief from his anguish. It embodies a natural human desire for freedom from suffering.
Psalm 55 7 Context
Psalm 55 is a fervent lament psalm attributed to David. Immediately preceding verse 7, the psalmist expresses profound distress, fear, trembling, horror, and dread engulfing him (Ps 55:4-6). This inner turmoil is primarily due to a specific act of betrayal by a trusted friend (often understood as Ahithophel during Absalom's rebellion, though not named here) who has turned against him, as becomes clearer in later verses of the chapter (Ps 55:12-14). David's wish for escape in verse 7 is a natural, almost desperate, human reaction to the unbearable mental and emotional anguish caused by treachery and imminent danger. He longs to physically flee from his current situation to find an unmolested place of safety and tranquility.
Psalm 55 7 Word analysis
- And I said (וָאֹמַר - va'omar): This indicates an explicit utterance, a deeply felt yearning that comes forth as a spoken desire rather than a mere thought. The psalmist is not just musing; he is expressing a profound longing.
- Oh that I had (מִי-יִתֶּן-לִי - mi yitten-li): This is a highly emphatic Hebrew idiom meaning "who will give to me?" or "would that there were given to me." It conveys a passionate, almost desperate wish for something unattainable, highlighting the depth of David's longing and helplessness in his current situation.
- wings (כְּנָפַיִם - k'nafayim): Literally "pair of wings," the plural emphasizes the full capacity for flight. Wings symbolize freedom, rapid escape, transcendence of earthly limitations, and a means to flee from danger.
- like a dove (כַּיּוֹנָה - kayyonah): The simile of a dove is significant. Doves are known for their swift, silent flight and are often associated with gentleness, innocence, vulnerability, and also mournful cooing. In the Biblical context, the dove frequently sought a place of rest (Gen 8:8-12). Unlike powerful birds of prey that fly to conquer, a dove flies to escape, find solace, or seek a peaceful dwelling. This choice highlights David's desire for a quiet, gentle departure to peace, rather than a forceful confrontation.
- for then would I fly away (וְאָעוּפָה - v'a'ufah): This phrase signifies a swift and decisive departure. The "then" links the possession of wings directly to the immediate act of escape. It points to a desire for instant removal from the scene of his torment.
- and be at rest (וְאֶשְׁכֹּנָה - v'eshkonah): From the root שָׁכַן (shakan), meaning "to settle down," "to dwell," or "to abide." This word denotes a stable, permanent state of quietness, security, and deep tranquility, not merely a momentary pause. It speaks of finding a lasting dwelling place of peace, safe from all further threats or anxieties. It contrasts sharply with his current restless, fear-filled state.
Psalm 55 7 Bonus section
The longing expressed in Ps 55:7, while seemingly a physical desire for escape, underscores the spiritual reality that only God can provide ultimate rest and security. Humans are inherently finite and vulnerable; our desires for perfect peace are only truly satisfied in the eternal embrace of our Creator. This verse resonates with the longing many experience, reflecting the universal human condition of desiring to be free from pain and distress, finding a deep inner peace.
Psalm 55 7 Commentary
Psalm 55:7 captures a profound human impulse: the yearning for escape when life's burdens become overwhelming. David, amidst crushing fear and betrayal, expresses a visceral wish for literal flight, akin to a gentle dove seeking its peaceful dwelling. This isn't merely a desire to flee from his problems, but deeply, to flee to a place of true and lasting rest. While human experience often wishes for such a physical escape, the Bible consistently redirects us. Though a natural sentiment, true rest, as Christ reveals, is found not in changing our location, but in changing our state by casting our burdens upon the Lord (Ps 55:22; Matt 11:28-29). David's lament eventually turns to trust in God's deliverance, recognizing that while literal wings cannot solve spiritual and emotional distress, God provides the ultimate refuge and enduring peace.