Psalm 60:4 kjv
Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.
Psalm 60:4 nkjv
You have given a banner to those who fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah
Psalm 60:4 niv
But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow.
Psalm 60:4 esv
You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah
Psalm 60:4 nlt
But you have raised a banner for those who fear you ?
a rallying point in the face of attack. Interlude
Psalm 60 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 17:15 | Moses built an altar and called its name, "The LORD is my Banner." | God as a banner, provider of victory. |
| Isa 11:10 | In that day the root of Jesse... shall stand as a banner for the peoples... | Messiah as a standard, gathering of nations. |
| Isa 49:22 | Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and raise my signal to the peoples... | God lifting a signal for His scattered people. |
| Jer 4:6 | "Raise a signal toward Zion! Flee for safety..." | Banner as a sign for action, rallying. |
| Ps 20:5 | May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! | Banners representing divine salvation. |
| Ps 57:3 | He will send from heaven and save me; He will put to shame him who tramples on me... | God sending help from heaven to save His fearful ones. |
| Ps 33:18 | Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him... | God's watchful care over those who fear Him. |
| Prov 14:26 | In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence... | Fear of the Lord bringing security. |
| Prov 1:7 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge... | Foundation of wisdom in revering God. |
| Deut 20:4 | "For the LORD your God is He who goes with you to fight for you..." | God fighting on behalf of His people. |
| Ps 31:5 | Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. | God's faithfulness as His core attribute. |
| Deut 32:4 | "The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He." | God's truthfulness, righteousness, and justice. |
| Isa 59:19 | "...when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him." | Divine standard against the adversary. |
| Zech 9:16 | On that day the LORD their God will save them, as the flock of His people; for they are the stones of a crown, sparkling in His land. | God's people as precious and divinely protected. |
| 1 Pet 1:5 | ...who are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed... | God's power safeguarding His believers. |
| Eph 6:14 | Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth... | Truth as essential for the spiritual battle. |
| Jn 14:6 | Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life..." | Christ embodying the truth, foundation of our stand. |
| 2 Tim 2:19 | But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity." | God's unwavering truth about His own. |
| Rom 8:31 | What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? | God's commitment and support for His people. |
| Phil 4:13 | I can do all things through him who strengthens me. | Divine strength enabling believers in weakness. |
| 2 Sam 22:3 | My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge... my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge... | God as protector and source of strength. |
| Rev 15:3 | "...Great and amazing are Your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are Your ways..." | Praise for God's just and true character. |
Psalm 60 verses
Psalm 60 4 Meaning
Psalm 60:4 declares that God, in His sovereign power, provides a banner or standard to those who revere Him. This banner serves as a rallying point and a symbol of His presence, protection, and faithfulness. It is lifted high to be seen, specifically because of God's inherent truthfulness and His commitment to His covenant people. It signifies that divine intervention and victory are rooted in God's righteous character and His people's faithfulness.
Psalm 60 4 Context
Psalm 60 is a "Michtam of David," composed in a period of intense national distress and military defeat, specifically when David fought against Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah, and when Joab returned and struck down Edom in the Valley of Salt, numbering twelve thousand (2 Sam 8:3-8, 1 Kgs 11:15-16, 1 Chr 18:3-13). The psalm opens with a lament, describing Israel's dire situation and expressing God's apparent rejection and anger, likening it to a shattered earth and a poisoned drink. Verses 1-3 depict national collapse and divine abandonment. Amidst this turmoil, verse 4 introduces a shift, acknowledging God's past provision despite the current calamity. This banner is given by God as a sign of hope and a rallying point, counteracting the feeling of disarray. It highlights God's sovereignty even in seemingly negative circumstances, assuring His people that His support, based on His faithfulness ("truth"), remains for those who genuinely revere Him. The verse stands as an anchor of divine reliability within a lament that transitions into renewed trust.
Psalm 60 4 Word analysis
- You have given (נָתַתָּה - natattah): This Hebrew word emphasizes God's sovereign initiative and act of bestowal. It's a completed action, implying a past gift or an established principle. God is the active agent, the provider, rather than Israel achieving this on their own. This highlights divine grace and provision.
- a banner (נֵס - nes): This versatile Hebrew word signifies a standard, a signal, a flag, or a pole with an ensign. In ancient warfare, banners were crucial for rallying troops, identifying units, and signifying leadership. Theologically, nes often represents God's powerful presence, a sign of His intervention (Ex 17:15, "The LORD is my Banner"), or a beacon for His people (Isa 11:10). It symbolizes hope, direction, and victory originating from God.
- to those who fear you (לִירֵאֶיךָ - liyre'eykha): "Fear" here (ירא - yare') does not denote terror but rather profound reverence, awe, worship, and obedient submission to God's will and authority. It signifies a genuine, humble acknowledgment of His power and holiness, leading to faithful living within the covenant. This phrase specifies the recipient of the divine banner: it is not for all, but for those who are rightly related to Him through faith and reverence.
- that it may be displayed (לְהִתְנוֹסֵס - lehitanoses): This verb is in the Hithpael stem, suggesting an active, reflexive, or intensive action—to be unfurled, to be lifted up high, to be displayed prominently, or to rally oneself around it. It implies public proclamation and recognition. The banner is not meant to be hidden but to be openly manifested, signaling God's presence and intentions for all to see.
- because of the truth (מִפְּנֵי קֹשֶׁט - mipeney qosheṭ):
- מִפְּנֵי (mipeney): A preposition meaning "because of," "in the face of," "before." It denotes the reason or cause.
- קֹשֶׁט (qosheṭ): This word means "truth," "integrity," "fidelity," or "firmness." It points to God's unchangeable character – His faithfulness, trustworthiness, and righteousness. God acts according to who He is. Alternatively, it can refer to the truthfulness or righteousness of the cause of God's people. The banner is displayed either because God is true to His word and covenant, or because His people stand for truth, or both, as God's character underpins their righteous cause. This establishes the ethical foundation for God's divine assistance.
Psalm 60 4 Bonus section
The concept of the nes (banner/standard) frequently intertwines with God's redemptive plan in prophetic literature, serving as a sign that gathers God's scattered people (Isa 49:22) or signifying the arrival of the Messiah (Isa 11:10). In the New Testament, while a physical banner isn't mentioned, the imagery resonates with Christ as the ultimate standard around whom believers rally (Jn 12:32, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself"). The "fear of the LORD" continues as a foundational principle for the Christian walk (Acts 9:31, Col 3:22), and "truth" is personified in Jesus Christ (Jn 14:6) and forms a core component of the Christian armor (Eph 6:14). Thus, Psalm 60:4, originating in a moment of ancient Israelite military and spiritual distress, provides a timeless truth about God's faithfulness and His provision for His people through the ages, culminating in the saving work of His Son.
Psalm 60 4 Commentary
Psalm 60:4 provides a crucial theological pivot within a psalm of lament and national distress. Amidst profound suffering and apparent divine abandonment, the psalmist recalls a fundamental truth: God's enduring provision. The "banner" (nes) signifies not merely a physical flag in battle, but God Himself as a sign of victory, presence, and salvation for His people. It serves as a spiritual rallying point, reminding His followers of His steadfast identity as "The LORD is my Banner" (Ex 17:15). This divine standard is given specifically to "those who fear You," emphasizing that God's covenant loyalty is reciprocated by His people's reverent obedience and faithfulness. The purpose of this banner is "that it may be displayed," indicating that God's power and support are not hidden but openly manifest, a clear signal in times of confusion and conflict. The ultimate reason for this divine display is "because of the truth," rooting God's actions in His unchanging character of faithfulness and righteousness (Deut 32:4). It is God's intrinsic fidelity that guarantees His aid to those who truly seek Him, validating their righteous cause. This verse therefore transforms a moment of despair into an affirmation of enduring divine support for those whose trust is anchored in God's immutable truth.