Psalm 91 12

Psalm 91:12 kjv

They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Psalm 91:12 nkjv

In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

Psalm 91:12 niv

they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

Psalm 91:12 esv

On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

Psalm 91:12 nlt

They will hold you up with their hands
so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.

Psalm 91 verses

Psalm 91 12 Meaning

Psalm 91:12 promises divine, angelic intervention and support for the believer, ensuring protection from even minor hindrances or injuries. It illustrates meticulous care, like being gently carried over obstacles, so that one’s life journey (symbolized by the foot) proceeds without stumbling upon unseen perils. This verse assures the protected state of those who dwell securely in God.

Psalm 91 12 Context

Psalm 91:12 is a key promise within Psalm 91, which functions as a hymn of assurance and protection for those who commit themselves to God ("dwell in the secret place of the Most High," v.1). The psalm immediately precedes this verse (v.11) specifies that God "will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways." Historically, such psalms addressed very real threats to life—pestilence, terror by night, war, deadly disease—prevalent in the ancient Near East. The promise here offers not just broad protection but a detailed, intimate safeguarding against even minor mishaps. Culturally, people travelled on rough, unpaved roads where stumbling on stones was common. Spiritually, this verse acts as a polemic against reliance on pagan deities or charms for safety, asserting that the Lord alone provides ultimate, personal, and meticulous protection.

Psalm 91 12 Word analysis

• They will lift you up (Hebrew: Yissa'unka - יִשָּׂא֫וּנְךָ): The verb nasa' (נָשָׂא) means "to lift, carry, support, bear." The plural "they" refers directly to "His angels" mentioned in the preceding verse (Ps 91:11). This denotes active, personal, and instrumental divine intervention through angelic agents. It signifies being buoyed up and held aloft, emphasizing complete removal from potential harm.
• in their hands (Hebrew: ʿal kappayim - עַל כַּפָּ֑יִם): Kaph (כַּף) refers to the "palm of the hand." This imagery emphasizes a tender, gentle, and utterly secure grip. It is protective, similar to a parent carrying a cherished child to ensure no harm befalls them, suggesting meticulous care rather than mere averting of disaster.
• so that you will not strike (Hebrew: pen tigoph - פֶּֽן־תִּגֹּף): The verb nagas (נָגַף) means "to strike, hit, stumble, trip over, fall." "Pen" signifies a negative purpose clause ("lest" or "so that...not"). This is a common Hebrew idiom for suffering misfortune, injury, or even death (Exo 21:13). It highlights the preventive nature of the protection, ensuring no harm.
• your foot (Hebrew: ragleka - רַגְלְךָ): Regel (רֶגֶל) is the "foot." In biblical usage, the foot symbolizes one's journey, path, direction, and even the stability or progress of one's life. An injury to the foot can impede one's entire course of action.
• against a stone (Hebrew: baʾeven - בָּאֶבֶן): ʾEben (אֶבֶן) means "stone." This represents a common, relatively minor obstacle or unseen impediment on a path. The mention of a "stone" signifies that the protection extends to the most trivial and unexpected hazards, preventing even slight discomfort or injury, illustrating comprehensive care.

Words-group analysis:

• "They will lift you up in their hands": This phrase paints a picture of complete and personal security. It's not just that danger will pass by, but that the individual will be actively removed from the danger by being held aloft. This speaks to intimate and vigilant care, a higher level of protection than simply guarding the path.
• "so that you will not strike your foot against a stone": This phrase denotes meticulous precision in protection. It ensures even minor inconveniences, small pitfalls, or unexpected obstacles are rendered harmless. It extends the scope of divine care from major calamities to the everyday perils of life's journey, guaranteeing a steady and unimpeded path.

Psalm 91 12 Bonus section

The meticulous detail of "not strike your foot against a stone" extends the scope of divine protection beyond mere survival in major threats to ensuring grace in every step of daily life. This promise emphasizes the concept of God's active omnipresence, caring for the micro-details of a believer's walk. The very physical nature of being "lifted in hands" offers a profound image of relief from earthly burdens and dangers, suggesting effortless passage through challenges that would otherwise trip us up. This aligns with a deeper theological principle that God's grace often removes even the lesser hindrances that can wear us down over time, just as much as He protects from great perils.

Psalm 91 12 Commentary

Psalm 91:12 offers a powerful and tender assurance of God's vigilant protection through His angelic host. It depicts a level of care that prevents not only major catastrophe but also the smallest, everyday inconveniences or harms symbolized by stumbling over a stone. This highlights the exhaustive nature of divine care for those who trust Him: no detail is too small for God's attention and preventive action. The devil's misquotation of this verse when tempting Jesus (Mat 4:6; Lk 4:10-11) is profoundly significant. It teaches that while God's promises of protection are absolute for the faithful, they are not an invitation to presumptuously test God or put oneself in unnecessary danger. Trust in God is active faithfulness, not reckless abandonment of responsibility. This verse therefore calls believers to both deep trust and wise stewardship of life, understanding God’s protection is a covenant promise, not a blank check for imprudent actions.