Psalm 91 14

Psalm 91:14 kjv

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

Psalm 91:14 nkjv

"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

Psalm 91:14 niv

"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

Psalm 91:14 esv

"Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.

Psalm 91:14 nlt

The LORD says, "I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.

Psalm 91 verses

Psalm 91 14 Meaning

Psalm 91:14 presents a divine declaration from God, revealing His promises of deliverance and exaltation to those who express deep, affectionate devotion and intimate, experiential knowledge of Him. It establishes a reciprocal relationship where humanity's fervent love for God and personal understanding of His character provoke His powerful and protective response. God promises to rescue such individuals from peril and elevate them to a secure, honored position.

Psalm 91 14 Context

Psalm 91 is a profound declaration of divine protection for those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High. The preceding verses (1-13) articulate the psalmist's affirmation of God as a refuge and fortress, describing the comprehensive safety provided from various dangers like terror, pestilence, arrows by day, and destruction by night. It emphasizes the steadfastness of God's guardianship over the one who "makes the Most High his dwelling." Verse 14 marks a powerful shift: it is God Himself speaking directly, articulating the divine reasoning and commitment behind the assurances given earlier in the psalm. God affirms His personal involvement and definitive action ("I will") in delivering and exalting the one who loves Him and knows His character. Historically, this psalm offered solace in times of common threats like war, disease, and the general precariousness of life in the ancient world, pointing the worshipper to exclusive trust in Yahweh against any lesser powers or superstitions.

Psalm 91 14 Word analysis

• Because: Denotes a causal relationship, establishing the reason or foundation for God's subsequent actions. It signifies that God's promises are not arbitrary but are a direct, deliberate response to a particular state of the human heart and will.

• he hath set his love upon me:

  • Original Hebrew: ki chashaq bi (כִּי חָשַׁק בִּי).
  • chashaq (חָשַׁק): This verb signifies a strong, fervent, deep affection, a delight in, and tenacious clinging. It's not mere emotional fondness but an active, decisive choice of attachment, a drawing of oneself closely to another out of strong desire and resolute commitment. It denotes a love that is set upon an object with determined intent and steadfast loyalty, a profound longing and intimate delight. This word is also used in Deut 7:7 regarding God setting His love upon Israel, indicating a parallel between God's steadfast love and the expected human response. It is a volitional love that transcends fleeting emotions.
  • upon me: Refers directly to God, highlighting the personal nature and focused object of this deep human affection. The relationship is distinctly vertical – love for God.

• therefore will I deliver him:

  • Original Hebrew: va'afalleṭehu (וַאֲפַלְּטֵהוּ).
  • palat (פָּלַט): To escape, be delivered, rescue, bring forth safely. This term implies extrication from danger, peril, or distress, a profound act of salvation and preservation. God explicitly states He will personally act to rescue and save.

• I will set him on high:

  • Original Hebrew: asaggevehu (אֲשַׂגְּבֵהוּ).
  • sagav (שָׂגַב): To be high, exalted, inaccessible, protected. This word suggests placing someone in a secure, elevated, or unassailable position, beyond the reach of enemies or harm. It signifies both a rescue from a low or vulnerable state and an exaltation to a place of honor, security, and prominence, guarded by divine power. It conveys a sense of elevation above threats and a position of divine favor and recognition.

• because he hath known my name:

  • Original Hebrew: ki yada' shmi (כִּי יָדַע שְׁמִי).
  • yada' (יָדַע): To know. Far deeper than intellectual understanding, yada' in this context denotes an intimate, experiential, relational, and covenantal knowledge. It is a knowing that comes from personal engagement, recognition, acknowledgment, and faithful reliance. It implies active recognition, acceptance of authority, and trust based on personal experience of God's character and power. It signifies allegiance and communion.
  • my name: Refers not merely to the spoken word "Yahweh" but to God's entire revealed character, attributes, and power (e.g., His holiness, faithfulness, mercy, sovereignty, omnipotence, and covenantal promises). To "know His name" means to understand who He is, to trust in His essence, and to relate to Him based on His revealed identity. It means recognizing and revering His authority and trusting His faithfulness to His revealed character.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Because he hath set his love upon me... therefore will I deliver him": This clause sets forth the fundamental principle of God's active intervention rooted in a devoted human response. It emphasizes that divine deliverance is a direct consequence of an intentional and deep attachment to God. This reciprocal love forms the bedrock of God's commitment to protect and save.
• "I will set him on high, because he hath known my name": This parallel clause extends the promise beyond mere deliverance to exaltation and profound security, linking it to a vital, intimate knowledge of God. It highlights that understanding God's character and nature experientially fosters a trust that leads to an elevated position of divine protection and honor. The twin conditions—deep love (chashaq) and intimate knowledge (yada') of God's name—are two sides of the same coin of true devotion, both eliciting God's comprehensive salvation.

Psalm 91 14 Bonus section

The insertion of God's own voice with the repeated "I will" is a significant literary and theological device in Psalm 91. It shifts the perspective from human trust to divine decree, imbuing the promises with ultimate authority and certainty. This personal declaration emphasizes God's direct and active involvement in the lives of His devoted followers. The terms used—chashaq (love) and yada' (know)—are rich covenantal terms. In ancient Near Eastern covenants, loyalty and knowing the king/lord were fundamental. Here, it reflects a similar spiritual covenant where human faithfulness triggers divine blessings. The concept of being "set on high" can also imply a form of spiritual preeminence or honor within God's kingdom, where such individuals are regarded highly by God and potentially used for His greater purposes.

Psalm 91 14 Commentary

Psalm 91:14 stands as God's direct, personal affirmation within a psalm of trust, underscoring the deep connection between a believer's inner disposition and divine favor. The two conditions given—"set his love upon me" (chashaq) and "known my name" (yada'), are not casual; they represent a profound, deliberate, and experiential relationship with the Creator. To "set one's love" means an intentional, strong, affectionate, and loyal attachment to God, chosen out of delight and devoted resolve. This goes beyond mere belief; it is a heart-level clinging to God. Simultaneously, "knowing God's name" implies an intimate, lived understanding of His revealed character, attributes, and power, which fosters unwavering trust and reliance on His sovereign nature.

In response to this dedicated love and profound knowledge, God promises a dual blessing: "I will deliver him" and "I will set him on high." "Deliverance" is rescue from immediate danger, affliction, and the plots of adversaries. "Setting him on high" is not only protection from enemies but also an elevation to a position of safety, honor, and perhaps even divine prominence—a secure place beyond the reach of harm, reflecting God's unique favor. This verse confirms that God's protection is not merely a blanket promise for all but a specific, personal commitment to those who truly seek Him with their whole being. It's an active, personal reciprocation from God, responding to a genuine, proactive love and a deep, relational understanding of Him.For example, a believer who steadfastly loves and trusts God's character even when facing great hardship (like Job, who, despite immense suffering, still knew and declared God's sovereignty) will experience divine preservation and, in due time, exaltation or restoration. Another instance is Daniel, whose unwavering devotion to God and deep knowledge of His character, demonstrated through consistent prayer despite royal decree, led to his miraculous deliverance from the lion's den and subsequent promotion (being "set on high") by the king.