Psalm 91:4 kjv
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Psalm 91:4 nkjv
He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
Psalm 91:4 niv
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
Psalm 91:4 esv
He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
Psalm 91:4 nlt
He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Psalm 91 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 17:8 | Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings... | God's sheltering wings. |
| Psa 36:7 | How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!... refuge in the shadow of your wings. | God's love and protective wings. |
| Psa 57:1 | Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge... | Seeking refuge under wings. |
| Psa 61:4 | I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. | Dwelling securely under divine protection. |
| Psa 63:7 | Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. | Joy and protection under God's wings. |
| Isa 31:5 | Like birds hovering overhead, so the LORD Almighty will protect Jerusalem; he will protect it and deliver it... | God protecting His people like birds. |
| Matt 23:37 | O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings... | Jesus desiring to gather and protect His people. |
| Psa 2:12 | Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. | General call to take refuge in God. |
| Psa 5:11 | But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy... | Joy of those who take refuge in God. |
| Psa 7:1 | O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge... | Personal declaration of refuge. |
| Psa 18:2 | The LORD is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge... | God as ultimate refuge and protector. |
| Psa 34:8 | Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! | Experiential truth of refuge in God. |
| Psa 118:8-9 | It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man... in princes. | Superiority of trusting God. |
| Nah 1:7 | The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him. | God as a reliable stronghold. |
| Gen 15:1 | After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." | God Himself as a personal shield. |
| Psa 3:3 | But You, O LORD, are a shield about me... | God as a protective presence. |
| Psa 28:7 | The LORD is my strength and my shield... | God as source of strength and protection. |
| Psa 33:20 | Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. | Waiting on God who is a shield. |
| Psa 84:11 | For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor... | God as a generous provider and protector. |
| Psa 115:9-11 | O Israel, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield... | Call to trust the Lord who is a shield. |
| Psa 144:2 | My lovingkindness and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and He in whom I take refuge... | Multifaceted protection by God. |
| Prov 30:5 | Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. | God's word and Him as a shield for trusters. |
| Psa 36:5 | Your unfailing love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies. | God's vast and unyielding faithfulness. |
| Psa 89:1-2 | I will sing of the LORD's unfailing love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations... | Declaring God's enduring faithfulness. |
| Deut 32:4 | He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. | God's perfect faithfulness and justice. |
| Rom 3:3-4 | What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God's faithfulness? Not at all! | God's faithfulness is unshakeable. |
| Heb 6:18 | ...it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. | God's truthful and unchangeable nature. |
| Eph 6:16 | In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. | Faith as a spiritual shield against evil. |
| 2 Thess 3:3 | But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. | God's faithfulness leads to strength and protection. |
Psalm 91 verses
Psalm 91 4 Meaning
Psalm 91:4 presents a powerful dual imagery of divine protection, portraying God as both a nurturing, sheltering bird and an invincible warrior providing ultimate defense. It declares that God intimately covers His faithful ones, providing refuge and warmth under His care. Simultaneously, His unswerving truth and faithfulness serve as an impenetrable spiritual shield, safeguarding believers against all forms of attack and danger. The verse emphasizes active trust as a response to this absolute divine safeguard.
Psalm 91 4 Context
Psalm 91 is a hymn of trust and assurance, focusing on God's protection for those who dwell in His shelter and seek refuge in Him. The preceding verses (Psa 91:1-3) establish the foundational premise: the one who "dwells in the shelter of the Most High" and "rests in the shadow of the Almighty" declares the Lord as their "refuge and fortress," a deliverer from "the fowler's snare" and "deadly pestilence." Verse 4 then expands on how God provides this protection, using vivid metaphors that describe His intimate and comprehensive defense against all perceived dangers, whether physical or spiritual. The historical backdrop for such psalms often includes times of peril, war, disease, or exile, making the need for divine security particularly acute for the original audience.
Psalm 91 4 Word analysis
- He shall cover thee: יְכַסֵּךְ (yekassek) from כָּסָה (kasah), meaning to cover or conceal. This suggests a thorough, personal, and active shielding by God. It speaks of intimate protection, like a mother covering her young, providing both security and comfort. This is not passive observation but direct divine action.
- with his feathers: בְאֶבְרָתוֹ (b'evrato) from אֶבְרָה (evrah), referring specifically to the large, strong flight feathers of a bird, such as an eagle. These are the feathers that enable powerful flight and provide extensive covering. The imagery evokes warmth, security, and an almost impenetrable softness. It implies the totality of God's sheltering care, from small, creeping dangers to greater threats.
- and under his wings: וְתַחַת כְּנָפָיו (v'tachat k'nafav) from כָּנָף (kanaft). While "feathers" speaks to the material of the covering, "wings" describes the expansive embrace. This metaphor is deeply rooted in ancient Near Eastern protective imagery, often associated with powerful deities or kings. It signifies full encompassment, guardianship, and refuge, much like a hen gathers her chicks or an eagle shields its young. It is a symbol of warmth, safety, and close protection, preventing exposure to harm.
- shalt thou trust: תֶּחְסֶה (techseh) from חָסָה (chasah), meaning to seek refuge, to flee for protection, or to confide in. This is the crucial human response demanded by the divine offer of protection. It is an active posture of reliance, dependency, and finding security solely in God. It underscores that this divine covering is for those who actively commit to His shelter, rather than their own strength or alternative defenses.
- his truth: אֲמִתּוֹ (amitto) from אֱמֶת (emet), signifying not just factual accuracy, but God's faithfulness, reliability, stability, and enduring reality. It refers to God's steadfastness to His covenant promises and His unwavering character. This "truth" is an attribute of God that actively works to defend. It means His protection is guaranteed because He is true to His word and nature. It is not an abstract concept, but a tangible, protective force.
- shall be thy shield: מָגֵן (magen), a large, usually oblong shield, carried by warriors for defense against various attacks. This suggests comprehensive frontal protection, covering much of the body. It speaks of God actively deflecting and absorbing blows intended for the believer.
- and buckler: וְצִנָּה (v'tsinnah), often a larger, full-body shield or round buckler, providing wider coverage than the magen. The inclusion of both terms enhances the sense of complete, all-encompassing defensive capability. It implies protection from diverse forms of attack, emphasizing God's thorough and layered defense. The pairing underscores that no aspect of the believer is left unprotected.
- "He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust": This entire phrase uses vivid ornithological imagery to portray God's tender, intimate, and complete protection. The "feathers" and "wings" together evoke the sheltering care of a parent bird, actively protecting its vulnerable offspring from harm, heat, or predators. This is a highly personal and affectionate metaphor, highlighting God's direct, involved care and warmth. It points to a refuge that is both soft and strong. The conjunction "and" implies continuity and completeness in God's protective embrace, further emphasized by the inclusion of "shalt thou trust," making trust the condition for experiencing this profound protection.
- "his truth shall be thy shield and buckler": This second phrase shifts from an organic, natural metaphor to a military one, illustrating the robustness and reliability of God's defense. God's faithfulness (His truth) is not just an abstract quality but an active, impenetrable defense. The "shield" and "buckler" (sometimes interpreted as large and small shields, or different types of full-body shields) represent comprehensive, layered, and unbreakable protection against all forms of external assault—be it physical danger, spiritual attack, or emotional distress. This part emphasizes God's active power and integrity as the source of security, contrasting sharply with human or material defenses. The use of two different terms for shields stresses the thoroughness of God's defensive coverage.
Psalm 91 4 Bonus section
- The pairing of "feathers/wings" and "shield/buckler" offers a remarkable synthesis of two distinct aspects of divine care: a personal, tender, and enveloping warmth, and an unyielding, battle-ready defense. This illustrates God's multifaceted protection, covering all aspects of life and every type of threat.
- The Hebrew terms for "shield" (magen) and "buckler" (tsinnah) might also suggest that God protects not only the heart (often covered by the shield) but also the whole person, even from specific or nuanced threats.
- This verse underscores the reciprocity of faith: God offers His unfailing protection, but it requires the individual's conscious act of "trusting" or taking "refuge" in Him. It's not automatic for everyone but promised to those who genuinely depend on Him.
- The consistency of God's nature ("his truth") is presented as the very substance of protection, meaning His reliability is the ultimate defense, unshaken by circumstances or human frailty.
Psalm 91 4 Commentary
Psalm 91:4 paints a sublime picture of God's protection for those who choose Him as their refuge. The imagery begins with the gentle, nurturing care of a bird sheltering its young, suggesting intimate closeness, warmth, and full coverage from environmental harshness or lurking dangers. This evokes comfort, security, and a personal sense of being guarded. This tender picture then seamlessly transitions to robust, military defense, likening God's unwavering faithfulness to formidable weaponry – a large shield and a smaller buckler. This dual imagery highlights both the compassionate, personal nature of divine care and the formidable, unyielding strength of God's active defense. God's truth, His absolute reliability and consistency, is not just a passive attribute but becomes an active, impenetrable barrier. This verse reminds believers that their security rests not on their own strength or strategies, but on a deliberate trust in God's proven character and omnipotent power to defend them completely from every threat, both seen and unseen. For practical application, this verse encourages consistent reliance on God's promises in moments of fear or uncertainty, knowing His faithfulness is an ultimate defense.