What does Psalm 91:4 mean?
The psalmist compares the Lord's protection of those who trust in him to the protection a mother eagle gives her chicks. This is depicted as the mother spreading the feathers of her wings over them. Similarly, the Lord covers us with His wings. This is symbolic, of course, since God does not have literal wings. This imagery echoes the cherubim: angels who spread their wings over the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:18–20). These images faced the mercy seat where the high priest made atonement for the people of Israel. Jesus applied similar symbolism when mourning over the stubbornness of Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37).This verse also emphasizes the Lord's faithfulness to those who trust in Him. The word "shield" refers to a larger item which covers much of a soldier's body. This is a common part of ancient armor (Ephesians 6:16). A "buckler" is a small shield, often worn on the forearm. This is rendered in translations such as the ESV and KJV from the Hebrew sō'hē'rāh, which can also be translated as a "bulwark:" a mound of earth raised around a defensive position. Whether the psalmist is repeating the concept of a mobile shield, or using different ideas for protection, the meaning is the same.
