Psalm 91:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

NIV: You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

NASB: You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day;

CSB: You will not fear the terror of the night, the arrow that flies by day,

NLT: Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.

KJV: Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

NKJV: You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day,

This reference plays on humanity's natural fear of darkness, which is both emotional and practical. In the ancient world, there were no electric lights or city lamp posts. Some of the more potent dangers came by night, such as wild animals and bandits. An enemy could hide under the cover of darkness before springing a surprise attack. Even today, nighttime seems to increase the frequency of crime. Robberies, burglaries, assaults, and murder occur more often during the night than during the day. Of course, daytime in the era of the Old Testament had its own dangers: sunlight allowed enemies to see targets clearly and shoot arrows at victims.

Jesus' own interpretation of passages such as this (Psalm 91:11–12; Matthew 4:5–7) clarifies that God does not promise His people invincibility. And yet, the best protection we can hope for begins with the stable, powerful protection offered by being close to God and His truth (Psalm 91:1–2; Proverbs 1:7).

In Psalm 23 David expressed trust in the Lord during a challenging time. He wrote: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me" (Psalm 23:4).

Psalm 91:5–13 points out that those who trust in the Lord have nothing to fear because the Lord watches over them. This continues the theme introduced in the prior passage. This segment is notable in that it was cited by the Devil when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:5–6). Jesus responded to Satan's attempt at twisting Scripture with additional Scripture and a better perspective (Matthew 4:7). Trust in God's sovereignty and goodness does not mean an absolute expectation of safety.

The psalmist expresses his trust that God is a source of safety. He uses various dangers as symbols of the terrors which God's people do not need to fear. When God has resolved to protect someone, nothing can overcome that safety. Jesus refuted inappropriate use of this promise when being tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:5–7). Those who love God, and honor Him, can count on His provision and protection, and know that nothing happens without His approval.

This psalm includes similar phrases to psalms 90 and 92. The theme of this song is trust in God, a common theme in Scripture. Notable parallels can be found in 2 Samuel 22:31, Psalms 9, 37, 40, 84, and 118, Proverbs 3:5–6, Proverbs 14:26, Isaiah 26:3, Nahum 1:7, John 14:1–6, and Hebrews 11. In Psalm 91 the writer reveals what the Lord does for those who trust in Him. Verses 11 and 12 were cited by Satan when tempting Jesus in Matthew 4:5–6.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.