Psalm 91:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

NIV: A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

NASB: A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not approach you.

CSB: Though a thousand fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, the pestilence will not reach you.

NLT: Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.

KJV: A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

NKJV: A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you.

The Bible promises that God is sovereign, and so we can trust Him (Psalm 91:1–2), but that does not mean we are guaranteed absolute invincibility. Jesus, in fact, refuted such interpretations when He rejected Satan's twisted use of this very psalm (Psalm 91:11–12; Matthew 4:5–7).

The imagery here may refer not only to disease or natural sickness (Psalm 91:6), but also to battle. In Leviticus 26:8 the Lord promised His covenant people: "Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand, and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword." In the times of the Judges, the Lord used Gideon and his 300 men to defeat the Midianites, the Amalekites, and all the people of the East. Judges 7:12 describes this enemy as lying "along the valley like locusts in abundance, and their camels were without number, as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance."

Earlier in Israel's history the Lord intervened at the Red Sea to save His people from the Egyptian cavalry. He caused the pillar of cloud to come between the Israelites and the Egyptians to protect Israelites. He also provided a safe path through the Red Sea for His people but brought the waters together again when the Egyptians pursued the Israelites. As a result, the cavalry drowned in the sea (Exodus 14). When God chooses to intervene on behalf of His people, nothing can stand in the way.

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.