What does Psalm 34:7 mean?
ESV: The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
NIV: The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
NASB: The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.
CSB: The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and rescues them.
NLT: For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.
KJV: The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
NKJV: The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
Verse Commentary:
David notes that the angel of the Lord is present with those who fear God, and He delivers them. This use of the word translated "fear" implies deep respect and reverence, not terror. This statement is David's personal testimony.
"The" Angel of the Lord in Old Testament times was the preincarnate Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity. When Jacob camped at Mahanaim and feared for his life, "the angels of God met him" (Genesis 32:1). When Elisha was threatened at Dothan by a vast Syrian military force, he did not fear because a powerful angelic host lined the mountain outside the city to protect him (2 Kings 6:15–17).
Today, Jesus is always with us (Matthew 28:20), and no amount of trouble we encounter can drive him from us (Romans 8:38–39). Further, angels are God's servants who minister to us in various ways (Hebrews 1:14). We may not be aware of their presence, but we can be aware of the protection they provide.
Verse Context:
Psalm 34:1–7 expresses David's determination to extoll God constantly. He invites the humble to hear his praise and join him in magnifying the Lord. God answered David's prayer for deliverance; this is probably about David's escape from the Philistine king, Abimelech (1 Samuel 21:10–15). Thanks to this and other experiences, David is confident the Lord protects and delivers all who fear Him.
Chapter Summary:
David praises the Lord for delivering him from the Philistines, and he invites others to join him in singing joyfully to the Lord. He extols the virtue of fearing the Lord and remembering His goodness. He encourages the Lord's people to respect God and offers wisdom leading to a long and blessed life. At the end of this psalm David emphasizes the distinction the Lord draws between the wicked and the righteous. He cares for the righteous and will not condemn them, but He condemns the wicked.
Chapter Context:
David composed this psalm after he escaped from the Philistines at Gath. He accomplished this by feigning insanity and later sheltered in the cave of Adullum. This experience is recorded in 1 Samuel 21:10—22:1. Like Psalm 25, this is an acrostic psalm. Every verse except the final one begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. First Peter 2:3 alludes to the psalm's eighth verse, and 1 Peter 3:10–12 quotes verses 12–16 of Psalm 34. John 19:36 refers to Psalm 34:20.
Book Summary:
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.
Accessed 5/6/2024 9:53:34 PM
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Text from ESV, NIV, NASB, CSB, NLT, KJV, NKJV © Copyright respective owners, used by permission.
