Psalms 91 · Verse 1

Psalms 91:1

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalms 91:1, King James Version

Psalms 91:1 in other translations

BSBHe who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
WEBHe who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
ASVHe that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
YLTHe who is dwelling In the secret place of the Most High, In the shade of the Mighty lodgeth habitually,
DARBYHe that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
BBEHappy is he whose resting-place is in the secret of the Lord, and under the shade of the wings of the Most High;
WebsterHe that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

What does Psalms 91:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Psa 91:1-16. David is the most probable author; and the pestilence, mentioned in 2Sa 24:13-15, the most probable of any special occasion to which the Psalm may refer. The changes of person allowable in poetry are here frequently made.

1. dwelleth in the secret place--(Psa 27:5; 31:20) denotes nearness to God. Such as do so abide or lodge secure from assaults, and can well use the terms of trust in Psa 91:2.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The safety of the godly man, and his confidence, Psa 91:1, Psa 91:2. How he is defended and preserved, Psa 91:3-10. The angels of God are his servants, Psa 91:11, Psa 91:12; and he shall tread on the necks of his adversaries, Psa 91:13. What God says of, and promises to, such a person, Psa 91:14-16. This Psalm has no title in the Hebrew; nor can it be determined on what occasion or by whom it was composed. It is most likely by the author of the preceding; and is written as a part of it, by fifteen of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS., commencing before the repetition of the four last words of the ninetieth. It is allowed to be one of the finest Psalms in the whole collection. Of it Simon de Muis has said: "It is one of the most excellent works of this kind which has ever appeared. It is impossible to imagine any thing more solid, more beautiful, more profound, or more ornamented. Could the Latin or any modern languages express thoroughly all the beauties and elegancies as well of the words as of the sentences, it would not be difficult to persuade the reader that we have no poem, either in Greek or Latin, comparable to this Hebrew ode." Verse 1 He that dwelleth in the secret place - The Targum intimates that this is a dialogue between David, Solomon, and Jehovah. Suppose we admit this, - then David asserts: "He who dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty," Psa 91:1. Solomon answers: "I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in him will I trust," Psa 91:2. David replies, and tells him what blessings he shall receive from God if he abide faithful, Psa 91:3-13. Then the Supreme Being is introduced, and confirms all that David had spoken concerning Solomon, Psa 91:14-16 : and thus this sacred and instructive dialogue ends. In the secret place of the Most High - Spoken probably in reference to the Holy of holies. He who enters legitimately there shall be covered with the cloud of God's glory - the protection of the all-sufflcient God. This was the privilege of the high priest only, under the law: but under the new covenant all believers in Christ have boldness to enter tnto the holiest by the blood of Jesus; and those who thus enter are safe from every evil.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 91:1-8
He that by faith chooses God for his protector, shall find all in him that he needs or can desire. And those who have found the comfort of making the Lord their refuge, cannot but desire that others may do so. The spiritual life is protected by Divine grace from the temptations of Satan, which are as the snares of the fowler, and from the contagion of sin, which is a noisome pestilence. Great security is promised to believers in the midst of danger. Wisdom shall keep them from being afraid without cause, and faith shall keep them from being unduly afraid. Whatever is done, our heavenly Father's will is done; and we have no reason to fear. God's people shall see, not only God's promises fulfilled, but his threatenings. Then let sinners come unto the Lord upon his mercy-seat, through the Redeemer's name; and encourage others to trust in him also.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 91:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

יֹ֭שֵׁבYo.shev[one who] dwellsH3427
בְּסֵ֣תֶרbe.Se.terin [the] shelter ofH5643
עֶלְי֑וֹןel.Yon[the] Most HighH5945
בְּצֵ֥לbe.Tzelin [the] shadow ofH6738
שַׁ֝דַּ֗יSha.Dai[the] AlmightyH7706
יִתְלוֹנָֽן\׃yit.lo.Nanhe will lodgeH3885

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 91:1

  • Psalms 32:7

    Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

  • Psalms 27:5

    For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

  • Psalms 36:7

    How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

  • Psalms 17:8

    Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

  • 1 John 4:15-16

    Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

  • Psalms 31:20

    Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

  • Isaiah 25:4

    For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

  • Psalms 61:3-4

    For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

  • Psalms 121:5

    The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

  • Isaiah 32:2

    And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

  • Psalms 90:1

    A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

  • Psalms 57:1

    To the chief Musician, Al–taschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 The state of the godly.
3 Their safety.
9 Their habitation.
11 Their servants.
14 Their friend; with the effects of them all.

(Title.)This Psalm is supposed by some to have been composed by Moses on the same occasion as the preceding; but others think it was written by David, after his advice to his son Solomon.
1Ch 28:1-21
dwelleth.
27:5; 31:20; 32:7; 52:8; 61:3,4; 90:1; Isa 8:14; Eze 11:16
Ho 14:5,6; 1Jo 4:15,16
abide. Heb. lodge.
25:13; *marg:
under.
17:8; 36:7; 57:1; Jud 9:15; So 2:3; Isa 4:5,6; La 4:20

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 91:1

    He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

  • Psalms 91:2

    I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Read all of Psalms 91

Psalms 91:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		EL que habita al abrigo del Altísimo, morará bajo la sombra del Omnipotente.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Celui qui habite dans la demeure secrète du Très-haut logera à l’ombre du Tout-puissant.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wer im Schirm des Höchsten sitzt, wird bleiben im Schatten des Allmächtigen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Psalmus cantici, in die sabbati.