TG
Everything TrueGospel offers, in one place.

Study

Bible Reader Scripture Search Word Study & Lexicon Bible Study Builder Reading Plans Verse Chains

Reference

The Reference Library Topical Index

Learn

True Gospel Institute

Grow & Share

Blog Q&A Sermon Notes Bible Studies Podcast

Community

Community Student Dashboard

About

About Us Support Us Contact Log In Create Free Account
BSB
← Prev Next →

Psalms 3

BSB·8 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1O LORDיְ֭הוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, howמָֽה־māh- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → my foesצָרָ֑יṣā·rāy — Narrow, tight, or distress; an adversary or enemyH6862 — Full Word Study → have increasedרַבּ֣וּrab·bū — to multiply, increase in number or abundanceH7231 — Full Word Study →! How manyרַ֝בִּ֗יםrab·bîm — great, many, abundant, mightyH7227 — Full Word Study → rise upקָמִ֥יםqā·mîm — To rise, stand, or be establishedH6965 — Full Word Study → against meעָלָֽי׃‘ā·lāy — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study →! 2Manyרַבִּים֮rab·bîm — great, many, abundant, mightyH7227 — Full Word Study → sayאֹמְרִ֪ים’ō·mə·rîm — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → of meלְנַ֫פְשִׁ֥יlə·nap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study →, “Godבֵֽאלֹהִ֬יםḇê·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → will notאֵ֤ין’ên — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → deliverיְֽשׁוּעָ֓תָהyə·šū·‘ā·ṯāh — Deliverance, salvation, rescue from dangerH3444 — Full Word Study → him.” Selahסֶֽלָה׃se·lāh — Pause or SelahH5542 — Full Word Study → 3But Youוְאַתָּ֣הwə·’at·tāh — You; second-person pronoun (singular or plural)H859 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְ֭הוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, are a shieldמָגֵ֣ןmā·ḡên — Shield; protection, defenseH4043 — Full Word Study → around meבַּעֲדִ֑יba·‘ă·ḏî — through, by means of, on behalf ofH1157 — Full Word Study →, my gloryכְּ֝בוֹדִ֗יkə·ḇō·w·ḏî — weightiness, honor, splendor, gloryH3519 — Full Word Study →, and the One who liftsוּמֵרִ֥יםū·mê·rîm — To raise, lift up, exalt; to be highH7311 — Full Word Study → my headרֹאשִֽׁי׃rō·šî — Head; chief; beginning; topH7218 — Full Word Study →. 4Toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → I cryאֶקְרָ֑א’eq·rā — To call, summon, or proclaimH7121 — Full Word Study → aloudק֭וֹלִיqō·w·lî — voice, sound, or cryH6963 — Full Word Study →, and He answers meוַיַּֽעֲנֵ֨נִיway·ya·‘ă·nê·nî — To answer, respond, or testifyH6030 — Full Word Study → from His holyקָדְשׁ֣וֹqā·ḏə·šōw — Holiness, sacred, consecrated, set apartH6944 — Full Word Study → mountainמֵהַ֖רmê·har — Mountain, hill, or elevated land massH2022 — Full Word Study →. Selahסֶֽלָה׃se·lāh — Pause or SelahH5542 — Full Word Study → 5Iאֲנִ֥י’ă·nî — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study → lie downשָׁכַ֗בְתִּיšā·ḵaḇ·tî — to lie down, recline, sleepH7901 — Full Word Study → and sleepוָֽאִ֫ישָׁ֥נָהwā·’î·šā·nāh — to sleep; to be asleep; dormant or inactiveH3462 — Full Word Study →; I wake againהֱקִיצ֑וֹתִיhĕ·qî·ṣō·w·ṯî — to awake, arise from sleep or inactivityH6974 — Full Word Study →, forכִּ֖יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → sustains meיִסְמְכֵֽנִי׃yis·mə·ḵê·nî — to support, sustain, upholdH5564 — Full Word Study →. 6I will notלֹֽא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → fearאִ֭ירָא’î·rā — to fear, revere, or be afraidH3372 — Full Word Study → the myriadsמֵרִבְב֥וֹתmê·riḇ·ḇō·wṯ — A myriad; an immense multitude or ten thousandH7233 — Full Word Study → setשָׁ֣תוּšā·ṯū — to set, place, or appointH7896 — Full Word Study → against meעָלָֽי׃‘ā·lāy — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → on every sideסָ֝בִ֗יבsā·ḇîḇ — around, on all sides, encirclingH5439 — Full Word Study →. 7Ariseק֘וּמָ֤הqū·māh — To rise, stand, or be establishedH6965 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְהוָ֨ה׀Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →! Save meהוֹשִׁ֘יעֵ֤נִיhō·wō·šî·‘ê·nî — To deliver, rescue, or save from dangerH3467 — Full Word Study →, O my Godאֱלֹהַ֗י’ĕ·lō·hay — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →! Strikeהִכִּ֣יתָhik·kî·ṯā — To strike, smite, or defeat with forceH5221 — Full Word Study → allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → my enemiesאֹיְבַ֣י’ō·yə·ḇay — Enemy; adversary; one who opposesH341 — Full Word Study → on the jawלֶ֑חִיle·ḥî — jawboneH3895 — Full Word Study →; breakשִׁבַּֽרְתָּ׃šib·bar·tā — to break, shatter, crushH7665 — Full Word Study → the teethשִׁנֵּ֖יšin·nê — Tooth; ivory; sharp edge; cragH8127 — Full Word Study → of the wickedרְשָׁעִ֣יםrə·šā·‘îm — wicked, guilty, morally corruptH7563 — Full Word Study →. 8Salvation belongs to the LORDלַיהוָ֥הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →; may Your blessingבִרְכָתֶ֣ךָḇir·ḵā·ṯe·ḵā — Blessing; divine favor and benefitH1293 — Full Word Study → be onעַֽל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → Your peopleעַמְּךָ֖‘am·mə·ḵā — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study →. Selahסֶּֽלָה׃se·lāh — Pause or SelahH5542 — Full Word Study →
Scripture Explorer
Original Language
Notes & Doctrine
Chapter Commentary
Cross-Refs
Highlight
My Note
Original Hebrew / Greek
Loading…
Translation Notes & Doctrine — This Verse
Loading…
Chapter Commentary — Psalms 3
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 3 is a prayer of David during a time of intense persecution and distress, likely written when he was fleeing from his enemies. Rather than descending into despair, David moves from voicing his complaint to declaring his confidence in God's protection and care. This psalm models for us how to bring our deepest fears and struggles to the Lord, and how faith can transform our perspective from terror to trust. Throughout these eight verses, we see the progression of a believer's heart as it turns from focusing on the magnitude of enemies to focusing on the greatness of God.

Verses 1-2: The Weight of Opposition

David begins by articulating his distress in stark terms. His enemies are many and increasing—they rise up against him in overwhelming numbers. More painful still, these adversaries mock not just his circumstances but his faith itself. They declare, "There is no help for him in God" (verse 2). This cuts to the heart of David's trial: his enemies are not only attacking him physically but spiritually, attempting to convince him that God has abandoned him. The word Selah (appearing here and elsewhere in the psalm) likely calls for a pause, inviting the reader to sit with the weight of this despair before moving forward. Many believers know this experience—when troubles multiply, so do the whispers of doubt.

Verses 3-5: The Turning Point—Trust in God's Protection

Here David pivots dramatically from complaint to confidence. He shifts his focus from his enemies to his God, declaring "But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me" (verse 3). This simple word—shield—becomes the foundation of his confidence. God is not distant or disinterested; He is actively protecting His servant. David adds that God is also "my glory, and the lifter up of mine head," suggesting that God will restore his dignity and lift him from shame.

In verse 4, David recounts that he has already cried to the Lord and been heard. This is not wishful thinking—it is the memory of answered prayer that strengthens his faith. The phrase "out of his holy hill" (likely referring to Mount Zion or the place of God's dwelling) reminds us that our prayers reach the very throne of heaven.

Verses 5 demonstrates remarkable peace in crisis. Despite surrounding enemies, David was able to lay down and sleep, waking refreshed because "the LORD sustained me." This is not carelessness but faith—the kind that produces supernatural peace. In our modern context, this speaks to the believer's ability to rest in God's hands, even when circumstances are frightening.

Verses 6-8: Confidence and Deliverance

By verse 6, David's faith has grown to remarkable proportions. He declares he will not fear even if "ten thousands of people" surround him in opposition. This is not bravado but conviction grounded in God's character.

In verse 7, David calls upon God to arise and save him, reminding himself (and us) that God has already defeated his enemies: "thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly." He speaks of past victories as present reality, a biblical pattern of faith declaring what God has promised as though it is already accomplished.

The psalm concludes with verse 8, a triumphant declaration: "Salvation belongeth unto the LORD." David reminds himself and his people that deliverance is God's work, not ours to earn or manufacture. God's blessing rests upon His people.

Application for Today

When we face opposition, criticism, or multiplying troubles, Psalm 3 invites us to follow David's example. Rather than denying our pain or surrendering to despair, we bring it honestly to God, then deliberately shift our gaze from our enemies to our Protector. Like David, we can rest in God's shield, remember His past faithfulness, and sleep in peace. Our confidence is not in favorable circumstances but in His unfailing character.

Cross References
Loading…
Highlight This Verse
My Note