A Shield Around Me
Psalm 3 summary: what it means
Psalm 3 is a prayer under pressure. Its heading places it at the time David fled from his son Absalom. It opens by counting enemies: many rise up against him, and many say God will not help him. Then the psalm turns on the word but. The LORD is a shield around him, his glory, and the one who lifts up his head. He cries out, he is answered, and he lies down and sleeps.
The calm of verse 5 is the turn in the psalm. Nothing outside has changed, yet the writer sleeps and wakes because the LORD sustains him. From there he refuses to fear tens of thousands, asks God to arise and save, and closes by widening the prayer: salvation belongs to the LORD, and he asks for blessing on the whole people.
Psalm 3: A Shield Around Me
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-3
Psalm 3 commentary: explained verse by verse
LORD, how my adversaries have increased!Many are those who rise up against me.
LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
The psalm opens with numbers. Adversaries have increased and many rise up, so the trouble is described as growing rather than fixed. The prayer starts by naming the problem to God directly.
Also read 2 Samuel 16:15, 2 Samuel 17:11-13, Psalm 17:7, Matthew 10:21
Many there are who say of my soul,“There is no help for him in God.” Selah.
Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
The hardest part is what people say. The claim is not only that he is in danger but that there is no help for him in God. The verse ends with Selah, which appears three times in this short psalm.
Also read 2 Samuel 16:7-8, Psalm 71:11, Psalm 3:4, Psalm 22:7
But you, LORD, are a shield around me,my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.
But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
This is the turn, marked by the word but. Against the crowd the psalm sets three pictures of the LORD: a shield around him, his glory, and the one who lifts up his head. A lifted head stands against the defeat his enemies have predicted.
Also read Deuteronomy 33:29, Psalm 28:7, Psalm 110:7, Psalm 18:2
I cry to the LORD with my voice,and he answers me out of his holy hill. Selah.
I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
He prays aloud and is answered from God's holy hill. The verse speaks of the answer as something that happens, not as something still hoped for.
Also read Psalm 132:13-14, Psalm 66:17-19, Psalm 50:15, Matthew 7:7
I laid myself down and slept.I awakened, for the LORD sustains me.
I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.
Sleep is the evidence of trust here. He lay down, slept and woke, and he gives the reason plainly: the LORD sustains him. The enemies have not gone, but he has rested anyway.
Also read Psalm 66:9, Proverbs 18:10, Acts 12:6, Psalm 4:8
I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of peoplewho have set themselves against me on every side.
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.
Having slept, he faces the numbers again. Tens of thousands set against him on every side do not make him afraid. The threat has not shrunk since verse 1, but his fear has.
Also read Psalm 23:4, Psalm 46:2, 2 Samuel 18:7, Psalm 27:1-3
Arise, LORD!Save me, my God!For you have struck all of my enemies on the cheek bone.You have broken the teeth of the wicked.
Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
The prayer becomes a direct call for God to arise and save. It then points to what God has done to his enemies, striking them on the cheek bone and breaking the teeth of the wicked. These are pictures of enemies humbled and left unable to bite.
Also read Psalm 59:5, Lamentations 3:30, Psalm 12:5, Habakkuk 2:19
Salvation belongs to the LORD.May your blessing be on your people. Selah.
Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.
The last verse widens from one man to a people. Salvation belongs to the LORD, not to numbers on either side, and the psalm ends by asking blessing on God's people rather than on the writer alone.
Also read 1 Peter 3:9, Psalm 72:17, Acts 3:26, Acts 4:12
A prayer from Psalm 3
Lord, sometimes it feels as though those against me keep increasing, and some say there is no help for me in you. But you are a shield around me. You are my glory and the one who lifts up my head. I cry to you with my voice, and you answer from your holy hill. Let me lie down and sleep tonight, and let me wake knowing that you sustain me. Keep me from fear, even when trouble stands on every side. Salvation belongs to you. Let your blessing rest on your people. Amen.
Psalm 3 Bible study questions
- In verse 2, what do the many people say about the speaker's soul and about God?
- Verse 3 gives three pictures of the LORD: a shield, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head; what does each one suggest to you?
- In verse 5 the speaker sleeps and wakes while still in danger; what helps or hinders your own rest when you are under pressure?
- The heading places this psalm at a time when David fled from his son Absalom; how does that setting change the way you read it?
- Psalm 3:5 and Psalm 4:8 both speak of lying down to sleep; what reason does each verse give for being able to rest?
Questions about Psalm 3
What does Psalm 3 mean?
It is a prayer from someone surrounded by enemies who say God will not help him. It answers them by calling the LORD a shield, recording that he slept and woke safely, and ending with the claim that salvation belongs to the LORD.
Who wrote Psalm 3?
The heading attributes it to David and sets it at the time he fled from Absalom his son. The verses themselves do not name the writer.
What does Psalm 3:3 say in the KJV?
The King James Version reads: But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. The World English Bible has a shield around me.
What does Psalm 3:5 mean?
It records that the writer lay down, slept and woke up, and gives the reason: the LORD sustains him. The danger is still there, but he has rested.
What does Psalm 3:7 mean?
It asks God to arise and save, and speaks of him striking enemies on the cheek bone and breaking the teeth of the wicked. The images describe enemies humbled and made harmless.
Psalm 3 KJV: the King James Version
LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.1
Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.2
But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.3
I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.4
I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.5
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.6
Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.7
Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.8
Psalm 3 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִ֑ד בְּ֝בָרְח֗וֹ מִפְּנֵ֤י ׀ אַבְשָׁל֬וֹם בְּנֽוֹ׃
2 יְ֭הוָה מָֽה־רַבּ֣וּ צָרָ֑י רַ֝בִּ֗ים קָמִ֥ים עָלָֽי׃
3 רַבִּים֮ אֹמְרִ֪ים לְנַ֫פְשִׁ֥י אֵ֤ין יְֽשׁוּעָ֓תָה לּ֬וֹ בֵֽאלֹהִ֬ים סֶֽלָה׃
4 וְאַתָּ֣ה יְ֭הוָה מָגֵ֣ן בַּעֲדִ֑י כְּ֝בוֹדִ֗י וּמֵרִ֥ים רֹאשִֽׁי׃
5 ק֭וֹלִי אֶל־יְהוָ֣ה אֶקְרָ֑א וַיַּֽעֲנֵ֨נִי מֵהַ֖ר קָדְשׁ֣וֹ סֶֽלָה׃
6 אֲנִ֥י שָׁכַ֗בְתִּי וָֽאִ֫ישָׁ֥נָה הֱקִיצ֑וֹתִי כִּ֖י יְהוָ֣ה יִסְמְכֵֽנִי׃
7 לֹֽא־אִ֭ירָא מֵרִבְב֥וֹת עָ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר סָ֝בִ֗יב שָׁ֣תוּ עָלָֽי׃
8 ק֘וּמָ֤ה יְהוָ֨ה ׀ הוֹשִׁ֘יעֵ֤נִי אֱלֹהַ֗י כִּֽי־הִכִּ֣יתָ אֶת־כָּל־אֹיְבַ֣י לֶ֑חִי שִׁנֵּ֖י רְשָׁעִ֣ים שִׁבַּֽרְתָּ׃
9 לַיהוָ֥ה הַיְשׁוּעָ֑ה עַֽל־עַמְּךָ֖ בִרְכָתֶ֣ךָ סֶּֽלָה׃
Psalm 3 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 3 there.
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1 The psalm of David when he fled from the face of his son Absalom.
2 Why, O Lord, are they multiplied that afflict me? many are they who rise up against me.
3 Many say to my soul: There is no salvation for him in his God.
4 But thou, O Lord art my protector, my glory, and the lifter up of my head.
5 I have cried to the Lord with my voice: and he hath heard me from his holy hill.
6 I have slept and taken my rest: and I have risen up, because the Lord hath protected me.
7 I will not fear thousands of the people, surrounding me: arise, O Lord; save me, O my God.
8 For thou hast struck all them who are my adversaries without cause: thou hast broken the teeth of sinners.
9 Salvation is of the Lord: and thy blessing is upon thy people.
Psalm 3 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 3.
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1 Psalmus David, cum fugeret a facie Absalom filii sui.
2 Domine, quid multiplicati sunt qui tribulant me? Multi insurgunt adversum me;
3 multi dicunt animæ meæ: Non est salus ipsi in Deo ejus.
4 Tu autem Domine, susceptor meus es, gloria mea, et exaltans caput meum.
5 Voce mea ad Dominum clamavi; et exaudivit me de monte sancto suo.
6 Ego dormivi, et soporatus sum; et exsurrexi, quia Dominus suscepit me.
7 Non timebo millia populi circumdantis me. Exsurge, Domine; salvum me fac, Deus meus.
8 Quoniam tu percussisti omnes adversantes mihi sine causa; dentes peccatorum contrivisti.
9 Domini est salus; et super populum tuum benedictio tua.
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Psalm 3 at a glance
| Verses | 8 |
| Heading in the text | A Psalm by David, when he fled from Absalom his son. |
| Attributed to | The heading attributes it to David and sets it at the time he fled from Absalom his son. |
| Type | Lament and Trust |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 3, the same |
Read Psalm 3 when you are facing
Psalm 3 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 3 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 3 belongs
Psalms of DavidBook 1 of the Psalms
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source