What does Psalm 91:4 mean?
This verse uses a tender picture from nature: a mother bird spreading her wings over her chicks. "He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust." Jesus used the same image when he wept over Jerusalem, saying he longed to gather its children as a hen gathers her brood. God's protection is not cold or distant; it is warm, close, and personal. The second half changes the image to battle equipment. God's "truth," his faithfulness to his promises, is a "shield and buckler," the large shield and the small one. God is both gentle shelter and strong defense for those who trust him.
Psalm 91:4 in the World English Bible
He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart.
Context
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
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Frequently asked questions
What does Psalm 91:4 mean?
This verse uses a tender picture from nature: a mother bird spreading her wings over her chicks. "He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust." Jesus used the same image when he wept over Jerusalem, saying he longed to gather its children as a hen gathers her brood. God's protection is not cold or distant; it is warm, close, and personal. The second half changes the image to battle equipment. God's "truth," his faithfulness to his promises, is a "shield and buckler," the large shield and the small one. God is both gentle shelter and strong defense for those who trust him.
What does Psalm 91:4 say in the KJV?
Psalm 91:4 (KJV) reads: “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”