Psalm 121 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 121:1-2
Verse: אֶשָּׂא עֵינַי אֶל-הֶהָרִים
Transliteration: Esa einai el-heharim
English: “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Focus Word: עֵין (Ayin)
- Root: ע-י-נ (Ayin-Yod-Nun)
- Meaning: “Eye,” “look,” “focus.”
- Deeper Insight: Ayin emphasizes attention and expectation, symbolizing seeking guidance and help from God.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning / Morphology | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| אֶשָּׂא — essa | Verse 1 — “I lift up my eyes…” | “To lift,” raise upward. | Essa (“to lift”) conveys intentional upward focus toward divine help. It expresses expectation arising from faith. The verb sets the Psalm’s tone of dependence. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon of the Old Testament |
| עֶזְרִי — ezri | Verse 2 — “My help comes from the LORD…” | “Help,” assistance. | Ezri (“help”) denotes active intervention and support. It identifies Yahweh as the ultimate source of security. The term reinforces divine reliability. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms |
| שָׁמַר — shamar | Verse 3 — “…He who keeps you will not slumber.” | “To keep,” guard, protect. | Shamar (“to guard”) emphasizes vigilant protection. It implies constant oversight without fatigue. The verb highlights God’s unfailing attentiveness. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament |
| נוּם — num | Verse 3 — “…will not slumber.” | “To slumber,” doze. | Num (“to slumber”) underscores the contrast between human weakness and divine wakefulness. It illustrates God’s uninterrupted care. The term assures continual protection. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| יָשֵׁן — yashen | Verse 4 — “…nor sleeps.” | “To sleep,” be asleep. | Yashen (“to sleep”) reaffirms that God is never inattentive. It expands the Psalm’s assurance of round-the-clock vigilance. The verb strengthens themes of security. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| צֵל — tzel | Verse 5 — “The LORD is your shade…” | “Shade,” protection, covering. | Tzel (“shade”) symbolizes relief, shelter, and protective covering. It depicts God as providing refuge from harm. The word reinforces intimacy and closeness in divine protection. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| יָמִין — yamin | Verse 5 — “…at your right hand.” | “Right hand,” position of strength. | Yamin (“right hand”) signifies proximity where help is most accessible. It expresses God’s immediate readiness to act. The term underscores protective presence. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| הַכָּה — hakkah | Verse 6 — “The sun shall not strike you…” | “To strike,” smite. | Hakkah (“to strike”) reflects harmful impact avoided by divine protection. It signifies both physical and symbolic harm. The word reinforces God’s shielding power. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| שָׁמַר — shamar | Verse 7 — “The LORD shall preserve you…” | “To guard,” keep. | Shamar (“to keep/preserve”) expresses comprehensive protection of life. It stresses God’s active involvement in one’s wellbeing. The verb underscores security that is total and continuous. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| מוֹצָא — motsa | Verse 8 — “Your going out…” | “Going out,” departure. | Motsa (“going out”) symbolizes daily activity under divine care. It represents life’s beginnings and ventures. The word highlights God’s oversight of all movements. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 121 |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Scott (University of Edinburgh, 1747–1821) | Commentary on the Holy Bible | Scott highlights God’s vigilant care, assuring believers of protection from harm. |
| John Owen (University of Oxford, 1616–1683) | A Commentary on the Psalms | Owen emphasizes that divine oversight is constant and a source of confidence. |
| George Buchanan (St Andrews / Paris, 1506–1582) | Commentaries on the Psalms | Buchanan portrays the Psalm as offering comfort and courage for those in peril. |
| Philip Doddridge (Northampton Academy, 1702–1751) | Family Expositor | The Psalm teaches reliance on God’s watchful guidance in every circumstance. |
| John Brown (Edinburgh, 1722–1787) | Self-Interpreting Bible | Brown stresses that God’s protective care provides assurance for both daily life and spiritual journey. |
More On This Psalm: Commentary From Biblical Scholars
| Scholar | Paraphrase of the psalm |
|---|---|
| John Brown (University of Edinburgh, 1722–1787, The Self-Interpreting Bible) | Brown sees this psalm as a reminder that God watches over His people and protects them from harm. |
| F.D. Maurice (King’s College London, 1805–1872, Theological Essays) | Maurice interprets the psalm as emphasizing trust in God’s continual care and guidance. |
| Alexander Maclaren (University of Manchester, 1826–1910, Expositions of Holy Scripture) | Maclaren points out that the psalm highlights God’s protection in every situation and His steadfast presence. |
| Richard Mant (Trinity College Dublin, 1776–1848, Practical Commentary on the Psalms) | Mant notes that the psalm assures believers of God’s safeguarding power and watchful eye over them. |
| George Adam Smith (University of Aberdeen, 1856–1942, The Book of Psalms, Commentary) | The psalm, Smith observes, encourages confidence in God’s care and His ability to preserve the faithful. |
MY HELP IS FROM THE LORD
Thought for the day: Nobody can help you if God doesn’t help you.
Message:
The help of God is the best help that is sufficient for man, if God doesn’t help no man can help.
My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth
The writer got to this level by experience.
- He learnt after he was betrayed.
- He learned after he was wounded.
- He learned after those he trusted betrayed him.
- And he realized God as the maker of heaven and the earth.
He saw God as the keeper of his life, he acknowledges God as the master of all.
Knowing God as your helper is a level that you must grow to attain; it is not every Christian that sees God in this manner.
Have you been stabbed and rejected, thinking all is lost? No, God wants you to grow to the level of seeing Him as the master of your life. He wants you to let go of all you are holding and hold onto Jesus. When you do, it shall be well with you.
My Counsel
Ø Grow beyond the level of seeing man as your help and never stop until God become the definition of your help.
Ø Don’t be disappointed when man disappoints you. Man will always be man while God will always be God.
Declaration
Father, I confess that I am helpless without you, be my helper from now henceforth in Jesus' name.
