For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
Parallel translations
- WEB For you have been a refuge for me, a strong tower from the enemy.
- BSB For You have been my refuge, a tower of strength against the enemy.
- NKJV For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy.
- NASB For You have been a refuge for me, A tower of strength against the enemy.
- NLT for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David recalls that God has been his refuge and strong tower against the enemy. Past deliverance fuels present trust.
Overview
David grounds his appeal in remembered experience: God has proven himself a shelter and fortress. Recalling God's faithfulness strengthens confidence to pray again. This pattern of remembering past mercy to fuel present faith is a lasting model for the believer.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Prov 18:10The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
- Ps 62:7In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
- Ps 116:2Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
- Ps 140:7O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
- Ps 18:2The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
- 2 Cor 1:10Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
- Isa 46:3–4Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:
- Ps 4:6–7There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 61:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.