for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.
Parallel translations
- WEB For you have been a refuge for me, a strong tower from the enemy.
- KJV For thou hast been a shelter for me, and 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.
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 18:10Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
- Ps 62:7With God is my salvation and my honor. The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
- Ps 116:2Because he has turned his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
- Ps 140:7Yahweh, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.
- Ps 18:2Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.
- 2 Cor 1:10who delivered us out of so great a death, and does deliver; on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us;
- Isa 46:3–4“Listen to me, house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, that have been carried from their birth, that have been carried from the womb.
- Ps 4:6–7Many say, “Who will show us any good?” Yahweh, let the light of your face shine on us.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.