Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go. Give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
Parallel translations
- KJV Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
- BSB Be my rock of refuge, where I can always go. Give the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.
- NKJV Be my strong refuge, To which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress.
- NASB Be to me a rock of dwelling to which I may continually come; You have given the commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress.
- NLT Be my rock of safety where I can always hide. Give the order to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
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
The psalmist asks God to be his rock of refuge and fortress, a constant place of safety. It expresses confidence in God as an unshakable, ever-available shelter.
Overview
The psalmist calls on God to be the steadfast rock and fortress to which he can always run for safety. The imagery conveys stability, security, and constant access. God as the rock of his people points to Christ, the spiritual Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4) and sure foundation, in whom believers find unfailing refuge.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 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.
- Prov 18:10Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
- Deut 33:27The eternal God is your dwelling place. Underneath are the everlasting arms. He thrust out the enemy from before you, and said, ‘Destroy!’
- Ps 91:9Because you have made Yahweh your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,
- Ps 31:2–3Bow down your ear to me. Deliver me speedily. Be to me a strong rock, a house of defense to save me.
- Ps 91:11–12For he will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.
- Ps 42:8Yahweh will command his loving kindness in the daytime. In the night his song shall be with me: a prayer to the God of my life.
- Ps 44:4You are my King, God. Command victories for Jacob!
- Isa 33:16he will dwell on high. His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks. His bread will be supplied. His waters will be sure.
- Rev 7:2–3I saw another angel ascend from the sunrise, having the seal of the living God. He cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was given to harm the earth and the sea,
- Ps 68:28Your God has commanded your strength. Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us.
- Ps 91:1–2He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
- Ps 90:1A Prayer by Moses, the man of God. Lord, you have been our dwelling place for all generations.
- Ezek 9:6Kill utterly the old man, the young man, the virgin, little children and women; but don’t come near any man on whom is the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” Then they began at the old men who were before the house.
- Ps 144:2my loving kindness, my fortress, my high tower, my deliverer, my shield, and he in whom I take refuge; who subdues my people under me.
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 71:3 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.