Psalms 5:12

For surely You, O LORD, bless the righteous; You surround them with the shield of Your favor.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist addresses Yahweh in a morning prayer, closing a petition for deliverance from enemies with a declaration of God's protective care for the righteous. This follows verse 11's call for those who take refuge in God to rejoice.

The words — צִנָּה (tzi.Nah) means "shield," and רָצוֹן (ra.Tzon) means "that which is pleasing" or "favor"; together they form the image of God's favor as a physical, surrounding defense rather than a distant blessing.

The thread — The same shield imagery appears in Psalms 84:11, where the LORD is called "a sun and a shield," and the surrounding-protection motif recurs in Psalms 32:10, where loving devotion "surrounds" the one who trusts in the LORD.

Why it lands — The verse asks the reader to stop treating God's favor as a passive, future hope and recognize it as an active, present defense that surrounds the righteous now.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

כִּֽי־ki-for אַתָּה֮'a.Tahyou תְּבָרֵ֪ךְte.va.Rekhyou bless צַ֫דִּ֥יקtza.Dik[the] righteous יְהוָ֑הYah.wehO Yahweh כַּ֝צִּנָּ֗הka./tzi.Nahlike <the>/ shield רָצ֥וֹןra.Tzonfavor תַּעְטְרֶֽנּוּ׃ta'.te.Re./nuyou surround/ him

King James Version

For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Cross-references

Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.
Psalms 32:10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but loving devotion surrounds him who trusts in the LORD.
Psalms 115:13 He will bless those who fear the LORD—small and great alike.
Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.
Psalms 112:1 Hallelujah! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments.
Psalms 32:7 You are my hiding place. You protect me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
Psalms 29:11 The LORD gives His people strength; the LORD blesses His people with peace.
Psalms 3:3 But You, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head.
Psalms 3:8 Salvation belongs to the LORD; may Your blessing be on Your people. Selah