Bible Strands

Psalms 91:5

You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The speaker, identified as God in the preceding verse, addresses the one who has taken refuge under His wings. He declares protection against specific threats that occur during both night and day.

The words — The Hebrew term תִ֭ירָא (ti-ra) literally means "you will be afraid," negated by לֹא־ (lo) to form "you will not fear." This directly counters מִ/פַּ֣חַד (mi./pa-chad), meaning "dread," and describes the threat as יָע֥וּף (ya-uf), "it will fly."

The thread — This pattern of God shielding His people from specific dangers appears in Isaiah 43:2, Job 5:19, and Proverbs 3:23. Each reference reinforces the biblical theme of divine preservation through trials.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to replace fear with active trust in God's protective presence. It demands a practical reliance on His faithfulness rather than a reaction to imminent danger.

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

לֹא־lo'-notתִ֭ירָאTi.ra'you will be afraidמִפַּ֣חַדmi./Pa.chadfrom/ [the] dread ofלָ֑יְלָהLa.ye.lahnightמֵ֝חֵ֗ץme./Chetzfrom/ an arrowיָע֥וּףya.'Uf[which] it will flyיוֹמָֽם׃yo.Mamby day

King James Version

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Cross-references