Psalms 115:11 — Word Study
WLCיִרְאֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה בִּטְח֣וּ בַיהוָ֑ה עֶזְרָ֖ם וּמָגִנָּ֣ם הֽוּא׃
BSAYou who fearyârêʼ [reverently, are afraid of, have reverence for] the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] trustbâṭach [have confidence, faith] in the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] Hehûwʼ is their helpʻêzer [helper, one who provides aid] and shieldmâgên [protector, defense]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| יִרְאֵ֣י | O [those] fearing | Adj |
| יְ֭הוָה | Yahweh | Noun proper |
| בִּטְח֣וּ | trust | Verb, Qal, imperative second person masculine plural |
| בַיהוָ֑ה | in Yahweh | Preposition, noun proper |
| עֶזְרָ֖ם | [is] help their | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וּמָגִנָּ֣ם | and shield their | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| הֽוּא׃ | he | Pronoun |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield. |
| KJV | Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. |
| ASV | Ye that fear Jehovah, trust in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield. |
| YLT | Ye fearing Jehovah, trust in Jehovah, 'Their help and their shield [is] He.' |
| WEB | You who fear Yahweh, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield. |
| BBE | You worshippers of the Lord, have faith in the Lord: he is their help and their breastplate. |
All translations agree on the essential meaning of the verse, emphasizing trust in the LORD.
The sentence has a main clause calling for trust, supported by a subject and a predicate that affirms God's role.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectהוּא
verbבָּטַח
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 115:11
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Trust in the LORDgenerated
Psalm 115:11 encourages those who fear the LORD to place their trust in Him, reinforcing the idea that He provides both help and protection. This verse is part of a larger psalm that praises God for His faithfulness and power, contrasting the living God with idols. The surrounding verses emphasize God's attentiveness to His people and His readiness to bless those who revere Him.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 33:18 | Surely the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His loving devotion |
| 2 | Psalm 118:4 | Let those who fear the LORD say, “His loving devotion endures forever.” |
| 3 | Psalm 147:11 | The LORD is pleased with those who fear Him, who hope in His loving devotion. |
| 4 | Proverbs 14:26 | He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge. |
| 5 | Proverbs 30:5 | Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יָרֵא, yir.'Eigenerated
The word יָרֵא (yir') is an adjective describing those who fear or revere the LORD. It is derived from the root יָרֵא (H3372), which means 'to fear' and carries connotations of both fear and reverence. The parsing as an adjective indicates it describes a state of being.
This term reflects a moral dimension to fear, suggesting that those who fear the LORD do so with a sense of awe and respect, recognizing His power and authority.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered consistently across translations, with all versions affirming the call to trust in the LORD.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb בִּטְח֣וּ (bit'chu) — 'trust' — governs the sentence, calling the subject to action. The structure emphasizes the imperative nature of the trust being called for.
The phrase הֽוּא (hu') serves as the subject, affirming that He is the one who provides help and protection. The sentence's flow is straightforward, leading from the call to trust directly into the affirmation of God's role.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, יָרֵא is rendered as φοβούμενοι (phoboumenoi), indicating a similar sense of fear and reverence. This choice reflects a continuity of meaning from Hebrew to Greek.
The Greek term emphasizes the aspect of fear as it relates to respect and reverence for God, aligning well with the Hebrew context.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 115:11 encourages those who fear the LORD to trust in Him, affirming that He is their help and shield. This verse highlights the importance of relying on God for support and protection.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Fearing the LORD involves having a deep respect and reverence for Him, recognizing His power and authority, which leads to trust in His guidance and protection.
God is described as a helper who provides aid and as a shield that offers protection, symbolizing His active role in the lives of those who trust Him.
Trust is emphasized as it reflects a believer's confidence in God's faithfulness and ability to provide support during difficult times.
This verse connects with the surrounding context by reinforcing the theme of God's supremacy over idols and His commitment to bless those who revere Him.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I demonstrate my fear of the LORD in my daily life?
- How can I learn to trust God more deeply, especially in challenging situations?
- What are some specific instances where I have experienced God's help or protection?
- How does understanding God as my shield change my perspective on difficulties I face?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 115:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleYe that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord,.... Which is said not to distinguish true saints from hypocrites, in Israel or in Aaron's house; rather to describe such who belonged to neither: but, as
Read John Gill on Psalms 115 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryYe that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord. Reverential and filial fear of the Lord is close akin to trust in Him.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 115 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleAll and every one of you who worship the true God, not only Aaronites and Israelites, but even Gentile proselytes, who are said to come to trust under the wings of the God of Israel, . And such there were many at this time in the church of Israel, whom therefore he fitly invites to trust God, because he is no less their than the Israelites’ help and shield, as it follows.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 115 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 115:11 Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he [is] their help and their shield.Ver. 11. Ye that fear the Lord] Peregrini ex omni populo, saith Aben Ezra, devout persons out of every nation dwelling among the Jews, though not absolute proselytes, Acts 2:5; Acts 10:2; Acts 13:16. Such also, fearing the Lord, are heirs of the promises; and therefore may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me," Hebrews 13:6.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 115 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 11. Ye that fear the Lord] All real penitents, and sincere believers, trust in the Lord, in the almighty, omniscient, and infinitely good Jehovah. He is their help and shield] He is the succour, support, guardian, and defence of all who put their confidence in him.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 115 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges9–13. An exhortation to Israel to trust Jehovah, Who will surely bless His people.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 115 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleYe that fear the Lord ... - All the people that reverence God; all his true worshippers.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 115 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible11. Ye that fear the Lord—This should not be applied to proselytes, as distinct from “Israel,” for the New Testament usage had not yet obtained. See Acts 13:16.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 115 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield.
You who fear Yahweh, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield.
You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield.
You loyal followers of the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is their deliverer and protector.
Tyndale line
Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
Ye that fear Jehovah, trust in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield.
Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
Ye that feare the Lord, trust in the Lord: for he is their helper and their shield.
Strictly literal
Ye that fear Jehovah, confide in Jehovah: he is their help and their shield.
Ye fearing Jehovah, trust in Jehovah, 'Their help and their shield [is] He.'
You fearing YHWH, trust in YHWH, “He [is] their help and their shield.”
Ye that fear the Lord, trust ye in the Lord—he is their help and their shield.
You who honor Yahweh, trust in him; he is your help and shield.
Simplified
Those who honor the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is the one who helps you and protects you.
You worshippers of the Lord, have faith in the Lord: he is their help and their breastplate.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint align closely, with six of the seven words matched. This indicates a strong consistency in the transmission of the text, though the Septuagint's word order differs.
יִרְאֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה בִּטְח֣וּ בַיהוָ֑ה עֶזְרָ֖ם וּמָגִנָּ֣ם הֽוּא׃
6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 115:11
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
יָרֵא (yare') is an adjective and verb derived from the root יָרֵא (H3372), meaning 'to fear.' It encompasses meanings such as 'afraid' and 'reverent.' The entries indicate a moral aspect to fear, suggesting a sense of reverence alongside being fearful.
יָרֵא adj. verb. v. supr. [j.df.aa] Pt.
base
H3373 יָרֵא adj. verb. v. supr. [3372] Pt.
3373 yare' yaw-ray'
from 3372; fearing; morally, reverent:--afraid, fear (-ful).
see HEBREW for 03372
יָרֵא (ya.re) — afraid.
fearing, reverent, afraid
Adj — AdjHAampc
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
N-proper — Noun properHNpt
בָּטַח (batach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to trust or have confidence. It conveys a sense of security and boldness, both in a personal sense and when causing others to feel secure. The entries indicate its use in different forms, such as Qal and Hiphil, covering aspects of trust and confidence.
בָּטַח vb. trust
Qal
trust
be confident
Hiph. cause to trust, make secure
base
H982 בָּטַח trust . trust
. be confident
982 batach baw-takh'
a primitive root; properly, to hie for refuge (but not so
precipitately as 2620); figuratively, to trust, be confident
or sure:--be bold (confident, secure, sure), careless (one,
woman), put confidence, (make to) hope, (put, make to) trust.
see HEBREW for 02620
בָּטַח (ba.tach) — to trust.
1) to trust
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to trust, trust in
1a2) to have confidence, be confident
1a3) to be bold
1a4) to be secure
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to cause to trust, make secure
2) (TWOT) to feel safe, be careless
V-Qal-Impv-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine pluralHVqv2mp
→ See FAITH
- God is the true object of
- The fear of God leads to
- ENCOURAGEMENTS TO
. The everlasting strength of God
. The goodness of God
. The loving-kindness of God
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun properHR/Npt
עֵ֫זֶר (ezer) means help or succour, referring to assistance or support. It can denote both the act of helping and a person who provides help. The term is derived from a root meaning to aid. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning as a source of assistance.
עֵ֫זֶר n.m. help, succour
help, succour
concr. = one who helps
base
H5828 עֵ֫זֶר help, succour
5828 `ezer ay'-zer
from 5826; aid:--help.
see HEBREW for 05826
עֵ֫זֶר (e.zer) — helper.
1) help, succour
1a) help, succour
1b) one who helps
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3mp
מָגֵן (magen) means 'shield' and can refer to both a small shield or buckler and a figurative protector. It can also denote the scaly hide of a crocodile. The word is feminine in plural form, מִגִּנָּה (mginnah), and is derived from a root meaning to cover or protect.
מָגֵן n.m. & f. shield
base
H4043 מָגֵן shield
4043 magen maw-gane'
also (in plural) feminine mginnah {meg-in-naw'}; from 1598; a
shield (i.e. the small one or buckler); figuratively, a
protector; also the scaly hide of the crocodile:--X armed,
buckler, defence, ruler, + scale, shield.
see HEBREW for 01598
מָגֵן (ma.gen) — shield.
shield, buckler
Conj | N-cs | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHC/Ncmsc/Sp3mp
הוּא (hu) is a third-person singular pronoun meaning he, she, or it, used for emphasis or when no verb is present. It can also refer to oneself or serve as a demonstrative pronoun. The word has various nuances, including resuming the subject with emphasis or expressing it unobtrusively. It can indicate 'that' or 'those' when used with the definite article.
הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it
an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)
It resumes the subj. with emph.
Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible
It anticipates (as it seems) the subject
As an emph. predicate, of God
In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)
With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.
base
H1931 הוּא, הִיא he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it . an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)
. It resumes the subj. with emph.
. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible
. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject
. As an emph. predicate, of God
. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)
. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.
1931 huw' hoo
of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a
primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or
it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also
(intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same;
sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally
(instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self),
it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they,
this, those, which (is), who.
הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.
pron 3p s
1) he, she, it
1a) himself (with emphasis)
1b) resuming subj with emphasis
1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)
1d) (anticipating subj)
1e) (emphasising predicate)
1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron
2) that (with article)
Pron — PronounHPp3ms
ha: The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; transliterated in this Encyclopedia as "h." It came also to be used for the number 5. For name, etc., see ALPHABET.