Psalms 119:114 — Word Study
WLCסִתְרִ֣י וּמָגִנִּ֣י אָ֑תָּה לִדְבָרְךָ֥ יִחָֽלְתִּי׃
BSAYouʼattâh [my Lord, my Savior] [are] my hiding placeçêther [secret shelter, refuge] and my shieldmâgên [breastplate against danger, protection] I put my hopeyâchal■ [wait, trust] in Your worddâbâr [promise, divine Expression]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| סִתְרִ֣י | [are] hiding place my | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וּמָגִנִּ֣י | and shield my | Conjunction, noun common both singular construct, suffix |
| אָ֑תָּה | you | Pronoun |
| לִדְבָרְךָ֥ | for word your | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| יִחָֽלְתִּי׃ | I hope | Verb, Piel, perfect first person common singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | You are my hiding place and my shield; I put my hope in Your word. |
| KJV | Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. |
| ASV | Thou art my hiding-place and my shield: I hope in thy word. |
| YLT | My hiding place and my shield [art] Thou, For Thy word I have hoped. |
| WEB | You are my hiding place and my shield. I hope in your word. |
| BBE | You are my secret place and my breastplate against danger; my hope is in your word. |
The translations agree on the core message of the verse, emphasizing God's protective nature and the psalmist's hope.
The main clause establishes God's identity as a refuge, followed by a statement of the psalmist's hope, creating a clear and direct structure.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאַתָּה
verbיָחַל
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 119:114
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 — A Reflection on God's Protectiongenerated
Psalm 119:114 conveys the psalmist's deep trust in God, recognizing Him as both a hiding place and a shield. This verse is part of a larger meditation on God's law and faithfulness, where the psalmist expresses love for God's commandments and a desire for divine support against evildoers, as seen in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 32:7 | You are my hiding place. You protect me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah |
| 2 | Psalm 91:1–2 | He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. |
| 3 | Isaiah 32:2 | Each will be like a shelter from the wind, a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in a dry land, like the shadow of a great rock in an arid land. |
| 4 | Psalm 3:3 | But You, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head. |
| 5 | Psalm 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. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — סִתְרִי, sit.Rigenerated
The word סִתְרִי (sit.Ri) is a noun that refers to a hiding place or shelter, indicating a sense of secrecy and protection. It is derived from the root סֵ֫תֶר (se.ter), which encompasses both literal and figurative meanings of covering and hiding.
This term emphasizes God's role as a protective refuge, aligning with its usage in other scriptures like Psalm 18:11, where God is depicted as a shelter from danger. The psalmist's use of this word highlights a deep reliance on God’s safeguarding presence.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree on the essence of the verse, with all versions reflecting the themes of protection and hope found in the original Hebrew.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb יִחָֽלְתִּי (yi.Chal.ti, I hope) governs the structure of the verse, with two noun phrases preceding it: סִתְרִי (my hiding place) and וּמָגִנִּי (and my shield). This arrangement emphasizes the psalmist's affirmation of God's protective role.
The sentence structure places the subject אָ֑תָּה (you) at the beginning, underscoring the personal address to God, followed by the prepositional phrase לִדְבָרְךָ (in Your word), which clarifies the basis of the psalmist's hope.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the translators chose the Greek word μου (mou, my), which aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning of possession and personal relationship. This choice reinforces the intimate connection between the psalmist and God.
The Greek rendering maintains the protective imagery of the Hebrew text, indicating a consistent understanding of God's role as a refuge.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 119:114 expresses the psalmist's trust in God as a hiding place and shield. The psalmist hopes in God's word, indicating a deep reliance on God's promises and protection.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies that God provides safety and refuge in times of trouble, acting as a protective shelter.
It represents God's role as a defender against harm and danger, offering protection to those who trust in Him.
Hoping in God's word reflects a trust in His promises and faithfulness, as the psalmist believes in the power and truth of God's declarations.
This verse reassures believers that God is always present as a refuge and protector, encouraging them to place their trust in Him.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced God as my hiding place in difficult times?
- How can I actively put my hope in God's word in my daily life?
- What does it mean for me to trust God as my shield against challenges?
- How can I encourage others to find refuge in God as described in this verse?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Augustine of Hippo comments on this verse, highlighting God's role as both helper and protector, emphasizing the psalmist's reliance on divine assistance.
He next adds: "You are my helper and my taker up" [Psalms 119:114]: "my helper," to do good works: "my taker up," to escape evil ones.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 119 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 119:114 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThou [art] my hiding place,.... From temporal calamities. The perfections of God are chambers of retreat and safety to his people, where they may hide themselves and be safe, till such calamities are over, Isaiah 26:20.
Read John Gill on Psalms 119 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word - (Psalms 32:7.)
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 119 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 119:114 Thou [art] my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.Ver. 114. Thou art my hiding place and my shield] To defend me from deadly darts and dangers. See Psalms 18:2; Psalms 32:7. God either preserveth his from common calamities or from the hurt of them. I hope in thy word] And am content to stay thy time. "He that believeth maketh not haste."
Read John Trapp on Psalms 119 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(114) My shield.—For this expression see Psalms 3:3; Psalms 7:10.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 119 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 114. My hiding place] My asylum. And my shield] There is a time in which I may be called to suffer in secret; then thou hidest me. There may be a time in which thou callest me to fight; then thou art my Shield and Protector.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 119 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges114. Cp. Psalms 32:7; Psalms 28:7; Psalms 119:74; Psalms 119:81.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 119 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThou art my hiding place - See the notes at Psalms 32:7, where the same expression occurs. And my shield - See Psalms 5:12, note; Psalms 84:11, note. I hope in thy word - See Psalms 119:74, Psalms 119:81.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 119 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bibleñ, Samek.113-120. My hiding place and my shield—The psalmist’s experience of perils has increased his confidence and strength. He now declares how little he is influenced by the example of evil doers. His heart is fixed.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 119 →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 are my hiding place and my shield; I put my hope in Your word.
You are my hiding place and my shield. I hope in your word.
You are my hiding place and my shield; I put my hope in Your word.
You are my hiding place and my shield. I find hope in your word.
Tyndale line
Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
Thou art my hiding-place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
Thou art my refuge and shield, and I trust in thy worde.
Strictly literal
Thou art my hiding-place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
My hiding place and my shield [art] Thou, For Thy word I have hoped.
You [are] my hiding place and my shield, || I have hoped for Your word.
My shelter and my shield art thou: for thy word do I wait.
You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.
Simplified
You keep me safe and you defend me, your word gives me reason to hope.
You are my secret place and my breastplate against danger; my hope is in your word.
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 agree on the wording of this verse, with both preserving the essential meaning. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some variations, with one manuscript partially restored and others fully supplied by an editor, but they align closely with the Masoretic Text.
סִתְרִ֣י וּמָגִנִּ֣י אָ֑תָּה לִדְבָרְךָ֥ יִחָֽלְתִּי׃
5 of the 5 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.
סתר׳י [ומגנ׳י] [אתה] [לדבר׳ך] [יחלתי]
nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.
סתר׳י ומגנ׳י אתה לדברי׳כה יחלתי
5 words on the leather.
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 119:114
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.
סֵ֫תֶר (se.ter) refers to concepts of covering, hiding, and secrecy, encompassing both literal and figurative meanings. It can denote a hiding place or shelter, as well as the idea of secrecy, including slanderous speech. The feminine form, סִתְרָה (sit.rah), specifically means shelter or protection, with a reference to Deuteronomy 32:38.
ref
H5643a סֵ֫תֶר covering, hiding-place, secrecy H5643b סִתְרָה shelter, protection
5643 cether say'-ther
or (feminine) cithrah (Deut. 32:38), {sith-raw'}; from 5641;
a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative
sense):--backbiting, covering, covert, X disguise(-th),
hiding place, privily, protection, secret(-ly, place).
see HEBREW for 05641
סֵ֫תֶר (se.ter) — secrecy.
1) covering, shelter, hiding place, secrecy
1a) covering, cover
1b) hiding place, shelter, secret place
1c) secrecy
1c1) secrecy (of tongue being slanderous)
סִתְרָה (sit.rah) — shelter.
shelter, protection
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bs
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 both singular construct · suffixHC/Ncbsc/Sp1ms
אַתָּ֫ה (attah) is a second-person pronoun in Hebrew, used to address someone directly. It has masculine and feminine forms: אַתָּה for singular masculine, אַתְּ for singular feminine, אַתֶּם for plural masculine, and אַתֵּן for plural feminine. The entries indicate variations in form and usage, reflecting the pronoun's grammatical complexity.
אַתָּ֫ה, אָ֑תָּה pron. 2 s. m. thou
base
אתי, i.e. אתִּי, the older & more original form of אַתְּ thou (fem.)
base
אַתְּ, אָ֑תְּ pron. 2 s. f. thou (fem.)
base
אַתֶּם pron. 2 m. pl. you (masc.)
base
אַתֵּן pron. 2 f. pl. you (fem.)
base
H859a אַתָּ֫ה, אָ֑תָּה pron. 2 s. m. thou H859b אתי, i.e. אתִּי, the older & more original form of אַתְּ thou (fem.) H859c אַתְּ, אָ֑תְּ pron. 2 s. f. thou (fem.) H859d אַתֶּם pron. 2 m. pl. you (masc.) H859e אַתֵּן pron. 2 f. pl. you (fem.)
859 'attah at-taw'
or (shortened); aatta {at-taw'}; or wath {ath}; feminine
(irregular) sometimes nattiy {at-tee'}; plural masculine attem
{at- tem'}; feminine atten {at-ten'}; or oattenah
{at-tay'naw}; or fattennah {at-tane'-naw}; a primitive pronoun
of the second person; thou and thee, or (plural) ye and
you:--thee, thou, ye, you.
אַתָּ֫ה (at.tah) — you(m.s.).
you (second pers. sing. masc.)
אתִּי (ti) — you(f.s.).
you (second pers. sing. fem.)
A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)
אַתְּ (at.te) — you(f.s.).
you (second pers. sing. fem.)
A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)
אַתֶּם (at.tem) — you(m.p.).
you (second pers. pl. masc.)
Aramaic equivalent: an.tun (אַנְתּוּן "you" H0608)
אַתֵּן (at.ten) — you(f.p.).
you (second pers. pl. fem.)
A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)
Pron — PronounHPp2ms
דָּבָר (dabar) means 'word' or 'speech' and encompasses a range of meanings including discourse, saying, and matter. It can refer to anything spoken or a topic of discussion, extending to concepts like business or affairs. The entries consistently highlight its use in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.
דָּבָר 1439 n.m. speech, word
sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken
sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse
sg. a word, words
sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks
base
H1697 דָּבָר speech, word . sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken
. sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse
. sg. a word, words
. sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks
1697 dabar daw-baw'
from 1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or
thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X
any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case,
cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X
commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, +
dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, +
eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt,
+ iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter,
message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, +
please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose,
question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said,
sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness),
somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that,
X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings,
what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.
see HEBREW for 01696
דָּבָר (da.var) — word.
: word/speech/command
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: speaking.
: speaking
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: thing.
: thing/matter
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: promised.
: promised/duty
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: deed.
: deed
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms
יָחַל (yachal) is a Hebrew verb that means to wait, with implications of hope and patience. It has various forms: in the Niphal it means to wait, while in the Piel and Hiphil it conveys waiting for or hoping for something. The entries indicate a range of meanings related to expectation and trust.
[יָחַל] vb. Niph. wait; Pi. await
Niph. wait
Pi.
wait, tarry for
wait for = hope for
Hiph. wait, tarry
base
H3176 יָחַל Niph. wait; Pi. await
3176 yachal yaw-chal'
a primitive root; to wait; by implication, to be patient,
hope:--(cause to, have, make to) hope, be pained, stay, tarry,
trust, wait.
יָחַל (ya.chal) — to wait: wait.
: wait[for_time]
1) to wait, hope, expect
1a) (Niphal) to wait
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to wait, await, tarry
1b2) to wait for, hope for
1c) (Hiphil) to wait, tarry, wait for, hope for
Also means: ya.chal (יָחַל ": hope" H3176H)
יָחַל (ya.chal) — to wait: hope.
: hope/trust
1) to wait, hope, expect
1a) (Niphal) to wait
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to wait, await, tarry
1b2) to wait for, hope for
1c) (Hiphil) to wait, tarry, wait for, hope for
V-Piel-Perf-1cs — Verb · Piel · perfect first person common singularHVpp1cs
hop:
1. In the Old Testament:
In the Revised Version (British and American) the New Testament "hope" represents the noun elpis (52 t), and the verb elpizo (31 t). King James Version, however, renders the noun in Heb 10:23 by "faith," and for the verb gives "trust" in 18 cases (apparently without much system, e.g. in Php 2 compare 2:19 and 23; see TRUST), while in Lu 6:35 it translates apelpizo, by "hoping for nothing again" (the Revised Version (British and American) "never despairing"). But in the Old Testament there is no Hebrew word that has the exact force of "expectation of some good thing," so that in the King James Version "hope" (noun and vb.) stands for some 15 Hebrew words, nearly all of which in other places are given other translation (e.g. mibhTach, is rendered "hope"…
Hope
One of the three main elements of Christian character (1 Cor. 13:13). It is joined to faith and love, and is opposed to seeing or possessing (Rom. 8:24; 1 John 3:2). “Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity (1 Pet. 3:15; Heb. 10:23). In it the whole glory of the Christian vocation is centred (Eph. 1:18; 4:4).” Unbelievers are without this hope (Eph. 2:12;
→ General scriptures concerning Ps 9:18; 16:9; 31:24; 33:18,22; 38:15; 39:7; 43:5; 71:5,14; 78:5-7; 119:74,81,116,166; 130:7; 146:5; Pr 10:28; 13:12; 14:32; 23:18; 24:14; Isa 38:18; Jer 17:7; La 3:21,24,26; Ho 2:15; Joe 3:16; Zec 9:12; Ac 23:6; 24:14,15; 26:7,8; 28:20; Ro 4:18; 5:2-5; 8:24,25; 12:12; 15:4,13;