91:1 As for you, the one who lives 2 in the shelter of the sovereign One, 3
and resides in the protective shadow 4 of the mighty king 5 –
17:8 Protect me as you would protect the pupil of your eye! 6
Hide me in the shadow of your wings! 7
36:7 How precious 8 is your loyal love, O God!
The human race finds shelter under your wings. 9
1 sn Psalm 91. In this psalm an individual (perhaps a priest) addresses one who has sought shelter in the Lord and assures him that God will protect him from danger (vv. 1-13). In vv. 14-16 God himself promises to keep his loyal follower safe.
2 tn Heb “[O] one who lives.”
3 tn Traditionally “the Most High.”
4 sn The Lord is compared here to a bird who protects its young under the shadow of its wings (see v. 4).
5 sn The divine name used here is “Shaddai” (שַׁדַּי, shadday; see also Ps 68:14). Shaddai (or El Shaddai) is the mighty king (sovereign judge) of the world who grants life/blesses and kills/judges. In Genesis he blesses the patriarchs with fertility and promises numerous descendants. Outside Genesis he both blesses/protects and takes away life/happiness.
6 tc Heb “Protect me like the pupil, a daughter of an eye.” The noun בַּת (bat, “daughter”) should probably be emended to בָּבַת (bavat, “pupil”). See Zech 2:12 HT (2:8 ET) and HALOT 107 s.v. *בָּבָה.
7 sn Your wings. The metaphor compares God to a protective mother bird.
11 tn Or “valuable.”
12 tn Heb “and the sons of man in the shadow of your wings find shelter.” The preservation of physical life is in view, as the next verse makes clear.