Psalm 91

Psalm 91
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High"
Psalm of protection
Late 8th century ivory plaque with Christ treading on the beasts, illustrating verse 13. From Genoels-Elderen (in current-day Belgium).[1]
Other name	Psalm 90 "Qui habitat"
Language	Hebrew (original)

Psalm 91 is the 91st psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." In the slightly different numbering system in the Greek Septuagint version of the Bible and in the Latin Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 90. In Latin, it is known as 'Qui habitat".^[2] As a psalm of protection, it is commonly invoked in times of hardship. Though no author is mentioned in the Hebrew text of this psalm, Jewish tradition ascribes it to Moses, with David compiling it in his Book of Psalms. The Septuagint translation attributes it to David.^[3]

The psalm is a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. The complete psalm and selected verses have been set to music often, notably by Heinrich Schütz and Felix Mendelssohn, who used verses for his motet Denn er hat seinen Engeln befohlen. The psalm has been paraphrased in hymns.

Background and themes[]

The Midrash states that Psalm 91 was composed by Moses on the day he completed the building of the Tabernacle in the desert. The verses describe Moses' own experience entering the Tabernacle and being enveloped by the Divine cloud.^[4] Midrash Tehillim and Zohar teach that Moses composed this psalm while ascending into the cloud hovering over Mount Sinai, at which time he recited these words as protection from the angels of destruction.^[5]

In Jewish thought, Psalm 91 conveys the themes of God's protection and rescue from danger.^[6] The Talmud (Shevu'ot 15b) records opinions calling this psalm the "song of evil spirits" and the "song of plagues" ("shir shel pega'im" and "shir shel nega'im," respectively), for "one who recites it with faith in God will be helped by Him in time of danger".^[4] Since the times of the Geonim, this psalm was recited to drive away demons and evil spirits.^[7] According to midrashim, the psalm references many types of demons that threaten man, including the "Terror", "Arrow", "Pestilence", and "Destruction" mentioned in verses 5–6.^[8] The psalm was written in amulets by both Jews and Christians from the Late Antique period.^[9][10] According to the Talmud (Shevu'ot 15b), the subsequent verse, verse 7 ("A thousand shall fall at your side," etc.) is a reference to the demons which would perish upon recitation of this psalm. In the same vein, Psalm 91 was included as one of the "Four Psalms Against Demons" in Dead Sea Scroll 11QapocrPs, the other three psalms being previously unknown, which are thought to have been used by the Qumran community for exorcisms.^[11][12]

Modern-day Christians see the psalm as a source of comfort and protection, even in times of suffering.^[13]

Verse 13, in the King James Version "Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet", was the origin of the iconography of Christ treading on the beasts, seen in the Late Antique period and revived in Carolingian and Anglo-Saxon art.

Text[]

The psalm is originally written in the Hebrew language. It is is divided into 16 verses.^[14]

Hebrew Bible version[]

Following is the Hebrew text of Psalm 91:^[14]

King James Version[]

1. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6. Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10. There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

Uses[]

Judaism[]

Psalm 91 is prominent in Jewish liturgy and ritual. It is recited during the Pesukei Dezimra in the Shabbat, Yom Tov, and Hoshana Rabbah morning services.^[4] It is also recited after the evening prayer on Motza'ei Shabbat^[15][16] and during the nightly Bedtime Shema.^[16][17] In each of these prayers, verse 16 is said twice.^[18] According to Machzor Vitry, the verse is doubled to complete the spelling of a name of God.^[19]

Psalm 91 is recited seven times during a burial ceremony. As the casket bearers approach the grave, they stop every few feet, repeating the psalm. In the case of the burial of a woman, the casket bearers do not stop the procession, but they do repeat the psalm seven times.^[20]

Verse 11 of the psalm is recited after the liturgical poem Shalom Aleichem at the Friday night meal.^[16]

Psalm 91 is often recited as a prayer for protection.^[21] Some say it before embarking on a journey.^[16][22]

New Testament[]

• Verses 11 and 12 are quoted by the devil during the temptation of Christ in Matthew 4:6 and Luke 4:10–11.^[23]
• Verse 13 is quoted in Luke 10:19.^[23]

Western Christianity[]

In Western Christianity it is often sung or recited during services of Compline.^[24] The psalm forms part of the Benedictine rite of the daily evening prayer Compline.^[25] After the Reform of the Roman Breviary by Pope Pius X it was only used on Sundays and Solemnities. In the Liturgy of the Hours it is part of Compline on the eve of Sunday and Solemnities.

In the Revised Common Lectionary (Year C)^[26] the psalm is appointed for the first Sunday in Lent, linking it to the temptation of Christ, where the devil quotes this psalm.

In the medieval Western Church it was included in the readings for Good Friday.

Eastern Orthodoxy[]

In Eastern Orthodoxy it is used in the prayers of the Sixth Hour, at Great Compline, and also in the Memorial Service for the departed (Pannikhida).

Musical settings[]

Hymns[]

The 1972 hymn in German, "Wer unterm Schutz des Höchsten steht", is a paraphrase of Psalm 91.

Classical[]

Polish composer Józef Elsner set the three last verses of this psalm as an offertorium Quoniam in me speravit, Op.30 (published ca.1829).^[27]

Michael Joncas loosely based his hymn "On Eagle's Wings" on Psalm 91.^[28]

.^[29]

In popular culture[]

US military staffers hold a packet containing a camouflage bandana imprinted with Psalm 91 at the National Day of Prayer breakfast at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, May 2010

Psalm 91 is known as the Soldier's Psalm or Soldier's Prayer.^[30] Camouflage bandanas imprinted with the psalm are often distributed to US troops.^[30][31][32]

Sinéad O'Connor's debut album The Lion and the Cobra includes a recitation of verses 11–13 in Irish by singer Enya on the song "Never Get Old".^[33]

Canadian metal band Cryptopsy references verses 5–8 of the psalm in their song "The Pestilence That Walketh in Darkness" on their 2005 album Once Was Not.^[34]

Brazilian-American metal band Soulfly recited the psalm in Portuguese on the bonus track "Salmo-91" on their fifth album Dark Ages.^[35]

The Jerry Garcia Band quotes verses 5–6 in its song "My Sisters and Brothers".

Madonna references Psalm 91 in "Virgin Mary (Intro)" on her 2012 The MDNA Tour.^[36]

References[]

Sources[]

• Horowitz, Shimon Halevi (1923). Machzor Vitry (in Hebrew) (reprint ed.).
• Kaplan, Rabbi Aryeh (1990). Innerspace: Introduction to Kabbalah, Meditation and Prophecy. Moznaim.
• Kraus, Thomas J. (2009), "'He That Dwelleth in the Help of the Highest': Septuagint Psalm 90 and the Iconographic Program on Byzantine Armbands", in Evans, Craig A.; Zacharias, H. Daniel (eds.), Jewish and Christian Scripture as Artifact and Canon, Bloomsbury Publishing, p. 139, ISBN 978-0-56735188-3
• Matt, Daniel Chanan, ed. (2004). The Zohar. 1. Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0-80474747-9.
• Reif, Stefan C. (2004), "The Bible in Jewish Life and Thought", in Berlin, Adele; Brettler, Marc Zvi (eds.), The Jewish Study Bible, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19529751-5
• Ruth, Peggy Joyce (2012). Psalm 91 Military Edition: God's Shield of Protection. Charisma Media. ISBN 978-1-61638708-2.
• Scherman, Rabbi Nosson (2003). The Complete Artscroll Siddur (3rd ed.). Mesorah Publications. ISBN 978-0-89906650-9.
• Schiffman, Lawrence H., ed. (1992). Hebrew and Aramaic Incantation Texts from the Cairo Genizah. A&C Black. ISBN 978-1-85075285-1.
• Würthwein, Ernst (1995). The Text of the Old Testament. Translated by Rhodes, Erroll F. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans. ISBN 0-8028-0788-7. Retrieved January 26, 2019.

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Psalm 91.

Wikisource has original text related to this article: Psalm 91

• Pieces with text from Psalm 91: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Psalm 91: Free scores at the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
• Tehillim - Psalm 91 (Judaica Press) — translation with Rashi's commentary at Chabad.org
• Text of Psalm 91 according to the 1928 Psalter
• Bible.org on the religious significance of the text
• Psalms Chapter 91 text in Hebrew and English, mechon-mamre.org
• Psalm 91 – The Assurance of those Who Trust in God text and detailed commentary, enduringword.com
• You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shade of the Almighty text and footnotes, usccb.org United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
• Psalm 91:1 introduction and text, biblestudytools.com
• Psalm 91 / Refrain: Bless the Lord, O my soul. Church of England
• Psalm 91 at biblegateway.com
• Hymns for Psalm 91 hymnary.org
• Safe in the Shelter of the Most High Christian Podcast on Psalm 91