Verse-by-Verse Breakdown

Verses 1-2: "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."

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• "Lift up my eyes" (אֶשָּׂ֣א עֵינַ֣י | esah einai) – Looking up to the hills/mountains was common in pilgrimage(Jerusalem was on a hill). Could also reference false places of worship (high places, 2 Kings 23:5-8).

• "The hills" (הֶֽהָרִ֑ים | heharim) – In the ancient world, hills were associated with gods. Many nations believed their deities dwelt on mountaintops (cf. Baal on Mount Zaphon).

• "Where does my help come from?" (מֵאַ֖יִן יָבֹ֣א עֶזְרִֽי | me’ayin yavo ezri) – The question suggests uncertainty, but faith is quickly affirmed in verse 2.

• "Help" (עֶזְרִֽי | ezri) – Not just assistance but divine intervention (same root as "Eben-Ezer" – 1 Samuel 7:12).

• "The Lord" (יְהוָ֥ה | YHWH) – The covenant name of God, distinct from the gods of the nations.

• "Maker of heaven and earth" (עֹשֵׂ֥ה שָׁמַ֗יִם וָאָֽרֶץ | oseh shamayim va’aretz) – A direct challenge to pagan creation myths. Yahweh alone controls all cosmic geography (cf. Genesis 1:1).

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Study Tip: Look up Deuteronomy 4:19-20 and Psalm 96:5 to compare how Israel viewed Yahweh in contrast to other gods.

 

 

Verses 3-4: "He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep."

• "Not let your foot be moved" (אַל־יִתַּן לַמּוֹט רַגְלֶךָ | al yiten lamot ragleka) – "Moving" refers to stumbling or being overthrown.

• "Keeps" (שֹׁמֵ֑ר | shomer) – Key word. Occurs six times in the Psalm. It means "to guard, watch over" (cf. Genesis 2:15, where Adam was to "keep" the garden).

• "Will not slumber" (לֹֽא־יָנוּם | lo yanum) – Unlike Baal (1 Kings 18:27), Yahweh does not sleep.

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Study Tip: Look up 1 Kings 18:27 to see how Elijah mocks Baal for being an inactive god.

 

 

Verses 5-6: "The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night."

• "Your keeper" (יְהוָ֥ה שֹׁמְרֶ֑ךָ | YHWH shomrekha) – Echoes Genesis 28:15 (God’s promise to Jacob: "I will keep you wherever you go").

• "Shade" (צִלְּךָ | tsillekha) – Protective metaphor. In the desert, shade meant life (cf. Psalm 91:1).

• "The sun shall not strike you" (יוֹמָם הַשֶּׁ֥מֶשׁ לֹֽא־יַכֶּכָ֑ה | yomam hashemesh lo yakeka) – More than heatstroke. Sun gods were common (Shamash, Ra). Yahweh rules over the sun.

• "The moon by night" (וְיָרֵ֗חַ בַּלָּ֥יְלָה | v’yareach balaylah) – Many feared the moon caused madness, curses, or supernatural harm (cf. Matthew 17:15).

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Study Tip: Look up Psalm 91:1-6 to compare divine protection imagery.

 

 

Verses 7-8: "The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore."

• "Keep you from all evil" (יְהוָ֥ה יִשְׁמָרְךָ֗ מִכָּל־רָע | YHWH yishmorkha mikol ra) – Does this mean no suffering? No. It means evil will not overcome you (cf. Romans 8:28).

• "Keep your life" (יִשְׁמֹ֣ר אֶת־נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ | yishmor et-nafshekha) – The word nefesh (נֶפֶשׁ) means soul, being, life force. God is the guardian of our eternal destiny & innerman.

• "Your going out and coming in" (מוֹצָֽאֲךָ֥ וּבוֹאֶ֑ךָ | motza’akha uvo’ekha) – Ancient travelers prayed this as a journey blessing (cf. Deuteronomy 28:6).

• "Forevermore" (מֵֽעַתָּ֗ה וְעַד־עוֹלָֽם | me’atah v’ad olam) – God’s protection is not temporary, but eternal. He doesn't stop protecting you out of disappointment!

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Study Tip: Look up Romans 8:28-39 to see how this connects with the idea that nothing can separate us from God’s love.