Psalms 56:3–4
The psalmist: on the day he fears, he trusts in Elohim and will not fear
Study it word by word3On the day I fear, I trust in you.
4In Elohim, whose word I praise, in Elohim I trust; I will not fear; what can flesh do to me?
In its context
1For the director. On The Silent Dove of the Distant Ones. Of David. A Miktam, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Show me favor, Elohim, for a mortal tramples me; all the day fighting, he oppresses me.
2Those who lie in wait for me trample me all the day, for many fight against me with haughtiness.
…
5All the day they twist my words; against me are all their thoughts for evil.
6They gather together, they lurk; they watch my heels, as they wait for my soul.
Its words in the original
- יוֹםyom· day
Day: the hours of light, or a whole day from one evening to the next. Also an indefinite time or age ("in the day that...", "in those days").
- אִירָאira· fear
Fear. It can be fright before a danger or deep reverence before God ("fear YHWH"). In some forms, be fearsome, awesome.
- אֶבְטָחevtach· trust
Trust: lean on someone or something and feel secure.
- אלֹהִיםlohim· Elohim, God, gods
The Hebrew word usually translated "God". This translation keeps "Elohim" when it speaks of the one true God, the Creator, the God of Israel. The word ends like a plural, but it does not mean several: for him the verb is singular ("Elohim created"); the plural form expresses greatness. The same word as a common noun names the "gods" of other peoples, and there it is a true plural, translated "gods". It is also used of mighty ones or judges.
- אֲהַלֵּלahalel· praise; boast
Praise, extol. "Hallelujah" comes from this verb. In other forms, boast; also act like a madman.
- דְּבָרdevar· word, matter, thing
Word; what is said. Also "matter" or "thing": what is spoken about, an affair, an event.
- יַּעֲשֶׂהyaase· do, make
Do, make, in the widest sense: build, produce, carry out, keep (a command), prepare.
- בָשָׂרvasar· flesh
Flesh: the body, and the person as weak and mortal. "One flesh" is the union of husband and wife; "my flesh" can mean "my family". "All flesh" is every living being. In the Old Testament it does not mean something bad in itself.