Psalms 55:7
Psalms 55:7 in Multiple Translations
How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain. Selah
Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. [Selah
I would go wandering far away, living in the waste land. (Selah.)
I would fly far away to escape, and stay in the wilderness. Selah.
Beholde, I woulde take my flight farre off, and lodge in the wildernes. Selah.
Lo, I move far off, I lodge in a wilderness. Selah.
Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness.” Selah.
Lo, then I would wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
They will dwell and hide themselves: they will watch my heel. As they have waited for my soul,
I would fly far away and live in the desert. (Think about that!)
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 55:7
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 55:7 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וָ/אֹמַ֗ר
מִֽי
יִתֶּן
לִּ֣/י
אֵ֭בֶר
כַּ/יּוֹנָ֗ה
אָע֥וּפָה
וְ/אֶשְׁכֹּֽנָה
וָ/אֹמַ֗ר
ʼâmar
H559
to say
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs
מִֽי
mîy
H4310
who?
Part
יִתֶּן
nâthan
H5414
to give
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
לִּ֣/י
Prep | Suff
אֵ֭בֶר
ʼêber
H83
wing
N-ms
כַּ/יּוֹנָ֗ה
yôwnâh
H3123
dove
Prep | N-fs
אָע֥וּפָה
ʻûwph
H5774
to fly
V-Qal-1cs
וְ/אֶשְׁכֹּֽנָה
shâkan
H7931
to dwell
Conj | V-Qal-1cs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 55:7
וָ/אֹמַ֗ר
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
מִֽי
mîy
H4310
"who?"
Part
This word is used to ask questions like who, whose, or whom. It can also be used to express a wish, like would that or whoever. It appears in many forms throughout the Bible, often in phrases like O that or what.
Definition: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever
Usage: Occurs in 342 OT verses. KJV: any (man), [idiom] he, [idiom] him, [phrase] O that! what, which, who(-m, -se, -soever), [phrase] would to God. See also: Genesis 3:11; 2 Samuel 15:4; Psalms 4:7.
יִתֶּן
nâthan
H5414
"to give"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
This word means to give, put, or set something, with a wide range of applications. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, describing God's actions and human interactions. The word is used to convey giving, selling, or exchanging something.
Definition: : give/deliver/send/produce 1) to give, put, set 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend 1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate 1a3) to make, constitute 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned 1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up 1c2) to be put upon
Usage: Occurs in 1816 OT verses. KJV: add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. See also: Genesis 1:17; Genesis 40:21; Exodus 30:12.
לִּ֣/י
""
Prep | Suff
אֵ֭בֶר
ʼêber
H83
"wing"
N-ms
In the Bible, this word describes a bird's wing or pinion, such as a dove or eagle's, symbolizing freedom and strength.
Definition: 1) pinion, wing 1a) of bird (dove, eagle) 1b) of Babylonian king (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: (long-) wing(-ed). See also: Psalms 55:7; Isaiah 40:31; Ezekiel 17:3.
כַּ/יּוֹנָ֗ה
yôwnâh
H3123
"dove"
Prep | N-fs
Represents a dove, possibly due to the warmth of their mating, and is also used to describe a pigeon. This bird is often seen as a symbol of peace and gentleness in the Bible.
Definition: dove, pigeon
Usage: Occurs in 33 OT verses. KJV: dove, pigeon. See also: Genesis 8:8; Psalms 55:7; Psalms 56:1.
אָע֥וּפָה
ʻûwph
H5774
"to fly"
V-Qal-1cs
This word can mean flying or fainting, often due to darkness or gloom. It appears in books like Isaiah and Jeremiah, describing dramatic scenes.
Definition: v 1) to fly, fly about, fly away 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to fly, hover 1a2) to fly away 1b) (Hiphil) to cause to fly, light upon 1c) (Polel) 1c1) to fly about or to and fro 1c2) to cause to fly to and fro, brandish 1d) (Hithpolel) to fly away 2) (Qal) to cover, be dark
Usage: Occurs in 29 OT verses. KJV: brandish, be (wax) faint, flee away, fly (away), [idiom] set, shine forth, weary. See also: Genesis 1:20; Proverbs 23:5; Psalms 18:11.
וְ/אֶשְׁכֹּֽנָה
shâkan
H7931
"to dwell"
Conj | V-Qal-1cs
This Hebrew word means to live or stay in a place, like when God dwells among his people. It appears in books like Exodus and Psalms, describing God's presence. It's about making a home or resting place.
Definition: 1) to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to settle down to abide 1a2) to abide, dwell, reside 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to make settle down, establish 1b2) to make or cause to dwell 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to lay, place, set, establish, settle, fix 1c2) to cause to dwell or abide Aramaic equivalent: she.khan (שְׁכֵן "to dwell" H7932)
Usage: Occurs in 123 OT verses. KJV: abide, continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-er), have habitation, inhabit, lay, place, (cause to) remain, rest, set (up). See also: Genesis 3:24; Psalms 55:7; Psalms 7:6.
Study Notes — Psalms 55:7
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 55:7 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 55:7
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 55:7
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 55:7
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 55:7
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 55:7
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 55:7
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 55:7
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 55:7
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 55:7
- Sermons on Psalms 55:7
Context — Cast Your Burden upon the LORD
5Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.
6I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.
7How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain. Selah
8I would hurry to my shelter, far from this raging tempest.” 9O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 9:2 | If only I had a traveler’s lodge in the wilderness, I would abandon my people and depart from them, for they are all adulterers, a crowd of faithless people. |
| 2 | 2 Samuel 17:21–22 | After the men had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed up out of the well and went to inform King David, saying, “Get up and cross over the river at once, for Ahithophel has given this advice against you.” So David and all the people with him got up and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, there was no one left who had not crossed the Jordan. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 37:12 | Jeremiah started to leave Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin to claim his portion there among the people. |
| 4 | Proverbs 6:4–5 | Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids. Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. |
| 5 | 2 Samuel 15:14 | And David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Arise and let us flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! We must leave quickly, or he will soon overtake us, heap disaster on us, and put the city to the sword.” |
| 6 | 1 Samuel 27:1 | David, however, said to himself, “One of these days now I will be swept away by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will stop searching for me all over Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.” |
Psalms 55:7 Summary
In Psalms 55:7, the psalmist is expressing his desire to escape the turmoil and chaos of his life by fleeing to a place of solitude, like the wilderness. He wants to find rest and peace, just like a bird finds a safe haven, as mentioned in Psalms 55:6. This verse reminds us that it's okay to feel overwhelmed and to desire a break from the pressures of life, but we can find comfort and peace in God's presence, as promised in Psalms 23:4. By being still and quiet, we can hear God's voice and find rest in Him, just like Jesus did in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the wilderness in Psalms 55:7?
The wilderness in Psalms 55:7 represents a place of solitude and escape from the turmoil and chaos of the world, much like Jesus' experience in the wilderness as recorded in Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13.
Why does the psalmist want to flee to the wilderness?
The psalmist wants to flee to the wilderness to escape the fear, trembling, and horror that have overwhelmed him, as mentioned in Psalms 55:5, and to find rest and peace, as expressed in Psalms 55:6.
What does the word 'Selah' mean in Psalms 55:7?
The word 'Selah' is a musical term that indicates a pause or a stopping point, allowing the reader or singer to reflect on the emotions and thoughts expressed in the previous verse, as seen in other psalms like Psalms 3:2 and Psalms 24:6.
How does this verse relate to our lives today?
This verse reminds us that, just like the psalmist, we can feel overwhelmed by the challenges and pressures of life, but we can find comfort and peace in God's presence, as promised in Psalms 23:4 and Isaiah 41:10.
Reflection Questions
- What are the things in my life that make me feel like fleeing to a place of solitude, and how can I find rest in God's presence?
- How do I respond when I feel overwhelmed by fear, trembling, and horror, and what can I learn from the psalmist's experience?
- What does it mean to 'remain' in a place of solitude, and how can I cultivate a deeper sense of stillness and quietness in my walk with God?
- How can I, like the psalmist, express my emotions and thoughts to God in a honest and vulnerable way, and what can I expect from Him in response?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 55:7
Lo, [then] would I wander far off, [and] remain in the wilderness,.... So David did when he fled from Absalom, 2 Samuel 15:23; so gracious souls desire to be; not in the wilderness of the people; but
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 55:7
Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. Lo, (then) would I wander far off - literally, 'be distant in fleeing.' And remain - Hebrew, lodge, or pass the night.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 55:7
Like a dove; which being fearful, and pursued by birds of prey, flies away, and that very swiftly and far, and into solitary places, where it hides and secures itself in the holes of the rocks, or in some other secret and safe place; all which fitly represents David’ s present disposition and desire. And be at rest; or, that I might, or where I might, be at rest, or dwell, in some settled and safe place, and be delivered from those uncertainties and wanderings to which I am now exposed. In the wilderness; where I might be free from the company, and rage, and treachery of my wicked enemies, who are worse than the wild beasts of the wilderness.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 55:7
Psalms 55:7 Lo, [then] would I wander far off, [and] remain in the wilderness. Selah.Ver. 7. Lo, then would I wander far off] Far from the force and fury of these breathing devils. Jeremiah wisheth the like, as being tired out by the ungodly practices of his countrymen, Psalms 9:2. And many a dear child of God, forced to be in bad company, cries, Oh that I had the wings, &c. Or if that Oh will not set him at liberty, he takes up that Woe, to express his misery, Woe is me, that I sojourn in Meshech, &c. And remain in the wilderness] Among wild beasts; which were better than to abide with these lycanthropi , men more cruel, savage, and bloody than any beasts. A kind of insanity described by ancient writers, in which the patient imagined himself to be a wolf, and had the instincts and propensities of a wolf. Now occasionally applied as a name of those forms of insanity in which the patient imagines himself a beast, and exhibits depraved appetites, alteration of voice, etc., in accordance with this delusion.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 55:7
(7) Remain.—Better, lodge.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 55:7
Verse 7. Would I wander far off] He did escape; and yet his enemies were so near, as to throw stones at him: but he escaped beyond Jordan. 2 Samuel 17:22-23. A passage in the Octavia of SENECA has been referred to as being parallel to this of David. It is in the answer of Octavia to the Chorus, Acts v., ver. 914-923. Quis mea digne deflere potest Mala? Quae lacrymis nostris quaestus Reddet Aedon? cujus pennas Utinam miserae mihi fata darent! Fugerem luctus ablata meos Penna volucri, procul et coetus Hominum tristes sedemque feram. Sola in vacuo nemore, et tenui Ramo pendens, querulo possem Gutture moestum fundere murmur. My woes who enough can bewail? O what notes can my sorrows express?
Sweet Philomel's self e'en would fail To respond with her plaintive distress. O had I her wings I would fly To where sorrows I ne'er should feel more, Upborne on her plumes through the sky, Regions far from mankind would explore. In a grove where sad silence should reign, On a spray would I seat me alone; In shrill lamentations complain, And in wailings would pour forth my moan. J. B. CLARKE.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 55:7
7. and remain &c.] R.V., I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah seems to be misplaced here, and also in Psalms 55:19.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 55:7
Lo, then would I wander far off - literally, “Lo, I would make the distance far by wandering;” I would separate myself far from these troubles.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 55:7
7. Remain—Another word of the same signification as abide, be at rest, Psalms 55:6. Compare Jeremiah 9:2.
Sermons on Psalms 55:7
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Death Is a Change of Company by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes that for a believer, death signifies a transition to a better existence, where they leave behind the company of the wicked and enter into the presence of a |
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Bible Survey - Jeremiah by Peter Hammond | Peter Hammond delivers a powerful sermon based on the message of Jeremiah, emphasizing the consequences of backsliding and the importance of repentance for restoration. The sermon |
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Arise, and Pass Quickly Over the Water. by F.B. Meyer | F.B. Meyer emphasizes the significance of identifying with Christ's death and resurrection, illustrating that believers have already crossed over the Jordan of death into a new lif |
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Psalm 3 by Carl Armerding | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of crying out to the Lord in times of need. He shares a personal testimony of a doctor who was also a minister and how he expe |
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(2 Samuel) Treachery and Loyalty by David Guzik | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the character of Absalom and his cunning tactics to win the hearts of the people of Israel. Absalom would sympathize with anyone who came to |
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And David Said, I Shall Now Perish One Day by F.B. Meyer | F.B. Meyer reflects on David's moment of despair, highlighting how even a man of faith can succumb to doubt and fear when surrounded by negative influences. Despite God's promises |