Psalms 62:6 — Word Study
WLCאַךְ־ ה֣וּא צ֭וּרִי וִֽישׁוּעָתִ֑י מִ֝שְׂגַּבִּ֗י לֹ֣א אֶמּֽוֹט׃
BSAaloneʼak [my sole refuge]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אַךְ־ | only | Adverb |
| ה֣וּא | he | Pronoun |
| צ֭וּרִי | [is] rock my | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וִֽישׁוּעָתִ֑י | and salvation my | Conjunction, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| מִ֝שְׂגַּבִּ֗י | refuge my | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| לֹ֣א | not | Particle |
| אֶמּֽוֹט׃ | I will be shaken | Verb, Niphal, imperfect first person common singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress; I will not be shaken. |
| KJV | He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. |
| ASV | He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my high tower; I shall not be moved. |
| YLT | Only — He [is] my rock and my salvation, My tower, I am not moved. |
| WEB | He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken. |
| BBE | He only is my Rock and my salvation; he is my high tower; I will not be greatly moved. |
Translations agree on the key terms, affirming God's role as a rock and salvation.
The verse is structured around a main assertion followed by descriptive phrases, emphasizing God's attributes and the psalmist's confidence.





6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
verbהוּא
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 62:6
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Assurance of God's Protectiongenerated
Psalm 62:6 emphasizes the psalmist's unwavering trust in God as his rock and salvation. This verse is part of a larger reflection on the nature of God as a refuge, as seen in the surrounding verses. The psalmist calls on his soul to rest in God alone, highlighting a deep reliance on divine protection and strength, echoed in other scriptures such as Psalm 18:2.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 62:2 | He alone is my rock and my salvation. He is my fortress; I will never be shaken. |
| 2 | Psalm 18:31–32 | For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? |
| 3 | Isaiah 45:17 | But Israel will be saved by the LORD with an everlasting salvation; you will not be put to shame or humiliated, to ages everlasting. |
| 4 | Hosea 1:7 | Yet I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will save them—not by bow or sword or war, not by horses and cavalry, but by the LORD their God.” |
| 5 | Psalm 16:8 | I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — צ֭וּרִי, Tzu.rigenerated
The word צ֭וּרִי (Tzu.ri) is a noun meaning 'my rock', indicating a strong and stable foundation. It is often used metaphorically to describe God as a source of strength and security.
This term reflects the psalmist's understanding of God as a refuge in times of trouble, emphasizing the protective qualities associated with a rock or boulder. Its use here underscores the personal relationship the psalmist has with God as his rock.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the term rock for צ֭וּרִי, consistent with the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb is אֶמּֽוֹט ('e.Mot), meaning 'I will be shaken', which governs the structure of the verse. The subject is the psalmist, and the predicates describe God's attributes as rock, salvation, and refuge.
The sentence structure emphasizes God's role as a secure foundation for the psalmist, with the negation לֹ֣א (lo') reinforcing the certainty of not being shaken.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates צ֭וּרִי as ὑποτάγηθι, which conveys a sense of being placed under protection or support, emphasizing God's role as a stronghold.
This choice reflects a broader interpretation of God's protective nature, aligning with the psalmist's affirmation of trust in divine security.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 62:6 expresses the psalmist's trust in God as his rock and salvation, stating that he will not be shaken. This verse highlights God's protective nature and the psalmist's reliance on Him for safety and strength.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Calling God 'my rock' signifies that He is a stable and reliable source of strength and protection.
The psalmist expresses confidence in God's ability to provide safety and support, ensuring he will remain steadfast.
This verse connects with other passages that describe God as a refuge, such as Psalm 18:2, reinforcing the theme of divine protection.
In this context, 'salvation' refers to deliverance from danger or trouble, highlighting God's role in providing safety and victory.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to trust God as my rock?
- How can I remind myself of God's protection during difficult times?
- What does it mean for me to rest in God alone?
- How can I share the assurance of God's salvation with others?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early church leaders reference this verse to discuss themes of divine protection and trust in God, as seen in the writings of Hippolytus and Augustine.
Aliens properly so called are those who have been despoiled by some enemies or adversaries, and have then become wanderers; a thing which we indeed also endured formerly at the hand of the demons.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 62 →
"For Himself is my God and My Saving One, my Taker up, I will not remove hence" [Psalms 62:6].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 62 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 62:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe only [is] my rock and my salvation,.... [See comments on Psalms 62:2]; [he is] my defence; these epithets of God are repeated, to strengthen his faith and hope in him, and to encourage a patient
Read John Gill on Psalms 62 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryMy soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. -From the enemy he turns to God, urging his own soul, as well as others, to wait only upon him. Verse 5,6.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 62 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 62:6 He only [is] my rock and my salvation: [he is] my defence; I shall not be moved.Ver. 6. He only is, &c.] Versus amoibaeus. See Psalms 62:2. I shall not be moved] Before it was, I shall not be greatly moved; now upon further exercise of his trust, it is, I shall not be moved. Ita in lucta crescit lux fidei, et tides firmior; faith is made stronger by trials.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 62 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges6. my defence] My high tower, as in Psalms 62:2. I shall not be moved] Perhaps the omission of ‘greatly’ (Psalms 62:2) marks a growing faith.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 62 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHe only is my rock ... - See the notes at Psalms 62:2. The only difference between this verse and Psalms 62:2 is, that in this verse the word “greatly” is omitted.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 62 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible6. A repetition of Psa 62:2. In this and Psalms 62:7 he expresses in various forms, and the strongest imagery, his sole trust and perfect security in God. This is characteristic of the psalms written on this occasion.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 62 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress; I will not be shaken.
He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken.
He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress; I will not be shaken.
He alone is my protector and deliverer. He is my refuge; I will not be upended.
Tyndale line
He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my high tower; I shall not be moved.
He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my high tower; I shall not be moved.
He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved.
Yet is hee my strength, and my saluation, and my defence: therefore I shall not be mooued.
Strictly literal
He only is my rock and my salvation; my high fortress: I shall not be moved.
Only — He [is] my rock and my salvation, My tower, I am not moved.
He alone [is] my rock and my salvation, || My tower, I am not moved.
(62:7) Only he is my rock and my salvation; [he is] my defence: I shall not be moved.
He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my high tower; I will not be moved.
From the Latin
Let my soul be filled as with marrow and fatness: and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips.
Simplified
He is the one who protects me and saves me; he keeps me safe so I will not be in danger.
He only is my Rock and my salvation; he is my high tower; I will not be greatly moved.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree on the wording of this verse, with six out of the seven words matched. The Septuagint's rendering may reflect a different emphasis in its word order, but the core message remains consistent.
אַךְ־ ה֣וּא צ֭וּרִי וִֽישׁוּעָתִ֑י מִ֝שְׂגַּבִּ֗י לֹ֣א אֶמּֽוֹט׃
6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 62:6
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אַךְ (ak) is an adverb meaning 'surely' or 'indeed,' often used to emphasize what follows. It can also carry a restrictive sense, translating to 'only' or 'but.' The entries indicate its use in various contexts, but do not provide specific verse references.
אַךְ 159 adv. 1. surely. 2. with a restrictive force, emphasizing what follows
base
H389 אַךְ 1. surely. 2. with a restrictive force, emphasizing what follows
389 'ak ak
akin to 403; a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by
limitation) only:--also, in any wise, at least, but,
certainly, even, howbeit, nevertheless, notwithstanding, only,
save, surely, of a surety, truly, verily, + wherefore, yet
(but).
see HEBREW for 0403
אַךְ (akh) — surely.
1) indeed, surely (emphatic)
2) howbeit, only, but, yet (restrictive)
DirObjM — AdverbHD
הוּא (hu) is a third-person singular pronoun meaning he, she, or it, used for emphasis or when no verb is present. It can also refer to oneself or serve as a demonstrative pronoun. The word has various nuances, including resuming the subject with emphasis or expressing it unobtrusively. It can indicate 'that' or 'those' when used with the definite article.
הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it
an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)
It resumes the subj. with emph.
Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible
It anticipates (as it seems) the subject
As an emph. predicate, of God
In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)
With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.
base
H1931 הוּא, הִיא he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it . an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)
. It resumes the subj. with emph.
. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible
. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject
. As an emph. predicate, of God
. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)
. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.
1931 huw' hoo
of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a
primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or
it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also
(intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same;
sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally
(instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self),
it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they,
this, those, which (is), who.
הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.
pron 3p s
1) he, she, it
1a) himself (with emphasis)
1b) resuming subj with emphasis
1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)
1d) (anticipating subj)
1e) (emphasising predicate)
1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron
2) that (with article)
HPp3ms — PronounHPp3ms
ha: The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; transliterated in this Encyclopedia as "h." It came also to be used for the number 5. For name, etc., see ALPHABET.
צוּר (tsur) means rock or cliff, often referring to a sharp rock or boulder. It can also signify a refuge or an edge, and is used in various contexts, including references to God as a rock. The word is built from the root associated with strong, compressed formations, and it appears in different forms, such as in the phrase 'rock of God.'
צוּר n.m. rock, cliff
base
H6697 צוּר rock, cliff
6697 tsuwr tsoor
or tsur {tsoor}; from 6696; properly, a cliff (or sharp rock,
as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a
refuge; also an edge (as precipitous):--edge, X (mighty) God
(one), rock, X sharp, stone, X strength, X strong. See also
1049.
see HEBREW for 06696
see HEBREW for 01049
צוּר (tsur) — Rocks (of Goats).
Combined with ya.el (יָעֵל "Wildgoats'" H3277)
This name means rock, cliff
צוּר (tsur) — rock.
1) rock, cliff
1a) rocky wall, cliff
1b) rock (with flat surface)
1c) block of stone, boulder
1d) rock (specific)
1e) rock (of God)
1f) rock (of heathen gods) n pr dei
1g) Rock
Aramaic equivalent: tur (טוּר "mountain" H2906)
HNcmsc/Sp1bs — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bs
יְשׁוּעָה (yeshu'ah) refers to concepts of salvation, deliverance, and welfare, often with a spiritual dimension. It is derived from a root meaning to save and encompasses ideas of victory and prosperity. The term is used in contexts related to divine aid and protection, emphasizing both physical and spiritual deliverance.
יְשׁוּעָה n.f. salvation
welfare, prosperity
deliverance
salvation by God, primarily from external evils, but often with added spiritual idea
victory
base
H3444 יְשׁוּעָה salvation . welfare, prosperity
. deliverance
. salvation by God, primarily from external evils, but often with added spiritual idea
. victory
3444 yshuw`ah yesh-oo'-aw
feminine passive participle of 3467; something saved, i.e.
(abstractly) deliverance; hence, aid, victory,
prosperity:--deliverance, health, help(-ing), salvation, save,
saving (health), welfare.
see HEBREW for 03467
יְשׁוּעָה (ye.shu.ah) — salvation.
1) salvation, deliverance
1a) welfare, prosperity
1b) deliverance
1c) salvation (by God)
1d) victory
HC/Ncfsc/Sp1bs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHC/Ncfsc/Sp1bs
מִשְׂגָּב (misgab) refers to a secure height or retreat, often understood as a refuge or stronghold. It can denote a lofty or inaccessible place, and is specifically mentioned as a location in Moab in Jeremiah 48:1. The term emphasizes both physical elevation and the concept of safety.
ref
H4869a מִשְׂגָּב secure height, retreat H4869b מִשְׂגָּב in Moab
4869 misgab mis-gawb'
from 7682; properly, a cliff (or other lofty or inaccessible
place); abstractly, altitude; figuratively, a refuge:--
defence, high fort (tower), refuge, Misgab, a place in
Moab:--Misgab.
see HEBREW for 07682
מִשְׂגָּב (mis.gav) — high refuge.
1) high place, refuge, secure height, retreat
1a) stronghold
1b) refuge (of God)
מִשְׂגָּב (mis.gav) — Misgab.
Word sometimes translated as a name, only mentioned at Jer.48.1
§ Misgab = "height"
a place in Moab
HNcmsc/Sp1bs — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bs
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
HTn — ParticleHTn
מוֹט (mot) is a Hebrew verb meaning to totter, shake, or slip. It has various forms, including Qal (to totter), Niphal (to be shaken), Hiphil (to dislodge), and Hithpael (to be greatly shaken). The entries indicate a range of meanings related to instability and movement, but do not specify any particular Old Testament verses.
[מוֹט] vb. totter, shake, slip
Qal totter, slip
Niph. be shaken, moved, overthrown
Hiph. dislodge, let fall, drop
Hithpo‛l. be greatly shaken
base
H4131 [מוֹט] totter, shake, slip
4131 mowt mote
a primitive root; to waver; by implication , to slip, shake,
fall:--be carried, cast, be out of course, be fallen in
decay, X exceedingly, fall(-ing down), be (re-)moved, be
ready, shake, slide, slip.
מוֹט (mot) — to shake.
1) to totter, shake, slip
1a) (Qal) to totter, shake, slip
1b) (Niphal) to be shaken, be moved, be overthrown
1c) (Hiphil) to dislodge, let fall, drop
1d) (Hithpael) to be greatly shaken
HVNi1cs — Verb · Niphal · imperfect first person common singularHVNi1cs
