The Meaning of Psalms 60:4 Explained

Psalms 60:4

KJV: Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.

YLT: Thou hast given to those fearing thee an ensign. To be lifted up as an ensign Because of truth. Selah.

Darby: Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth, (Selah,)

ASV: Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou hast given  a banner  to them that fear  thee, that it may be displayed  because  of the truth.  Selah. 

What does Psalms 60:4 Mean?

Study Notes

fear
.
fear of the Lord
The "fear of the Lord," a phrase of the O.T. piety, meaning reverential trust, with hatred of evil.

Verse Meaning

Apparently, David meant that God had led His people into battle (given them a banner) only to let them fall before their enemy-in order to teach Israel a lesson.

Context Summary

Psalm 60:1-12 - Prayer For Help Against Foes
This was a national psalm to be taught the people. See title; also Deuteronomy 31:19. A strong coalition had been formed against David at that time. See 2 Samuel 10:6; 2 Samuel 10:8; 2 Samuel 10:17; 2 Samuel 10:19; 1 Chronicles 18:12-15. Israel was threatened with disaster. It was as if an earthquake had rent the soil. But the king-psalmist argued that God had given His people a mission in the world, which could not be forfeited. First, Israel carried a banner for the truth, Psalms 60:4. In addition, God had "spoken in His holiness" and had promised that the seed of Abraham should possess Canaan. Standing on a hill-summit, the psalmist sees the Land of Promise outspread before him. Shechem and Succoth, Psalms 60:6, one west, the other east, of the Jordan, indicate the breadth of the land. All had been given over to Israel by covenant, and therefore the surrounding peoples must become subject.
As yet the strong city of Petra, rock-girded, Psalms 60:9, had laughed David to scorn; but he had confidence that God would lead him within its mighty walls, to tread down his adversaries, Numbers 24:18. Man could not, but God could. The question is never, Can God? but always, Can we trust and follow Him? [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 60

1  David, complaining to God of former judgment
4  now upon better hope, prays for deliverance
6  Comforting himself in God's promises, he craves that help whereon he trusts

What do the individual words in Psalms 60:4 mean?

You have given to those who fear You a banner that it may be displayed because of the truth Selah
נָ֘תַ֤תָּה לִּירֵאֶ֣יךָ נֵּ֭ס לְהִתְנוֹסֵ֑ס מִ֝פְּנֵ֗י קֹ֣שֶׁט סֶֽלָה

נָ֘תַ֤תָּה  You  have  given 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לִּירֵאֶ֣יךָ  to  those  who  fear  You 
Parse: Preposition-l, Adjective, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא  
Sense: fearing, reverent, afraid.
נֵּ֭ס  a  banner 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נֵס  
Sense: something lifted up, standard, signal, signal pole, ensign, banner, sign, sail.
לְהִתְנוֹסֵ֑ס  that  it  may  be  displayed 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hitpael, Infinitive construct
Root: נוּס  
Sense: to flee, escape.
מִ֝פְּנֵ֗י  because 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
קֹ֣שֶׁט  of  the  truth 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹשְׁטְ 
Sense: bow.
סֶֽלָה  Selah 
Parse: Interjection
Root: סֶלָה  
Sense: to lift up, exalt.