The Meaning of Psalms 71:3 Explained

Psalms 71:3

KJV: Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

YLT: Be to me for a rock -- a habitation, To go in continually, Thou hast given command to save me, For my rock and my bulwark art Thou.

Darby: Be to me a rock of habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

ASV: Be thou to me a rock of habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: Thou hast given commandment to save me; For thou art my rock and my fortress.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Be thou my strong  habitation,  whereunto I may continually  resort:  thou hast given commandment  to save  me; for thou [art] my rock  and my fortress. 

What does Psalms 71:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 71:1-12 - "my Trust From My Youth&Rdquo
Some commentators ascribe this psalm to Jeremiah. His pensive, plaintive tone is certainly present in it. But whoever the author, he must have written in his old age, Psalms 71:9; Psalms 71:17-18. One keynote is great and greatly, Psalms 71:19-21; Psalms 71:23; another is all the day, Psalms 71:8; Psalms 71:15; Psalms 71:24.
Old men need have no failure in their buoyancy and gladness, if they will fix their thoughts where the psalmist fixed his. Other subjects will soon wear out, but they who make God's righteousness and salvation their theme will ever have material for meditation and praise. We have here an inexhaustible subject, and one which will keep us young. Let us ask for help, that we may disappoint the calculations of those who hate us, whether men or demons. It is a piteous spectacle when apparently prosperous careers" are overclouded, and age is overwhelmed in catastrophes which there is no time to surmount. But such is not God's way with His loyal servants. His rivers do not end in swamps and marshes, but broaden and deepen till they kiss the mighty ocean. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 71

1  David, in confidence of faith, and experience of God's favor, prays both for himself,
10  and against the enemies of his soul
14  He promises constancy
17  He prays for perseverance
19  He praises God, and promises to do it cheerfully

What do the individual words in Psalms 71:3 mean?

Be my strong refuge to which I may resort continually You have given the commandment to save me for my rock and my fortress You [are]
הֱיֵ֤ה לִ֨י ׀ לְצ֥וּר מָע֡וֹן לָב֗וֹא תָּמִ֗יד צִוִּ֥יתָ לְהוֹשִׁיעֵ֑נִי כִּֽי־ סַלְעִ֖י וּמְצוּדָתִ֣י אָֽתָּה

לִ֨י ׀  my 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
לְצ֥וּר  strong 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: צוּר 
Sense: rock, cliff.
מָע֡וֹן  refuge 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָעֹון 
Sense: dwelling, habitation, refuge.
לָב֗וֹא  to  which  I  may  resort 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
תָּמִ֗יד  continually 
Parse: Adverb
Root: תָּמִיד  
Sense: continuity, perpetuity, to stretch.
צִוִּ֥יתָ  You  have  given  the  commandment 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
לְהוֹשִׁיעֵ֑נִי  to  save  me 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: יָשַׁע 
Sense: to save, be saved, be delivered.
סַלְעִ֖י  my  rock 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: סֶלַע  
Sense: crag, cliff, rock.
וּמְצוּדָתִ֣י  and  my  fortress 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מְצוּדָה 
Sense: net, prey, net prey.
אָֽתָּה  You  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.