The Meaning of Psalms 121:3 Explained

Psalms 121:3

KJV: He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

YLT: He suffereth not thy foot to be moved, Thy preserver slumbereth not.

Darby: He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

ASV: He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He will not suffer  thy foot  to be moved:  he that keepeth  thee will not slumber. 

What does Psalms 121:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 121:1-8 - Where To Find Help
This is the first of the "Songs of Degrees." It has been suggested that they were pilgrim-songs to beguile the journeys from all parts of the country to the great annual feasts. They have been associated with the reign of the good Hezekiah. Mesech and Kedar are typical enemies, who forced their way into the kingdom of Judah and vexed the people of God. They are compared to sharp swords and arrows in Psalms 57:4; Psalms 64:3, but now in turn they shall be pierced and scorched. How many who start on a pilgrimage to the Celestial City must run a similar gauntlet! Their enemies arise from their own household. In such distress of soul, prayer is our only hope, Psalms 120:1.
Psalms 121:1-8
The keynote of this psalm is the word keep, which occurs in one form or another six times. In Psalms 121:1 and Psalms 121:2 the soloist suggests that in hours of trial we should look beyond mountains and hills to the Lord who made them all. In Psalms 121:3-8 the chorus endorses and commends the choice. All the saints of every dispensation add their cumulative testimony to the wisdom of entrusting the keeping of soul and body to our faithful Creator. Notice the exquisite sequence of phrases: neither slumber nor sleep; by day, by night; thy going out, and thy coming in; thee and. thy soul; this time forth and for evermore. The meshes are woven very closely. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 121

1  The great safety of the godly, who put their trust in God's protection

What do the individual words in Psalms 121:3 mean?

Not He will allow to be moved your foot will slumber He who keeps you
אַל־ יִתֵּ֣ן לַמּ֣וֹט רַגְלֶ֑ךָ יָ֝נ֗וּם שֹֽׁמְרֶֽךָ

יִתֵּ֣ן  He  will  allow 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לַמּ֣וֹט  to  be  moved 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹוט  
Sense: a shaking, wavering, pole, bar of yoke.
רַגְלֶ֑ךָ  your  foot 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: רֶגֶל  
Sense: foot.
יָ֝נ֗וּם  will  slumber 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נוּם  
Sense: to be drowsy, slumber, sleep.
שֹֽׁמְרֶֽךָ  He  who  keeps  you 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.