The Meaning of Psalms 27:1 Explained

Psalms 27:1

KJV: {A Psalm of David.} The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

YLT: By David. Jehovah is my light and my salvation, Whom do I fear? Jehovah is the strength of my life, Of whom am I afraid?

Darby: {A Psalm of David.} Jehovah is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Jehovah is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

ASV: Jehovah is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? Jehovah is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{[A Psalm] of David.  }} The LORD  [is] my light  and my salvation;  whom shall I fear?  the LORD  [is] the strength  of my life;  of whom shall I be afraid? 

What does Psalms 27:1 Mean?

Verse Meaning

David expressed great confidence as he looked to the future because Yahweh was his light, salvation, and defense (stronghold). Light connotes understanding, joy, and life (cf. Psalm 18:28). According to Warren Wiersbe, this is the first time in Scripture that a writer used light as a metaphor for God. [1]
"Light is a natural figure for almost everything that is positive, from truth and goodness to joy and vitality (e.g., respectively, Psalm 43:3; Isaiah 5:20; Psalm 97:11; Psalm 36:9), to name but a few. Here it is the answer to fear (1 , 3) and to the forces of evil." [2]
"The phrases "my light" and "my salvation" mean essentially the same thing." [3]
The answer to his rhetorical questions Isaiah , of course, no one (cf. Romans 8:31-39).

Context Summary

Psalms 27:1-14 - The Song Of Fearless Trust In God
This psalm probably dates from the time when the exiled king, surrounded by unscrupulous foes, looked from his hiding-place beyond the Jordan to the Holy City, where the Ark abode. One thing he desired above all else. The "one thing" people are irresistible, Philippians 3:13-14.
Here we have assurance, Psalms 27:1-6. God's house for us is His presence. We may live day by day in the New Jerusalem, which needs no light of sun or candle. We are in it, though we know it not. Oh, that our eyes might be opened to see where we are! 2 Kings 6:20. How beautiful must God be, who has made the world so fair!
Next we have supplication, Psalms 27:7-14. The triumphant note changes to sadness. Did the writer look from his Redeemer to the winds and waves? But sometimes God seems to hide His face only to draw us to a point of trust and abandonment which otherwise the soul had never dared to adopt, Mark 7:28. The dearest may forsake, but the Lord gathers, Isaiah 40:11. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 27

1  David sustains his faith by prayer

What do the individual words in Psalms 27:1 mean?

A Psalm of David Yahweh [is] my light and my salvation Whom shall I fear Yahweh [is] the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid
לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ יְהוָ֤ה ׀ אוֹרִ֣י וְ֭יִשְׁעִי מִמִּ֣י ؟ אִירָ֑א יְהוָ֥ה מָֽעוֹז־ חַ֝יַּ֗י מִמִּ֥י ؟ אֶפְחָֽד

לְדָוִ֨ד ׀  A  Psalm  of  David 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
יְהוָ֤ה ׀  Yahweh  [is] 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אוֹרִ֣י  my  light 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אֹור  
Sense: light.
וְ֭יִשְׁעִי  and  my  salvation 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: יֵשַׁע  
Sense: deliverance, salvation, rescue, safety, welfare.
מִמִּ֣י  Whom 
Parse: Preposition-m, Interrogative
Root: מִי  
Sense: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever.
؟ אִירָ֑א  shall  I  fear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
יְהוָ֥ה  Yahweh  [is] 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מָֽעוֹז־  the  strength 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מָעֹוז 
Sense: place or means of safety, protection, refuge, stronghold.
חַ֝יַּ֗י  of  my  life 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
מִמִּ֥י  of  whom 
Parse: Preposition-m, Interrogative
Root: מִי  
Sense: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever.
؟ אֶפְחָֽד  shall  I  be  afraid 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: פָּחַד  
Sense: to fear, tremble, revere, dread, be in awe or dread.