The Meaning of Psalms 3:1 Explained

Psalms 3:1

KJV: {A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.} LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

YLT: A Psalm of David, in his fleeing from the face of Absalom his son. Jehovah, how have my distresses multiplied! Many are rising up against me.

Darby: {A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.} Jehovah, how many are they that trouble me, many they that rise up against me!

ASV: Jehovah, how are mine adversaries increased! Many are they that rise up against me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{A Psalm  of David,  when he fled  from  Absalom  his son.  }} LORD,  how are they increased  that trouble  me! many  [are] they that rise up  against me. 

What does Psalms 3:1 Mean?

Study Notes

trust
Trust is the characteristic O.T. word for the N.T. "faith," "believe." It occurs 152 times in the O.T., and is the rendering of Heb. words signifying to take refuge (e.g. Ruth 2:12 "to lean on" (e.g.) Psalms 56:3 "to roll on" (e.g.) Psalms 22:8 "to stay upon" (e.g.) Job 35:14 .

Context Summary

Psalms 3:1-8 - Morning And Evening Prayers
These psalms probably date from David's flight before Absalom, 2 Samuel 16:1-23. It is the perfection of trust to be able to sleep when our foes are many and set upon our destruction. So Jesus slept, Mark 4:38; and Peter, Acts 12:6. Be sure that you are where God would have you to be, and then resign yourself to His loving care. Even though pursued by the results of your sins, you will find that God will save you, on condition of your being contrite.
Let us begin the day and close it with thanksgivings and prayers. Godly means having the power to love. Dost thou love God and His saints? Then know that He has set thee apart-that is, separated thee-for Himself. Seek His will alone. Be content to let the world go by. Thou hast no need to envy the prosperous worldling. God suffices for heaven; why not for earth? [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 3

1  The security of God's protection

What do the individual words in Psalms 3:1 mean?

A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son Yahweh how they have increased who trouble me Many [are] they who rise up against me
מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִ֑ד בְּ֝בָרְח֗וֹ מִפְּנֵ֤י ׀ אַבְשָׁל֬וֹם בְּנֽוֹ יְ֭הוָה מָֽה־ רַבּ֣וּ צָרָ֑י רַ֝בִּ֗ים קָמִ֥ים עָלָֽי

מִזְמ֥וֹר  A  Psalm 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְמֹור  
Sense: melody, psalm.
לְדָוִ֑ד  of  David 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
בְּ֝בָרְח֗וֹ  when  he  fled 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּרַח 
Sense: to go through, flee, run away, chase, drive away, put to flight, reach, shoot (extend), hurry away.
אַבְשָׁל֬וֹם  Absalom 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִישָׁלֹום 
Sense: father-in-law of Rehoboam.
בְּנֽוֹ  his  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יְ֭הוָה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מָֽה־  how 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
רַבּ֣וּ  they  have  increased 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: רָבַב  
Sense: to be or become many, be or become much, be or become great.
צָרָ֑י  who  trouble  me 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: צַר 
Sense: narrow, tight.
רַ֝בִּ֗ים  Many  [are] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
קָמִ֥ים  they  who  rise  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
עָלָֽי  against  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.