The Meaning of Psalms 3:3 Explained

Psalms 3:3

KJV: But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

YLT: And Thou, O Jehovah, art a shield for me, My honour, and lifter up of my head.

Darby: But thou, Jehovah, art a shield about me; my glory, and the lifter up of my head.

ASV: But thou, O Jehovah, art a shield about me; My glory and the lifter up of my head.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But thou, O LORD,  [art] a shield  for me; my glory,  and the lifter up  of mine head. 

What does Psalms 3:3 Mean?

Verse Meaning

David believed that God had not abandoned him, and he regarded Him as his real source of protection, his "shield." This figure of God as Protector is common in the psalms (cf. Psalm 7:10; Psalm 18:2; Psalm 18:30; Psalm 28:7; Psalm 33:20; Psalm 59:11; Psalm 84:11; Psalm 115:9-11; Psalm 119:114; Psalm 144:2). "My glory" reflects the honor of serving the eternal God who ruled gloriously over His kingdom. The king felt confident that God would restore him to his throne. The expression "lift the head" means to restore to dignity and position and reflects confidence in the Lord (cf. Genesis 40:13; Genesis 40:20; 2 Kings 25:27 [1]). The opposite occurs in 2 Samuel 15:30. The basis for David"s confidence was the Lord"s choice of him as Israel"s king and His not choosing Absalom. It was not his knowledge of the future or his military might.

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 3:3 mean?

But You [are] Yahweh a shield for me My glory and the one who lifts up my head
וְאַתָּ֣ה יְ֭הוָה מָגֵ֣ן בַּעֲדִ֑י כְּ֝בוֹדִ֗י וּמֵרִ֥ים רֹאשִֽׁי

וְאַתָּ֣ה  But  You  [are] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
יְ֭הוָה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מָגֵ֣ן  a  shield 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: מָגֵן 
Sense: shield, buckler.
בַּעֲדִ֑י  for  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: בַּעַד 
Sense: behind, through, round about, on behalf of, away from, about.
כְּ֝בוֹדִ֗י  My  glory 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: כָּבֹוד  
Sense: glory, honour, glorious, abundance.
וּמֵרִ֥ים  and  the  one  who  lifts  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָרוּם 
Sense: to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted.
רֹאשִֽׁי  my  head 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.