The Meaning of Psalms 56:3 Explained

Psalms 56:3

KJV: What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

YLT: The day I am afraid I am confident toward Thee.

Darby: In the day that I am afraid, I will confide in thee.

ASV: What time I am afraid, I will put my trust in thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

What time  I am afraid,  I will trust  in thee. 

What does Psalms 56:3 Mean?

Study Notes

trust
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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 56:1-13 - "what Can Man Do Unto Me?"
This psalm was composed under the same circumstances as Psalms 34:1-22. See 1 Samuel 21:1-15. What a strange medley is here shown-David feigning madness and composing psalms! Commenting on Psalms 56:3, one says that Isaiah's resolve is still better: "I will trust and not be afraid," Isaiah 12:2. Note, the magnificent refrain at the close of each of the first two strophes, Psalms 56:4; Psalms 56:10. The psalmist asks: "What can flesh do?" "Nothing," is the Apostle Paul's emphatic answer. Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers can hurt a man who makes God his stronghold, Romans 8:31.
Let us use the last verse for our life-prayer. Live as one on whom God's vows rest. Thank Him that by His Cross and Passion He has delivered thy soul from death. Could He have done so much at such cost, and then fail? Surely He must deliver our feet from falling, Psalms 116:8, or all the past will have been in vain. Whenever the shadows gather, and past sins threaten, and the enemies of your soul seek to overthrow, plead this prayer: Thou hast"¦ wilt not Thou? [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 56

1  David, praying to God in confidence of his word, complains of his enemies,
9  He professes his confidence in God's word, and promises to praise him

What do the individual words in Psalms 56:3 mean?

Whenever I am afraid I in You will trust
י֥וֹם אִירָ֑א אֲ֝נִ֗י אֵלֶ֥יךָ אֶבְטָֽח

י֥וֹם  Whenever 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
אִירָ֑א  I  am  afraid 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
אֵלֶ֥יךָ  in  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
אֶבְטָֽח  will  trust 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: בָּטוּחַ 
Sense: to trust.