Psalms 57:5 · Bible study
Psalms 57:5 Commentary: Seeking God's Glory in Danger
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does David, fleeing for his life, pray for God's exaltation rather than his own safety? Explore the meaning of this urgent prayer.
Research Summary
- Meaning: David prays for God to display His majesty over all creation, making his crisis a stage for divine glory.
- Key words: Exalted (a call for God to act visibly as King), Glory (God's weighty presence and reputation), All the earth (the full scope of God's intended rule).
- Main debate: Whether this is primarily a petition for deliverance (Barnes) or an expression of trust in God's character regardless of outcome (Gill, Lange).
- Theological theme: God's glory as the ultimate goal of prayer and salvation; personal suffering becomes the context for cosmic praise.
- Best use: Teaching on prayer priorities in crisis; connecting personal need to the larger story of God's reign.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; may Your glory cover all the earth.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Be exalted, God, above the heavens! Let your glory be above all the earth!
KJV King James Version 1769
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let thy glory be above all the earth.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Be Thou exalted above the heavens, O God, Above all the earth Thine honour.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Be exalted above the heavens, OGod; let thy glory be above all the earth!
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Their madness is according to the likeness of a serpent: like the deaf asp that stoppeth her ears:
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Ensálzate sobre los cielos, oh Dios; sobre toda la tierra tu gloria.
Exalta-te sobre os céus, ó Deus; esteja tua glória sobre toda a terra.
Mon âme est parmi des lions;
Erhebe dich, Gott, über den Himmel, und deine Ehre über alle Welt.
Mijn ziel is in het midden der leeuwen, ik lig onder stokebranden, mensenkinderen, welker tanden spiesen en pijlen zijn, en hun tong een scherp zwaard.
Innalzati, o Dio, al disopra de’ cieli, risplenda su tutta la terra la tua gloria!
Dusza moja jest w pośród lwów; leżę miedzy palącymi, między synami ludzkimi, których zęby jako włócznie i strzały, i język ich miecz ostry.
Яд у них - как яд змеи, как глухого аспида, который затыкает уши свои
神啊，願你崇高 過於 諸天！願你的榮耀 高過 全 地！
O God, be lifted up higher than the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
Verse in Context
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Psalm 57:5 reveals David's uppermost concern: God's honor, not his own safety. Barnes notes that David's "prime and leading wish is not for himself… it is that God may be honored", the one sure comfort in trouble. Gill adds that "nothing lies nearer the hearts of the people of God than his glory," and David breathes after it even before asking for deliverance. The Cambridge Bible observes that the thought of man's murderous hostility "naturally leads up to the prayer that God will manifest Himself in majesty." Lange's commentary identifies this verse as the refrain dividing the psalm into two halves, with the second half expressing the certainty of victory. All read the verse as an appeal for God to display His supreme authority over heaven and earth, making David's crisis the stage for divine glory.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: David's prayer prioritizes God's glory above his own deliverance, and the verse calls for God's majesty to be displayed across heaven and earth.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The verb 'Be exalted' | It is a petition for God to act, to show Himself as King. | Some read it as a passive request ('be lifted up'), others as a reflexive call ('exalt Yourself'). Cambridge notes the Hebrew can mean 'exalt thyself.' |
| Relationship between verse 5 and verse 11 | Both verses are identical and form an inclusio that brackets the psalm's two halves. | Lange sees the second occurrence as expressing certainty of victory, while others treat both as the same earnest prayer. Clarke notes that early fathers applied the first half to Christ's passion and the second to his resurrection. |
| Connection to David's deliverance | David links his rescue to God's glory, his salvation will display God's honor. | Barnes emphasizes that the wish for God's glory outweighs any wish for personal safety. Gill argues that David 'breathes after' God's glory and says nothing about his own deliverance, though he implies it may be the means. |
| Whether the prayer assumes deliverance will happen | The prayer is confident that God will act. | Some (like Matthew Henry) see it as a plea for God to show Himself strong on behalf of the righteous. Others (like Keil & Delitzsch, via the surrounding context) see it as a declaration of faith that God has already begun to work. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The psalm's title places David "when he fled from Saul, in the cave." Both the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22) and the cave at Engedi (1 Samuel 24) are possible settings. In that culture, caves served as both refuge and trap, hiding places that could become graves. David's words "my soul is among lions" (v.4) match the danger: Saul and his men were the lions, their words like spears and arrows.
Calvin notes the phrase "Al-taschith" in the title, meaning "destroy not." Some connect this to David sparing Saul's life in the cave. The verse itself uses cosmic imagery: "above the heavens" invokes the highest visible realm, the dwelling of God. "Glory" (the Hebrew kabod) carries the weight of God's presence and reputation. David calls for this glory to cover "all the earth," echoing promises like Numbers 14:21, "all the earth shall be filled with Yahweh's glory."
Literarily, this verse functions as a refrain. It appears again at verse 11, bracketing a section where enemies fall into their own pit (v.6) and David's heart becomes steadfast (v.7). The repeated prayer creates an arc: from desperate petition to confident praise. In the ancient Near East, prayers for a king's name to be exalted were standard; David redirects that impulse entirely to God. His personal cry becomes a cosmic request, that God would show Himself as the true King over every rival power. The cave is the backdrop, but the stage is the whole universe.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries mention no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts. The verse recurs as verse 11 with identical wording, which confirms its role as a deliberate refrain rather than a scribal duplication. The Douay-Rheims verse shown in the data does not match the psalm; this appears to be a formatting error and has no bearing on the critical text.
Reception History
Early church fathers, as noted by Adam Clarke, applied this verse to Christ's resurrection: the passion (vv.1-4) gives way to the exaltation (v.5). The verse has been used in morning prayer liturgies, where the call to "wake up my glory" (v.8) prepares for praise at dawn. In hymnody, the refrain appears in songs of God's sovereignty over all the earth, especially those based on Psalms 57 and 108. Across traditions, the verse has been memorized as a model for putting God's glory first in times of trouble. Its cosmic scope, heavens and earth, has made it a favorite for prayers that seek God's kingdom to be manifest everywhere.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- A Prayer That Rises Above the Crisis. David does not begin with his own danger. He lifts his eyes from the cave to the heavens. His first request is for God to be exalted, not for himself to be rescued.
- Putting God's Glory Before Personal Safety. Gill says nothing lies nearer the hearts of God's people than his glory. David's prayer models the priority that God's honor matters more than life itself. This is not disregard for suffering but a deeper trust.
- The Power of a Refrain. This exact prayer returns in verse 11. Repeating it anchors the whole psalm. It shows that hope is not a one-time feeling but a steady conviction we return to.
Five-point outline
- The Context of Danger (vv.1-4). David is surrounded by enemies described as lions with spears for teeth. He takes refuge in the shadow of God's wings.
- The Content of the Prayer (v.5). Two parallel petitions: "Be exalted… above the heavens" and "Let your glory be above all the earth." Both ask God to show Himself as the supreme King.
- The Confidence Behind the Prayer (vv.7-8). David's heart is steadfast. He wakes the dawn with song. This prayer springs from settled trust.
- The Cosmic Scope of the Request. The request covers heaven and earth. David is not asking for a small rescue but for God's name to fill creation.
- The Repeated Refrain as an Act of Faith (v.11). The same words close the second half. The repetition tells God (and David's own soul) that this is the one thing he wants above all.
Illustration hooks
- A soldier pinned down in combat who radioes not "Get me out" but "Protect the mission. I will hold."
- A parent whose teenager makes a public mistake. The parent's first prayer is not "Fix my reputation" but "Show Your mercy and truth through this."
- A business owner facing bankruptcy who asks God to be honored in whatever happens, whether the company survives or not.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can I put God's glory first when I am in survival mode?
- Does God care about my personal problems or only about his reputation?
- Is it selfish to pray for my own deliverance, or does that also bring glory to God?
Leading a Discussion
This verse challenges our priorities in prayer. David is in mortal danger, yet his first recorded plea is not for rescue but for God's exaltation. The small group can explore how this mindset shifts our approach to crisis.
Discussion questions
- Read Psalm 57:1-5. What do you notice about the order of David's prayers? Why does the request for God's glory come before any mention of deliverance?
- Barnes writes that David's "prime and leading wish is not for himself." Have you ever prayed this way, more concerned for God's honor than for your own safety or comfort? What made that possible?
- Gill says God's glory is "more desirable than their own salvation." Is that statement uncomfortable? Why or why not?
- The verse uses cosmic language: heaven and earth. What does it mean to ask God's glory to be "above all the earth"? How does that relate to the specific trouble David is in?
- How does knowing that this verse is a refrain (it appears again in v.11) affect your reading of the whole psalm? What does the repetition tell you about David's heart?
- In what situation right now might God be calling you to pray for his glory before your own relief? What would that prayer sound like?
- How does Jesus embody this same priority, putting the Father's glory above his own comfort, even in Gethsemane and on the cross?
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Numbers 14:21 | but in very deed—as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with Yahweh’s glory— |
| I Chronicles 29:1 | David the king said to all the assembly, “Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great; for the palace is not for man, but for Yahweh God. |
| Psalms 8:1 | For the Chief Musician; on an instrument of Gath. A Psalm by David. Yahweh, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens! |
| Psalms 21:13 | Be exalted, Yahweh, in your strength, so we will sing and praise your power. |
| Psalms 57:11 | Be exalted, God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth. |
| Psalms 72:19 | Blessed be his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and amen. |
| Psalms 108:4 | For your loving kindness is great above the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. |
| Psalms 108:5 | Be exalted, God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth. |
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
11 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens - Let the glory of thy mercy and truth be seen in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath. Several of the fathers apply what is said above to the passion of our Lord, and what is said here to his resurrection.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes stresses that the speaker’s overriding desire is for God to be honored and exalted above the heavens, even above his own deliverance from danger. This self-forgetful longing for God’s glory is, for Barnes, the only genuine source of comfort in trouble, because God’s reign matters more than any personal concern.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin examines the title Al-tascheth, meaning "destroy not," and rejects the common explanation that it refers to David sparing Saul's life, since the psalm's prayers were offered before that event. He instead favors that the phrase either names a familiar tune or preserves David's brief cry for mercy in extreme danger.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Psalmist's cry for God to be exalted is actually a plea for God to actively demonstrate His supreme authority over rebellious enemies. The two clauses are logically one: the Psalmist calls on God to manifest His glory across both heaven and earth, rising above the confusion of human hostility.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Exalt thy selfe, O God, aboue the heauen, and let thy glory be vpon all the earth.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights that David’s deepest concern is God’s glory, not his own rescue. David prays for God to be exalted above the heavens, showing that the display of God’s majesty matters more to him than personal safety. The greater the distress, the more God’s glory shines in deliverance.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
This doxology illustrates his view of the connection of his deliverance with God's glory.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch highlights that the poet uses two different verb tenses to show his act of taking refuge in God as both a past decision and a present, ongoing reality. The shadow of God's wings represents the comfort of His tender love. The poet chooses to lie down among literal lions, trusting God more than among human enemies whose words are like weapons.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes that the urgent repetition of David's cry for mercy reveals an intensity of need that drives him to seek refuge under God's wings. The perfect tense shows this is a completed act of trust, not just a wish, anchoring the soul to remain steadfast even among deadly enemies.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry reads the unusual psalm title, "Destroy not," as God's restraining command over David's enemies. God permitted Saul to pursue David but always under the limit, "Destroy him not," because a greater blessing was in David—Christ himself, destined to come from his line.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley reads the request for deliverance as a command to magnify God’s attributes—power, goodness, justice, and faithfulness. He insists that such praise must reach the fullest extent, not be limited or restrained in any way.