Psalms 91:5 · Bible study
Psalms 91:5 Commentary: Terror by Night, Arrow by Day
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the meaning of the 'terror by night' and 'arrow that flies by day', literal dangers, spiritual forces, or both? A study of Psalm 91:5.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The one who trusts in God need not fear any threat, whether it comes secretly at night or openly in the day.
- Key words: 'Fear' (H3372, yare), to be afraid; 'dread' (H6343, pachad), terror, also object of dread; 'arrow' (H2671, chets), literal arrow, also figurative for judgment.
- Main debate: Are the 'terror' and 'arrow' literal dangers, spiritual demons, or poetic figures for all kinds of hostility?
- Theological theme: God’s comprehensive protection covers every time and type of danger for those who dwell in His shelter.
- Best use: Comfort for the anxious; assurance for those facing uncertainty; a call to trust God rather than give in to fear.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
WEB World English Bible 2000
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day,
KJV King James Version 1769
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, Nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Thou art not afraid of fear by night, Of arrow that flieth by day,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, for the arrow that flieth by day,
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
For thou hast given me, O Lord, a delight in thy doings: and in the works of thy hands I shall rejoice.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
No tendrás temor de espanto nocturno, ni de saeta que vuele de día;
Não terás medo do terror da noite, nem da flecha que voa de dia;
Tu ne craindras ni les terreurs de la nuit,
daß du nicht erschrecken müssest vor dem Grauen der Nacht, vor den Pfeilen, die des Tages fliegen,
Gij zult niet vrezen voor den schrik des nachts, voor den pijl, die des daags vliegt;
Tu non temerai lo spavento notturno, né la saetta che vola di giorno,
Nie ulękniesz się strachu nocnego, ani strzały latającej we dnie;
Ибо Ты возвеселил меня, Господи, творением Твоим: я восхищаюсь делами рук Твоих.
你必不 怕 黑夜 的驚駭，或是白日 飛 的箭，
You will have no fear of the evil things of the night, or of the arrow in flight by day,
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Psalms 91:5
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators broadly agree that this verse promises God's protection from every kind of danger, using poetic parallelism to contrast night and day. Barnes notes the 'terror by night' refers to whatever causes alarm at night, sudden attack, enemy incursion, or disease, while the 'arrow that flies by day' is any open threat, whether from enemies or as a figure for pestilence (God's arrow). Clarke adds that night is a time of 'treasons, plunder, robbery, and murder,' and also 'spiritual foes, the rulers of the darkness of this world.' Gill mentions both literal terrors like fire and storms, and the Targum's interpretation of demons that walk at night. Cambridge Bible sums up that 'all hostility, whether secret or avowed, is meant.' The consensus is that God's shelter covers both hidden and visible threats.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Literal physical threats: Barnes, Wesley, and Cambridge Bible interpret the 'terror' and 'arrow' as literal dangers such as robbery, enemy attack, or disease – common fears in the ancient world.
- Spiritual forces/ demons: The Targum, Jewish interpreters like Jarchi, and some church fathers (implied by Clarke) see night demons and the angel of death – a view rooted in ancient Near Eastern beliefs.
- Both literal and spiritual: Clarke and Gill accept both physical and spiritual meanings, noting that a 'godly man' is safe from men and devils alike. This sees the verse as covering all threats.
What is clear: God promises to guard those who trust in Him from harm that comes at any time, whether hidden or open.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of 'terror by night' | It refers to dangers associated with nighttime, robbery, ambush, sudden calamity, or spiritual fears. | Some (Barnes, Wesley) see mostly physical threats, while others (Clarke, Gill, Targum) include demons or evil spirits that are active in darkness. |
| Identity of 'arrow that flies by day' | It represents open, visible dangers, enemy attacks, disease, or any sudden calamity that comes in daylight. | Is it literal military arrows (Gill, Cambridge), a figure for pestilence (Wesley, Barnes), or both? Jewish tradition sometimes associates it with the angel of death. |
| Literal vs spiritual interpretation | The verse teaches God’s protection from harm, both direct and indirect. | Some traditions (early Jewish, some Reformed) emphasize spiritual foes; others (most Protestant commentators) read the language as poetic figurative for all kinds of danger, without specifying demons. |
| Nature of God's protection | The promise assures that the believer need not be controlled by fear. | Does it guarantee physical safety from all harm, or primarily spiritual security and peace in the midst of danger? Most agree it means ultimate safety, not immunity from every earthly trouble. |
| Speaker of the promise | The psalm is a declaration of trust in God, likely spoken by a priest or the psalmist to the faithful. | Some see a change of speaker in verses 1-2 (the believer) and 3-13 (a priestly voice assuring protection). Others hold the entire psalm as the believer’s confession. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Psalm 91 likely emerged from a setting of national crisis, perhaps the plague recorded in 2 Samuel 24 (Poole). In the ancient Near East, night was a time of special vulnerability, robbers, ambushes, and wild animals prowled in darkness, and people also feared malevolent spirits (Lilith and other night demons). The Targum (Aramaic paraphrase) interpreted the 'terror by night' as 'demons that walk by night,' and the 'arrow that flies by day' as 'the arrow of the angel of death which is shot in the day time.' This shows that early Jewish readers understood the verse partly as protection from spiritual forces.
The 'arrow' also carried military and divine overtones. In Scripture, God's judgments are often pictured as arrows (Deuteronomy 32:23; Job 6:4). Daytime arrows could mean literal warfare, sudden disease, or any open calamity. The psalm's language echoes other wisdom passages: Proverbs 3:24-25 says 'do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,' and Song of Solomon 3:8 mentions 'terror in the night.' By pairing night and day, the poet covers all times and all forms of danger, secret plots and open attacks, physical threats and spiritual ones. The promise is comprehensive: nothing can reach the one who dwells in the Most High's shelter.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Psalm 91:5. The Masoretic Text is consistent across manuscripts, and the translations consulted (WEB, KJV, ASV, BSB, YLT, Darby, Douay) differ only in small phrasing choices. The Septuagint and other ancient versions also align with the Hebrew here.
Reception History
Across church history, Psalm 91 has been used as a prayer of protection, especially at night. Early monastic traditions included it in compline (the final service of the day), asking God to guard against the 'terror by night.' Jewish Targums interpreted the verse as protection from demons, a view echoed by some church fathers who saw Satanic forces behind night fears. In the Reformation, Calvin and Luther read the psalm as comfort for believers facing persecution, the 'arrow by day' symbolized open attacks on the church. More recently, the psalm has been used in military settings and times of epidemic, with the 'arrow' often identified with disease. The verse continues to be a source of peace for those struggling with anxiety, reminding them that God watches over every hour.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Hidden dangers that come by night: The 'terror by night' pictures the fears we carry when we cannot see, illness, betrayal, anxiety, spiritual oppression. God promises peace even in the dark.
- Open attacks that fly by day: The 'arrow that flies by day' represents visible threats, conflict at work, persecution, sudden disaster. God’s faithfulness is a shield that meets every visible foe.
- One promise for all hours: Night and day together cover the whole of life. The believer is not delivered from danger but from fear itself. Trust in God replaces terror.
Five-point outline
- Acknowledging the fears we face: The psalm does not deny that danger exists, it names terror and arrows. Honesty about our fears is the first step to trust.
- Night terrors, literal and spiritual: Night brings physical threats but also heightens the sense of vulnerability. For many, it is a time of spiritual attack or anxious thoughts.
- The arrow that flies by day, open and visible: Daytime brings its own trials: conflicts, sudden news, pressures that are out in the open. No attack is beyond God’s sight.
- God’s protection is not a talisman: The promise does not mean nothing bad will ever happen. Rather, the one who dwells in God’s shelter is kept safe in the deepest sense, his soul is secure.
- Freedom from fear: The verb 'you shall not be afraid' is a firm declaration, not just a wish. God’s care so grounds us that even the worst news cannot shake our trust.
Illustration hooks
- The sleepless parent: A father lies awake at night worrying about his teenager's choices. He prays, commits the child to God, and then trusts. The 'terror by night' does not rule his heart.
- The worker facing a hostile meeting: An employee knows tomorrow's meeting will be confrontational, 'arrows' may fly. He reminds himself that God is his refuge, so he can walk in calmly.
- Night terrors in Scripture: Jacob wrestling at the Jabbok (Genesis 32), the disciples terrified on the stormy sea (Mark 4). Each time, God meets the fear with His presence.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does this promise mean I will never suffer loss or tragedy? Why do bad things still happen?
- What does it look like to 'dwell in the secret place of the Most High' in practical, daily life?
- Are the 'terror by night' and 'arrow by day' literal demons or just figures of speech?
Leading a Discussion
Psalm 91:5 comes at the heart of a chapter full of promises. The verse uses poetic imagery that covers everything we are afraid of, both what hides in the dark and what comes at us in plain sight. As you discuss this verse, consider how the original hearers would have understood it, and what it means for your own moments of fear.
Discussion questions
- Read Psalm 91:5 in several translations (WEB, KJV, BSB). How do the different phrasings shape your understanding?
- The 'terror by night' might include literal dangers, spiritual forces, or anxious thoughts. What do you think the psalmist was picturing? Why?
- What 'arrows' have you faced in daylight hours, sudden problems, conflicts, or bad news? How does this verse speak to those situations?
- Verse 5 is part of a longer promise (verses 1-10). How does the surrounding context (taking refuge under God's wings, His faithfulness as a shield) affect the meaning of verse 5?
- Some Jewish interpreters and the Targum saw demons in the 'terror by night.' Does the possibility of spiritual forces change how you pray or trust God for protection?
- Does the promise 'you shall not be afraid' mean you never feel fear, or something else? What role does daily trust play in overcoming fear?
- Think of a time when God gave you peace in a fearful situation. How did that experience shape your trust in Him for the future?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| II Kings 7:6 | For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians to hear the sound of chariots and the sound of horses, even the noise of a great army; and they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us.” |
| Job 4:13 | In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, |
| Job 4:15 | Then a spirit passed before my face. The hair of my flesh stood up. |
| Job 5:19 | He will deliver you in six troubles; yes, in seven no evil will touch you. |
| Job 5:27 | Behold, we have researched it. It is so. Hear it, and know it for your good.” |
| Job 6:4 | For the arrows of the Almighty are within me. My spirit drinks up their poison. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me. |
| Job 24:14 | The murderer rises with the light. He kills the poor and needy. In the night he is like a thief. |
| Job 24:16 | In the dark they dig through houses. They shut themselves up in the daytime. They don’t know the light. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). 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
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes observes that nighttime terrors and daytime arrows both frighten us because we cannot see danger coming or measure its full scale. The darkness makes every threat seem worse since the extent of the calamity is unknown. His point is that trusting God brings calm precisely when fear is fueled by uncertainty.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin insists that the first verse of this psalm presents two distinct ideas, not a mere repetition. He argues that dwelling in God’s secret place and abiding under His shadow each convey a different aspect of the safety believers enjoy, where no weapon can reach them.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible commentary sees the protection from night and day attacks as figurative language for all hostility, whether secret or open. The psalmist addresses either Israel or any faithful Israelite, detailing God's comprehensive providential care.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Thou shalt not be afraide of the feare of the night, nor of the arrowe that flyeth by day:
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill argues that the faithful need not fear nighttime terrors, whether literal (fire, storms, thieves) or spiritual (demons, as Jewish interpreters suggest). He similarly interprets the daytime arrow as God’s directed judgments like famine or pestilence. Trust in God removes both natural dread and slavish fear of evil spirits.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB defines "terror" in this context as the thing that causes fear, not the fear itself. The nighttime setting aggravates the threat, and the "arrow" refers specifically to enemy attacks.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch trace the protective imagery to specific Hebrew terms: a pinion and a round shield, arguing that God's truth is the believer's impregnable defence. They correct the Septuagint's demon name on verse 6 and parse the grammar of verse 7 to show the righteous merely watch the wicked's punishment, untouched by the calamity.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that the same person both dwells in God's protection and speaks the words of trust, rejecting the idea of different speakers or a chorus. He emphasizes that the dangers listed are real-life threats, not demons or spirits, and that God's protection extends to every kind of peril.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry emphasizes that true believers make God their permanent residence, not just a temporary shelter. Dwelling in the secret place means habitual, heart-level communion with God, being at home in Him. From that constant closeness comes the full safety of abiding under the Almighty's shadow.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley reads the arrow as pestilence or any destructive calamity, calling such events God's arrows. He notes that night brings evils most terrible and least avoidable, yet the promise secures protection from both secret harms and open dangers by day.