Psalms Chapter 27

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns 14 Verses

What is Psalms 27 about?

One hundred fifty inspired poems and hymns — Israel's prayer book, spanning lament and praise, confession and trust. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1Jehovah is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? Jehovah is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
2When evil-doers came upon me to eat up my flesh, [Even] mine adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell.
3Though a host should encamp against me, My heart shall not fear: Though war should rise against me, Even then will I be confident.
4One thing have I asked of Jehovah, that will I seek after; That I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of Jehovah, And to inquire in his temple.
5For in the day of trouble he will keep me secretly in his pavilion: In the covert of his tabernacle will he hide me; He will lift me up upon a rock.
6And now shall my head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me. And I will offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto Jehovah.
7Hear, O Jehovah, when I cry with my voice: Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8[When thou saidst], Seek ye my face; My heart said unto thee, Thy face, Jehovah, will I seek.
9Hide not thy face from me; Put not thy servant away in anger: Thou hast been my help; Cast me not off, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10When my father and my mother forsake me, Then Jehovah will take me up.
11Teach me thy way, O Jehovah; And lead me in a plain path, Because of mine enemies.
12Deliver me not over unto the will of mine adversaries: For false witnesses are risen up against me, And such as breathe out cruelty.
13[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of Jehovah In the land of the living.
14Wait for Jehovah: Be strong, and let thy heart take courage; Yea, wait thou for Jehovah. Psalm 28 [A Psalm] of David.

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“The Lord [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? etc.] The Targum in the king of Spain’s Bible explains it, “the Word of the Lord is my light”; and so Ainsworth cites it; that is, Christ the eternal Word, in whom “was life, and that life was the light of men”, (<430104>John 1:4); and the psalmist is not to be understood of the light of nature and reason, with which the Logos, or Word, enlightens every man that comes into the world; nor merely in a temporal sense, of giving him the light of prosperity, and delivering him from the darkness of adversity; but of the light of grace communicated to him by…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“With a general strain of confidence, hope, and joy, especially in God's worship, in the midst of dangers, the Psalmist introduces prayer for divine help and guidance. (Psa 27:1-14) light--is a common figure for comfort. strength--or, "stronghold"--affording security against all violence. The interrogations give greater vividness to the negation implied.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“The Lord is my light - He is to me the source of light. That is, He guides and leads me. Darkness is the emblem of distress, trouble, perplexity, and sorrow; light is the emblem of the opposite of these. God furnished him such light that these troubles disappeared, and his way was bright and happy. And my salvation - That is, He saves or delivers me. Whom shall I fear? - Compare Romans 8:31. If God is on our side, or is for us, we can have no apprehension of danger. He is abundantly able to protect us, and we may confidently trust in Him. No one needs any better security against the objects of fear or dread than…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 2
“Light - My counsellor in all my difficulties, and my comforter and deliverer in all my distresses. Strength - The supporter and preserver of my life. Psalms 27:3”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“Ps 27 This psalm mixes two genres—a psalm of confidence (27:1-6) and an individual lament (27:7-14)—held together by the theme of longing for the Lord’s presence. The psalmist focuses on the Lord; his circumstances are secondary. The strength of the psalmist’s faith is expressed in his openness to the Lord’s instruction, timing, and priorities. 27:1-3 The psalmist acknowledges the Lord at the center of his life (27:1). Because of God’s presence, he engages his adversaries with confidence. They cannot intimidate him or penetrate his inner security. 27:1 Light expresses the Lord’s goodness (27:13; see 4:6; 23:6;…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“light: Psa 18:28, Psa 84:11; Job 29:3; Isa 2:5, Isa 60:1-3, Isa 60:19, Isa 60:20; Mic 7:7, Mic 7:8; Mal 4:2; Joh 1:1-5, Joh 1:9, Joh 8:12; Rev 21:23, Rev 22:5 salvation: Psa 3:8, Psa 18:2, Psa 62:2, Psa 62:6, Psa 68:19, Psa 68:20, Psa 118:14, Psa 118:15, Psa 118:21; Exo 15:2; Isa 12:2, Isa 51:6-8; Isa 61:10; Luk 2:30, Luk 3:6; Rev 7:10 strength: Psa 18:1, Psa 18:2, Psa 18:46, Psa 19:14, Psa 28:7, Psa 28:8, Psa 43:2; Isa 45:24; Co2 12:9; Phi 4:13 of whom: Psa 11:1, Psa 46:1, Psa 46:2, Psa 56:2-4, Psa 118:6; Mat 8:26; Rom 8:31; Heb 13:6 Psalms 27:2”
Read attributed excerpt →
Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“In this first strophe is expressed the bold confidence of faith. It is a hexastich in the caesural schema. Let darkness break in upon him, the darkness of night, of trouble, and of spiritual conflict, yet Jahve is his Light, and if he is in Him, he is in the light and there shines upon him a sun, that sets not and knows no eclipse. This sublime, infinitely profound name for God, אורי, is found only in this passage; and there is only one other expression that can be compared with it. viz., בּא אורך in Isa 60:1; cf. φῶς ἐλήλυθα, Joh 12:46. ישׁעי does not stand beside אורי as an unfigurative, side by side with a…”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification