The LORD your Protector

God will keep you from evil...

by John J. Parsons
Psalm 121:7 (BHS)

The LORD will protect you from all evil:
he will watch over your life. (Psalm 121:7)
Psalm 121:7 (BHS)

The Hebrew root for the verb "protect" in this verse is shamar (שָׁמַר), which first appears in the Bible in Gen. 2:15 where Adam was instructed to tend and "guard" the garden.  It is also used in Gen. 17:9 where God instructed Abraham to "keep" His covenant.  In fact, shamar is used over 400 times in the Tanakh, and the basic idea of the root is to "exercise great care over," to "watch over," to "guard," to "take heed," and to "tend" or restrain  (as a flock).

The Hebrew word for "evil" in this passage is ra' (Χ¨Φ·Χ’), a general term that may denote physical harm or personal distress, but more often refers to the immoral or unethical (i.e., evil) actions performed by others.

In Psalm 121, the LORD who is "oseh shamayim va'aretz" (Χ’Χ©Χ‚Φ΅Χ” Χ©ΧΦΈΧžΦ·Χ™Φ΄Χ וָאָר֢Χ₯) - the Maker of heaven and earth - is the One who will preserve (shamar) the soul (nefesh) of the one who looks to Him for help (v.2). He will guard (shamar) that soul and will not slumber (v3); he will watch over (shamar) Israel and will not sleep (v.4); He is that soul's keeper (shamar) (v.5) and will both preserve (shamar) that one from evil and guard (shamar) its life from evil (v.7); the LORD God of Israel will guard (shamar) that one's coming and going forever (v.8).

"The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore" (Psalm 121:8). In response to God's careful protection of our lives, we are instructed to likewise guard our hearts and keep them engaged with the LORD: "Above all else guard (shamar) your heart, for from it flow the springs of life" (Prov. 4:23).


Hebrew Reading Lesson:
Psalm 121:7 Hebrew Reading Lesson

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