You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse doesn't just say God is a hiding place; it implies He is both a safe haven for times of retreat and a defensive shield for times of conflict. Our hope then rests not just on God, but specifically on the promises and truth found within His Word.
You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse bursts forth from a section where the psalmist laments his enemies and persecution, feeling scattered and overwhelmed. He declares his love for God's law and his desire to keep it, even as he faces the threat of wicked people. In the face of these dangers, the psalmist turns to God as his ultimate refuge and protector, placing all his hope in God's promises.
Life throws curveballs, and sometimes we just need a safe place to retreat. Who do you turn to when the pressure is on?
Finding Refuge in God
The psalmist declares, 'You are my hiding place.' This isn't just about physical safety; it's about finding refuge in God Himself.
We all place our hope in something. What truly holds up when everything else shakes?
Trusting the Promises
The verse continues, 'and my shield; I hope in your word.' This isn't a passive hope, but an active trust rooted in what God has revealed.
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Understand the original words
sether · Hebrew Noun
A place of safety, refuge, or shelter provided by God against danger, judgment, or trouble. It signifies the security found in God's presence and character.
magen · Hebrew Noun
A physical or metaphorical instrument of protection used to deflect blows or danger. Used of God, it signifies His active, personal defense of His people.
yachal · Hebrew Verb
An expectation or trust placed in God's promises and character, even amidst difficulty. It is not mere wishful thinking but a confident, expectant reliance on the Lord.
This passage speaks of God being a hiding place from trouble and surrounding the singer with songs of deliverance, directly echoing the imagery of divine protection in our verse.
Psalms 91:1-4This psalm vividly describes God as a dwelling place and fortress, emphasizing His faithfulness as a shield and bulwark, which strongly aligns with the protective aspects mentioned in Psalms 119:114.
Proverbs 18:10This proverb presents the name of the Lord as a strong tower where the righteous run for safety, conceptually linking the divine protection described in our verse with God's name and character.
Isaiah 26:20This verse instructs God's people to enter their rooms and shut the door, hiding until the indignation has passed, offering a similar idea of finding refuge in God during times of judgment or trouble.
Ephesians 6:16In the context of spiritual warfare, Paul urges believers to take up the shield of faith, connecting the Old Testament imagery of God as a shield to the New Testament understanding of faith as a means of defense empowered by God.
gillPsalms 119:114: "Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word."
Thou art my hiding place,.... From temporal calamities. The perfections of God are chambers of retreat and safety to his people, where they may hide themselves and be safe, till such calamities are over, Isaiah 26:20 . And from spiritual evils; from avenging justice, from divine wrath, from the rage of Satan, and the fury of men, Isaiah 32:2 ; and from eternal death, and being hurt by it; the spiritual and eternal lif…
pulpitPsalms 119:114: "Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word."
Verse 114. - Thou art my Hiding-place (comp. Psalm 27:5; Psalm 32:7; Psalm 91:1). And my Shield; i.e. my protection (see Psalm 3:3; Psalm 18:2, 30, etc.). I hope in thy Word. The promises contained in thy Word are my only sure hope (see ver. 43).
This verse doesn't just say God is a hiding place; it implies He is both a safe haven for times of retreat and a defensive shield for times of conflict. Our hope then rests not just on God, but specifically on the promises and truth found within His Word.
This verse bursts forth from a section where the psalmist laments his enemies and persecution, feeling scattered and overwhelmed. He declares his love for God's law and his desire to keep it, even as he faces the threat of wicked people. In the face of these dangers, the psalmist turns to God as his ultimate refuge and protector, placing all his hope in God's promises.
This verse bursts forth from a section where the psalmist laments his enemies and persecution, feeling scattered and overwhelmed. He declares his love for God's law and his desire to keep it, even as he faces the threat of wicked people. In the face of these dangers, the psalmist turns to God as his ultimate refuge and protector, placing all his hope in God's promises.
"You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word." — This verse doesn't just say God is a hiding place; it implies He is both a safe haven for times of retreat and a defensive shield for times of conflict. Our hope then rests not just on God, but speci…
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Last reviewed October 2026