many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah
English Standard Version (ESV)
The "many" who declare "no salvation for him in God" aren't just external enemies; they represent a deep, internal doubt that can plague even the most devout. The word "soul" here isn't just about the spirit, but the whole person—their very being feels abandoned by God in the face of overwhelming trouble.
many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah
English Standard Version (ESV)
David is fleeing from his own son Absalom's rebellion, and his enemies are taunting him, claiming God has abandoned him. This verse captures the bitter taunts from those who see David's downfall as proof that God's favor has been withdrawn. The subsequent verses reveal David's desperate plea and eventual reliance on God, despite the surrounding despair.
Imagine the whispers behind your back, the open pronouncements that your deepest struggles mean God has washed his hands of you. This is the sting David felt.
The "Soul" Under Attack
When people say "of my soul," they aren't just talking about David's emotions; they're talking about his entire self. In ancient Hebrew thought, the "soul" (nefesh) represented the whole person – their life, their consciousness, their very being. So, when his enemies spoke "of his soul," they were declaring utter defeat for David as a person.
The Ultimate Reproach
The core of their taunt is "There is no salvation (or help) for him in God." This wasn't just a political jab; it was a theological declaration. For an ancient Israelite, especially a king, to be seen as God-forsaken was the ultimate disgrace. It implied they were wicked, deserving of God's abandonment, and doomed to fail. David, fleeing his own son, surrounded by enemies, became a living example of this perceived divine judgment to his foes.
What do we do when the weight of despair and the accusations of others press in? This ancient word, found 71 times in Psalms, offers a clue.
More Than a Musical Note
The word "Selah" (or "Higgaion" with Selah) is one of the great mysteries of Scripture. While scholars debate its exact musical function – perhaps a loud instrumental flourish, a pause for reflection, or a change in tone – its placement is significant.
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A Prompt to Ponder
"Selah" consistently appears at moments of profound spiritual or emotional weight. In this verse, it follows the devastating declaration that God offers no help. This isn't a random interjection; it's a divine instruction to pause. It's a cue to stop, to consider the gravity of what has just been said – the sheer despair, the enemy's triumph, the feeling of abandonment. It invites us to meditate on the reality of suffering and the nature of God's presence, or perceived absence, within it.
Understand the original words
nephesh · Hebrew Noun
The immaterial part of a human, representing the seat of emotions, will, intellect, and spiritual life. It is the core of a person’s existence before God.
yeshu'ah · Hebrew Noun
Divine deliverance, rescue, or victory. It encompasses preservation from danger, spiritual liberation, and ultimate reconciliation with God.
selah · Hebrew Noun
A musical or liturgical term of uncertain precise meaning, likely indicating a pause, a crescendo, or a call for meditative reflection on the preceding truth.
This psalm comes alive when we realize it was written during the chaos of Absalom's rebellion, when David himself was a fugitive. The 'many' saying 'no salvation' were not just abstract enemies, but people in his own court and kingdom who saw his downfall as God's judgment, making David's plea for God's protection all the more urgent and personal.
c. 979 BC
Absalom's Rebellion Begins
Absalom, David's son, launches a rebellion, forcing David to flee Jerusalem. This act plunges David's kingdom into turmoil and exposes him to public ridicule.
c. 979 BC— this verse
David Flees Jerusalem
King David is forced to abandon his capital city and his throne, a deeply humiliating experience that fuels the taunts of his enemies.
c. 979 BC
Shimei Curses David
As David flees, Shimei, a relative of Saul, openly curses and throws stones at him, viewing David's plight as divine punishment.
c. 979 BC
David's Prayers for Deliverance
In the midst of his distress, David pens Psalms like Psalm 3, expressing his anguish and his desperate reliance on God amidst the voices of despair.
Job's enemies and even his friends accused him of being forsaken by God, echoing David's sentiment that his soul found no help in God.
Jeremiah 20:10This passage describes a similar accusation of being betrayed and slandered, with people watching for any stumble, similar to how David's soul was targeted.
Matthew 27:43The taunt directed at Jesus on the cross, 'He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants him,' directly reflects the accusation that God has abandoned someone in their time of greatest need.
Luke 18:7Jesus tells a parable about God hearing the cries of the afflicted, contrasting with the despairing cry in Psalms 3:2 that God offers no help.
cambridgePsalms 3:2: "Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah."
2 . Faint-hearted friends may be meant, as well as insolent enemies like Shimei, who professed to regard the king’s calamities as the divine punishment for his past crimes ( 2 Samuel 16:8 ff.). of my soul ] The ‘soul’ in O.T. language is a man’s ‘self;’ it represents him as a living, thinking, conscious individual. help ] Or, salvation , as in Psalm 3:8 ; where see note. Cp. ‘save me’ in Psalm 3:7 . But th…
wesleyPsalms 3:2: "Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah."
3:2 My soul - Of me: the soul being commonly put for the person. In God - God hath utterly forsaken him. Selah - This word is no where used but in this poetical book, and in the song of Habakkuk. Probably it was a musical note, directing the singer either to lift up his voice, to make a pause, or to lengthen the tune. But withal, it is generally placed at some remarkable passage; which gives occasion to th…
The "many" who declare "no salvation for him in God" aren't just external enemies; they represent a deep, internal doubt that can plague even the most devout. The word "soul" here isn't just about the spirit, but the whole person—their very being feels abandoned by God in the face of overwhelming trouble.
David is fleeing from his own son Absalom's rebellion, and his enemies are taunting him, claiming God has abandoned him. This verse captures the bitter taunts from those who see David's downfall as proof that God's favor has been withdrawn. The subsequent verses reveal David's desperate plea and eventual reliance on God, despite the surrounding despair.
David is fleeing from his own son Absalom's rebellion, and his enemies are taunting him, claiming God has abandoned him. This verse captures the bitter taunts from those who see David's downfall as proof that God's favor has been withdrawn. The subsequent verses reveal David's desperate plea and eventual reliance on God, despite the surrounding despair.
"many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah" — The "many" who declare "no salvation for him in God" aren't just external enemies; they represent a deep, internal doubt that can plague even the most devout. The word "soul" here isn't just about th…
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Last reviewed October 2026