In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just about trusting God; it's about praising Him specifically for His word. David finds his courage not just in God's power, but in the assurance that God's promises are reliable, making him bold enough to dismiss what mere mortals can do.
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
English Standard Version (ESV)
David is in deep distress, feeling hunted and threatened by enemies who want to destroy him. He acknowledges his fear but declares his intention to trust in God's promises and word, believing that human threats are insignificant compared to God's power. This is the core of his refuge: praising God for His faithfulness, even when facing mortal danger.
David is facing overwhelming danger, yet his response isn't to hide, but to praise. Where does this courage come from?
David declares, "In God I will praise his word." This isn't just praising God in general, but specifically praising Him for His word – His promises. Even when circumstances scream danger, he chooses to focus on what God has spoken and promised.
The Power of God's Promises
David boldly states, 'What can flesh do to me?' What makes him so confident in the face of mortal threats?
The term 'flesh' here is a deliberate contrast to the infinite power of God. It refers to mere human beings, with all their limitations, frailty, and mortality.
Ask a follow-up
Understanding the Contrast
Understand the original words
dabar · Hebrew Noun
The utterance, command, or revealed will of God. It is considered authoritative, powerful, and life-giving, serving as the foundation for the believer's praise and confidence.
basar · Hebrew Noun
Referring to human beings specifically in their physical, mortal, and fallen nature. It is used to emphasize the limited power of people when compared to the sovereignty and eternal power of God.
The context of David fleeing from King Saul and seeking refuge among his enemies, the Philistines, powerfully frames his cry in Psalm 56. This wasn't a theoretical exercise in faith; it was a desperate plea from someone whose life was under constant threat from 'flesh and blood,' highlighting the profound courage it takes to trust God's word when human opposition seems overwhelming.
c. 1000 BC
David Flees from Saul
David, a skilled warrior and psalmist, is relentlessly pursued by King Saul, who fears David's popularity and potential claim to the throne. This period of intense danger and uncertainty forces David into hiding and exile.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
David Seeks Refuge with the Philistines
In desperate circumstances, David flees to the Philistine city of Gath, the enemy of his people. He feigns madness to escape execution by King Achish, highlighting the extreme peril and vulnerability he faces.
c. 1000 BC
David Writes Psalm 56
During his time of fear and distress in Gath, David composes Psalm 56. The psalm reflects his deep anxiety, his enemies' hostile intentions, and his ultimate reliance on God's promises for deliverance and courage.
c. 970 BC
David Becomes King of Israel
After years of pursuit and hardship, David finally ascends to the throne of Israel. His eventual triumph underscores the theme of God's faithfulness to His promises, even in the darkest hours.
This passage echoes the psalmist's intent to praise God's word above all else, highlighting the profound value and reliability of God's promises even in difficult times.
Matthew 10:28Jesus' words here directly parallel the psalmist's confidence, urging believers not to fear those who can only harm the body, but to fear God who has authority over both body and soul.
Isaiah 40:6-8This passage contrasts the fleeting nature of human life and glory ('all flesh') with the enduring power and faithfulness of God's word, reinforcing the psalmist's trust in the eternal over the temporal.
Romans 8:31Paul's rhetorical question, 'If God is for us, who can be against us?', powerfully echoes the psalmist's defiance of human threats, affirming that with God on our side, no opposition from 'flesh' can ultimately prevail.
1 Samuel 17:45David's declaration to Goliath, 'You come against me with sword and with spear and with javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of hosts,' exemplifies the courageous trust in God's power over human might that is at the heart of Psalm 56:4.
pulpitPsalms 56:4: "In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me."
Verse 4. ? In God I will praise his word; rather, through God; i.e. "with God's help, by his grace," I am ready to praise whatever sentence he pronounces, whatever flat goes forth from him. In God I have put my trust (so again, ver. 11). This is at once the refrain and the keynote of the psalm. In all dangers, in all troubles, whatever happens, whatever seems to be impending, the…
gillPsalms 56:4: "In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me."
In God I will praise his word,.... Or praise him for his words for the whole Scripture that was then in being; for those testimonies which were David's counsellors in times of difficulty and distress; and particularly for some word of promise made unto him, he was persuaded would be fulfilled, and in which he gloried and made his boast of, and on which his faith and hope were bui…
This verse isn't just about trusting God; it's about praising Him specifically for His word. David finds his courage not just in God's power, but in the assurance that God's promises are reliable, making him bold enough to dismiss what mere mortals can do.
David is in deep distress, feeling hunted and threatened by enemies who want to destroy him. He acknowledges his fear but declares his intention to trust in God's promises and word, believing that human threats are insignificant compared to God's power. This is the core of his refuge: praising God for His faithfulness, even when facing mortal danger.
David is in deep distress, feeling hunted and threatened by enemies who want to destroy him. He acknowledges his fear but declares his intention to trust in God's promises and word, believing that human threats are insignificant compared to God's power. This is the core of his refuge: praising God for His faithfulness, even when facing mortal danger.
"In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?" — This verse isn't just about trusting God; it's about praising Him specifically for His word. David finds his courage not just in God's power, but in the assurance that God's promises are reliable,…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026