You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse doesn't just promise safety from obvious dangers like nighttime raids or daytime battles, but also from the "arrow" which can represent hidden plagues and unseen destruction. It highlights that God's protection extends to both the terrifying and the subtle threats that can assault us at any time.
You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a larger psalm that praises God's protection for those who dwell in His shelter. The verses immediately preceding speak of God covering the faithful with His feathers and being their shield and buckler, promising deliverance from a "terror by night" and an "arrow that flies by day." This imagery sets the stage for specific examples of the dangers God's people are spared from, whether they are sudden nighttime assaults, open daytime attacks, or unseen calamities like pestilence.
When darkness falls, our fears often grow. And when the sun is high, dangers can still strike swiftly. What kind of threats does Psalm 91 address here?
Psalm 91:5 paints a vivid picture of two distinct types of fear.
The Terror of the Night
This speaks to the hidden, unseen dangers that often feel most terrifying. Think of unexpected attacks, unseen illnesses spreading in the dark, or the anxiety that creeps in when we can't see what's around us. It's the fear of the unknown, the sudden ambush, the subtle enemy.
The Arrow That Flies by Day
This represents the more open, visible threats. It could be the dangers of battle, a public calamity, or any danger that strikes swiftly and directly in plain sight. It's the threat we might see coming, but it still moves with deadly speed and precision.
Together, these phrases cover every kind of danger, whether it strikes in secret or in the open, during the quiet of night or the full light of day.
The psalm doesn't just describe dangers; it promises a remarkable lack of fear. How is this possible when threats are so pervasive?
The core of this verse isn't just about avoiding harm, but about the absence of fear in the face of that harm. This profound peace comes from trust in God's protective power.
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A Shield of Trust
When we place our trust in God, as Psalm 91 extols throughout, we are given a security that transcends our circumstances. It's not that the dangers disappear, but our response to them is transformed.
God's Sovereign Hand
Whether the 'arrow' is literal warfare or disease, and the 'terror' is hidden enemies or unseen sickness, the psalmist asserts that God is ultimately in control. This understanding allows for a calm heart, knowing that even the most frightening threats are held within God's sovereign plan.
Understand the original words
pachad · Hebrew Noun
Dread, panic, or overwhelming alarm; refers to the crippling fear caused by unexpected dangers or threats.
deber · Hebrew Noun
A deadly, infectious epidemic or disease; in biblical thought, it is often viewed as a manifestation of divine judgment or the destructive forces in a fallen world.
choshek · Hebrew Noun
A state of absence of light, often symbolic of ignorance, sin, secrecy, judgment, or the domain of spiritual hostility.
qeteb · Hebrew Noun
Devastation, ruin, or sudden destruction; it denotes that which ravages, cuts off, or kills.
c. 1400 BC - 400 BC
Ancient Near East Warfare
Throughout this era, warfare was a constant reality in the ancient Near East, with both night raids and open battles a common threat. Archery was a significant part of military strategy, with arrows used in both surprise attacks and pitched battles.
Throughout Antiquity
Prevalence of Disease and Plague
Diseases like plague and pestilence were frequent and devastating, often striking suddenly and spreading fear, especially during the night when visibility was low. These were seen as powerful, invisible forces that could bring widespread death.
Biblical Period— this verse
Biblical Understanding of 'Arrows'
In biblical language, 'arrows' were often used metaphorically to represent sudden calamities, diseases, or divine judgments that struck swiftly and unexpectedly, whether by day or night.
This passage echoes Psalm 91, promising that when you trust in God, your path will be secure, you won't stumble, and you won't have to fear sudden terror or the ruin of the wicked.
Isaiah 25:8Here, Isaiah foretells a future feast where God will swallow up death and wipe away tears, offering a powerful picture of ultimate protection and the end of all fear, directly addressing the 'terror' and 'calamities' hinted at in Psalm 91.
Romans 8:38-39Paul's declaration that nothing, not even 'death or life, angels or rulers,' can separate us from God's love beautifully parallels the Psalm's assurance of protection from all possible dangers, seen or unseen.
Ephesians 6:11-16This passage describes the spiritual armor God provides to stand against the 'schemes of the devil,' which can be understood as the 'terror' and 'arrows' of spiritual warfare, highlighting that God’s protection extends to unseen battles.
bensonPsalms 91:5: "Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;"
Psalm 91:5-6 . Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night — When evil accidents are most terrible and least avoidable; nor for the arrow — Any common and destructive calamity; (for such are commonly called God’s arrows;) that flieth by day — Which is the time for shooting arrows. The sense of the verse is, Thou shalt be kept from secret and open mischiefs at all times. Nor for the pestil…
pulpitPsalms 91:5: "Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;"
Verse 5. - Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night. Robbers constituted the chief "terror by night" (see Job 24:14-16; Jeremiah 49:9; Obadiah 1:5); but night attacks on the part of a foreign enemy were not uncommon (Song of Solomon 3:8; Isaiah 15:1). Nor for the arrow that fleth by day. Open war is probably intended, not sirocco, or pestilence, or "the arrows of the Almighty" (Job 6:4…
This verse doesn't just promise safety from obvious dangers like nighttime raids or daytime battles, but also from the "arrow" which can represent hidden plagues and unseen destruction. It highlights that God's protection extends to both the terrifying and the subtle threats that can assault us at any time.
This passage is part of a larger psalm that praises God's protection for those who dwell in His shelter. The verses immediately preceding speak of God covering the faithful with His feathers and being their shield and buckler, promising deliverance from a "terror by night" and an "arrow that flies by day." This imagery sets the stage for specific examples of the dangers God's people are spared from, whether they are sudden nighttime assaults, open daytime attacks, or unseen calamities like pestilence.
This passage is part of a larger psalm that praises God's protection for those who dwell in His shelter. The verses immediately preceding speak of God covering the faithful with His feathers and being their shield and buckler, promising deliverance from a "terror by night" and an "arrow that flies by day." This imagery sets the stage for specific examples of the dangers God's people are spared from, whether they are sudden nighttime assaults, open daytime attacks, or unseen calamities like pestilence.
"You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday." — This verse doesn't just promise safety from obvious dangers like nighttime raids or daytime battles, but also from the "arrow" which can represent hidden plagues and unseen destruction. It highlights…
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Last reviewed October 2026