Psalms 4:8
in Psalms 4I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
In peace will I both lay me down and sleep; For thou, Jehovah, alone makest me dwell in safety.
KJV
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.
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This verse in Psalms 4
Commentary
15 notes on this verseEven if grief, calamities, temptations, disasters are not lacking to me in this present life, nevertheless there is a future time for me in which I will depart from the body and sleep in peace.
This site's exposition
lie down and sleep in peace
Henry read this beside Psalm 3:5, where the same man lies down and sleeps, and he noted that David had no guards. Spurgeon wrote that a man with the wings of God above him needs no other curtain. The LORD alone makes him dwell in safety.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
But men (who doubtless are many) who follow after things temporal, know not to say anything else, than, "Who shows us good things?" when the true and certain good within their very selves they cannot see. Of these accordingly is most justly said, what he adds next: "From the time of His grain, of wine, and oil, they have been multiplied." For the addition of His, is not superfluous. For the grain is God's: inasmuch as He is "the living bread which came down from heaven." [John 6:51] The wine too is God's: for, "they shall be inebriated," he says, "with the fatness of your house." The oil too is God's: of which it is said, "You have fattened my head with oil." But those many, who say, "Who shows us good things?" and who see not that the kingdom of heaven is within them: these, "from the time of His grain, of wine, and oil, are multiplied." For multiplication does not always betoken plentifulness, and not, generally, scantiness: when the soul, given up to temporal pleasures, burns ever with desire, and cannot be satisfied; and, distracted with manifold and anxious thought, is not permitted to see the simple good. Such is the soul of which it is said, "For the corruptible body presses down the soul, and the earthly tabernacle weighs down the mind that muses on many things." [Wisdom 9:15] A soul like this, by the departure and succession of temporal goods, that is, "from the time of His grain, wine, and oil," filled with numberless idle fancies, is so multiplied, that it cannot do that which is commanded, "Think on the Lord in goodness, and in simplicity of heart seek Him." [Wisdom 1:1] For this multiplicity is strongly opposed to that simplicity. […]
Nothing, you see, is so calculated to bring peace as knowledge of God and possession of virtue, banishing afar conflict of the passions and not allowing one to be at odds with oneself. Unless … you enjoy this kind of peace, then no matter if you are at peace abroad and no enemy assaults you, you are more miserable than the most embattled people in the world. You see, neither Scythians, nor Thracians, nor Indians, nor Moors nor any other hostile races are capable of mounting such a conflict as an uneasy conscience gnawing at your soul, as untamed desire, as love of money, lust for power, addiction to mundane affairs.… Jealous, slanderous, greedy and rapacious people, you see, carry around with them everywhere this warfare, bearing within them enemies lying in ambush. No matter where they retreat to, they cannot avoid conflict; even if they stay at home and go to bed, they are under attack from clouds of arrows, disturbances more violent than pounding seas, massacres and uproar and lamentation and other calamities more disastrous than those occurring in battle. Righteous persons, on the contrary, are not in this predicament; rather, in their waking hours they enjoy life, and in nighttime they take their rest with great satisfaction.
I will lie down and rest as I await the future age and the reward of a right life, and as I have been made secure beyond every disturbance because of my hope.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then when he says, "In peace," he sets forth the preeminence of spiritual things; as if to say, what among these excels? The certain gladness of the heart. And this is clear for a twofold reason. First, because this good will be eternal, but that …
A commentator
BonaventureItinerarium Mentis in Deum, Chapter 4 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
Concerning this hierarch, then, and the ecclesiastical hierarchy, the whole of sacred Scripture exists, through which we are taught to be purged, illumined, and perfected, and this according to the threefold law handed down in it, namely of nature, of Scripture, and of grace; or …
8 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. 2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? 3 But know that the L ORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the L ORD will hear when I call unto him.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:95%@v1-3
Be still - Compose your tumultuous minds. Offer - Unto God, that he may be reconciled to you. Righteousness - Righteous sacrifices; which requires that the persons offering them be righteous and do righteous things, and offer them with an honest mind, with faith and true repentance.
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep,....
It is said of the husbandman that, having cast his seed into the ground, he sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed springs and grows up, he knows not how, Mark iv. So a good man, having by faith and prayer cast his care upon God, sleeps and rests night and day, and is very easy, leaving it to his God to perform all things for him and prepared to welcome his holy will.
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep - Most men lie down, and most sleep, daily, for without rest and steep life could not be preserved; but alas! how few lie down in peace! peace with their own consciences, and peace with God! David had then two great blessings, rest by sleep, and peace in his soul. He had a happy soul; and when he lay down on his bed, his body soon enjoyed its repose, as the conscience was in peace. And he had a third blessing, a confidence that he should sleep in safety.
Sweet Evening Hymn! I shall not sit up to watch through fear, but I will lie down; and then I will not lie awake listening to every rustling sound, but I will lie down in peace and sleep, for I have nought to fear. He that hath the wings of God above him needs no other curtain. Better than bolts or bars is the protection of the Lord.
Sweet Evening Hymn! I shall not sit up to watch through fear, but I will lie down; and then I will not lie awake listening to every rustling sound, but I will lie down in peace and sleep, for I have nought to fear. He that hath the wings of God above him needs no other curtain. Better than bolts or bars is the protection of the Lord. Armed men kept the bed of Solomon, but we do not believe that he slept more soundly than his father, whose bed was the hard ground, and who was haunted by blood-thirsty foes. Note the word "only", which means that God alone was his keeper, and that though alone, without man's help, he was even then in good keeping, for he was "alone with God." A quiet conscience is a good bedfellow. How many of our sleepless hours might be traced to our untrusting and disordered minds. They slumber sweetly whom faith rocks to sleep. No pillow so soft as a promise; no coverlet so warm as an assured interest in Christ. O Lord, give us this calm repose on thee, that like David we may lie down in peace, and sleep each night while we live; and joyfully may we lie down in the appointed season, to sleep in death, to rest in God! Dr. Hawker's reflection upon this Psalm is worthy to be prayed over and fed upon with sacred delight. We cannot help transcribing it. "Reader! let us never lose sight of the Lord Jesus while reading this Psalm. He is the Lord our righteousness; and therefore, in all our approaches to the mercy seat, let us go there in a language corresponding to this which calls Jesus the Lord our righteousness. While men of the world, from the world are seeking their chief good, let us desire his favour which infinitely transcends corn and wine, and all the good things which perish in the using. Yes, Lord, thy favour is better than life itself. Thou causest them that love thee to inherit substance, and fillest all their treasure. "Oh!
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep - The word “both” here means “at the same time;” that is, I will alike be in peace, and I will lie down and will sleep; I will have a mind at peace (or, in tranquility) when I lie down, and will sleep calmly. This is said in view of his confidence in God, and of his belief that God would preserve him. He had put his trust in him; he had sought his happiness in him, and now he felt assured that he had nothing to fear, and, at peace with God, he would lie down and compose himself to rest. This is the counterpart of what is said in Psa 3:5. There he says in the morning, that, though surrounded by fear, he “had” been permitted to lie calmly down and sleep; here he says, that, though he is surrounded by fear, he has such confidence in God, that he “will” give himself to quiet slumber. His mind was free from anxiety as to the result of the present troubles; he had calm confidence in God; he committed all to him; and thus gave himself to rest. No one can fail to admire the beauty of this; and no one can fail to perceive that entire confidence in God, and an assurance that all things are under his control, are best adapted of all things to give peaceful days and nights. For thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety - There are two ideas here: (a) One a confidence that he would abide in safety; (b) the other, that he owed this entirely to the Lord. He had no power to defend himself, and yet he felt assured that he would be safe - for he put his trust entirely in the Lord. The whole language implies unwavering trust or confidence in God, and is thus instructive and useful for all. […]
The words behind it
10 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בְּשָׁל֣וֹם | beshalom | in peace | H7965 → | 236 times |
| יַחְדָּו֮ | yachdav | together | H3162 → | 141 times |
| אֶשְׁכְּבָ֪ה | ʾeshkevah | I will lie down | H7901 → | 212 times |
| וְאִ֫ישָׁ֥ן | veishan | and I may sleep | H3462 → | 19 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| אַתָּ֣ה | ʾatah | you | H859 → | 1094 times |
| יְהוָ֣ה | yahweh | O Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| לְבָדָ֑ד | levadad | <to> alone | H910 → | |
| לָ֝בֶ֗טַח | lavetach | to security | H983 → | 42 times |
| תּוֹשִׁיבֵֽנִי׃ | toshiveni | you caused to dwell me | H3427 → | 1079 times |
בְּשָׁל֣וֹםin peace
beshalomH7965 →236 times
יַחְדָּו֮together
yachdavH3162 →141 times
אֶשְׁכְּבָ֪הI will lie down
ʾeshkevahH7901 →212 times
וְאִ֫ישָׁ֥ןand I may sleep
veishanH3462 →19 times
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
אַתָּ֣הyou
ʾatahH859 →1094 times
יְהוָ֣הO Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
לְבָדָ֑ד<to> alone
levadadH910 →
לָ֝בֶ֗טַחto security
lavetachH983 →42 times
תּוֹשִׁיבֵֽנִי׃you caused to dwell me
toshiveniH3427 →1079 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 3:24When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.
it leads to
- Psalms 3:5
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.
- Proverbs 6:22
When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.
- Job 11:19
You will lie down without fear, and many will court your favor.
- Psalms 3:5
Through
Psalms 3:5I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.
it leads to
- Proverbs 3:24
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.
- Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.
- Leviticus 26:6
And I will give peace to the land, and you will lie down with nothing to fear. I will rid the land of dangerous animals, and no sword will pass through your land.
- Job 11:18–19
You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety.
- Proverbs 3:24
Through
1 Thessalonians 5:10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.
it leads to
- Romans 14:8–9
If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
- Romans 14:8–9
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Psalms
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 4; Bonaventure, Itinerarium Mentis in Deum, Chapter 4; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 1; Didymus the Blind, FRAGMENTS ON THE PSALMS 4:9-10; Eusebius of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON PSALMS 4:9-10; John Chrysostom, COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 4:11-12; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Exposition on the Psalms of David.