Psalm 121 · a question people ask

Does Psalm 121 promise that nothing bad will ever happen to me?

In the text

Its words are wide: "The LORD will keep you from all evil. He will keep your soul" (121:7) (tap evil, soul). The songs around it speak from inside trouble. The Song of Ascents before it begins, "In my distress, I cried to the LORD. He answered me" (Psalm 120:1). Another says, "many times they have afflicted me from my youth up, yet they have not prevailed against me" (Psalm 129:2), and another, "Out of the depths I have cried to you, LORD" (Psalm 130:1). One psalm puts trouble and rescue in a single verse: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all" (Psalm 34:19). And one walks through the dark without fearing the evil of 121:7, the same Hebrew word: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me" (Psalm 23:4). The Psalms set the LORD's keeping and his people's troubles side by side. Psalm 121 doesn't say how its promise fits with the troubles other psalms describe, and these notes don't choose a way of holding them together.

The verses

“The LORD will keep you from all evil. He will keep your soul.”
Psalm 121:7 · World English Bible
“A Song of Ascents. In my distress, I cried to the LORD. He answered me.”
Psalm 120:1 · World English Bible
“many times they have afflicted me from my youth up, yet they have not prevailed against me.”
Psalm 129:2 · World English Bible
“A Song of Ascents. Out of the depths I have cried to you, LORD.”
Psalm 130:1 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 121

Psalm 121: He who keeps you

In eight verses Psalm 121 has one Hebrew verb six times: shamar, keep. First it names the LORD by it three times, "he who keeps you", "he who keeps Israel", "your keeper" (121:3-5); then three times it says what he will do: keep you, keep your soul, keep your going out and your coming in (121:7-8).

In Favor, questions like this come up right where they arise as you read, with the Hebrew and Greek behind the words and how the chapter leads to Jesus.

First week free, then $10 a month per person

More questions about Psalm 121

All questions about Psalms →

The best way to learn the Bible

Favor opens up every chapter as you read.

Favor is a Bible study app for your phone or computer. It takes you through the Bible one chapter at a time, a few minutes a day, and shows you what's really there: the words behind the words, the moments most people miss, and how the whole story fits together. For you. For everyone.

  • Every chapter explains itself

    As you read, short notes open up what's really going on, the details most readers walk past, and the honest questions people ask.

  • The Hebrew and Greek behind it

    Tap a highlighted word to see the original, how to say it, and what it means, checked against the original-language texts.

  • Every page leads to Jesus

    Watch promises made in Genesis kept in Jesus. Each line lights up on your map as you read.

  • Better together

    Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together.

  1. 1

    Start your free week

    Sign up in a minute with your email.

  2. 2

    Read a few minutes a day

    Each chapter opens itself up as you go. Tap what you're curious about.

  3. 3

    Bring your people, if you like

    Send one link. Everyone reads the same chapter, then meets to talk.

Start your free week

First week free, then $10 a month per person

Questions like this, in every chapter

The best way to learn the Bible. For you. For everyone.

There's a seat for you at the table.

Start your free week

First week free, then $10 a month per person · Log in

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions