The Meaning of Psalms 27:3 Explained

Psalms 27:3

KJV: Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

YLT: Though a host doth encamp against me, My heart doth not fear, Though war riseth up against me, In this I am confident.

Darby: If a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; if war rise against me, in this will I be confident.

ASV: Though a host should encamp against me, My heart shall not fear: Though war should rise against me, Even then will I be confident.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Though an host  should encamp  against me, my heart  shall not fear:  though war  should rise  against me, in this [will] I [be] confident. 

What does Psalms 27:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 27:1-14 - The Song Of Fearless Trust In God
This psalm probably dates from the time when the exiled king, surrounded by unscrupulous foes, looked from his hiding-place beyond the Jordan to the Holy City, where the Ark abode. One thing he desired above all else. The "one thing" people are irresistible, Philippians 3:13-14.
Here we have assurance, Psalms 27:1-6. God's house for us is His presence. We may live day by day in the New Jerusalem, which needs no light of sun or candle. We are in it, though we know it not. Oh, that our eyes might be opened to see where we are! 2 Kings 6:20. How beautiful must God be, who has made the world so fair!
Next we have supplication, Psalms 27:7-14. The triumphant note changes to sadness. Did the writer look from his Redeemer to the winds and waves? But sometimes God seems to hide His face only to draw us to a point of trust and abandonment which otherwise the soul had never dared to adopt, Mark 7:28. The dearest may forsake, but the Lord gathers, Isaiah 40:11. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 27

1  David sustains his faith by prayer

What do the individual words in Psalms 27:3 mean?

Though may encamp against me an army not shall fear My heart should rise against me war in this I [will be] confident
אִם־ תַּחֲנֶ֬ה עָלַ֨י ׀ מַחֲנֶה֮ לֹֽא־ יִירָ֪א לִ֫בִּ֥י תָּק֣וּם עָ֭לַי מִלְחָמָ֑ה בְּ֝זֹ֗את אֲנִ֣י בוֹטֵֽחַ

אִם־  Though 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
תַּחֲנֶ֬ה  may  encamp 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: חָנָה  
Sense: to decline, incline, encamp, bend down, lay siege against.
עָלַ֨י ׀  against  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
מַחֲנֶה֮  an  army 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: מַחֲנֶה  
Sense: encampment, camp.
יִירָ֪א  shall  fear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
לִ֫בִּ֥י  My  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
תָּק֣וּם  should  rise 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
עָ֭לַי  against  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
מִלְחָמָ֑ה  war 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִלְחָמָה  
Sense: battle, war.
בְּ֝זֹ֗את  in  this 
Parse: Preposition-b, Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
בוֹטֵֽחַ  [will  be]  confident 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בָּטוּחַ 
Sense: to trust.