The Meaning of Psalms 3:5 Explained

Psalms 3:5

KJV: I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

YLT: I -- I have lain down, and I sleep, I have waked, for Jehovah sustaineth me.

Darby: I laid me down and slept; I awaked, for Jehovah sustaineth me.

ASV: I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for Jehovah sustaineth me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I laid me down  and slept;  I awaked;  for the LORD  sustained  me. 

What does Psalms 3:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 3:1-8 - Morning And Evening Prayers
These psalms probably date from David's flight before Absalom, 2 Samuel 16:1-23. It is the perfection of trust to be able to sleep when our foes are many and set upon our destruction. So Jesus slept, Mark 4:38; and Peter, Acts 12:6. Be sure that you are where God would have you to be, and then resign yourself to His loving care. Even though pursued by the results of your sins, you will find that God will save you, on condition of your being contrite.
Let us begin the day and close it with thanksgivings and prayers. Godly means having the power to love. Dost thou love God and His saints? Then know that He has set thee apart-that is, separated thee-for Himself. Seek His will alone. Be content to let the world go by. Thou hast no need to envy the prosperous worldling. God suffices for heaven; why not for earth? [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 3

1  The security of God's protection

What do the individual words in Psalms 3:5 mean?

I lay down and slept I awoke for Yahweh sustained me
אֲנִ֥י שָׁכַ֗בְתִּי וָֽאִ֫ישָׁ֥נָה הֱקִיצ֑וֹתִי כִּ֖י יְהוָ֣ה יִסְמְכֵֽנִי

שָׁכַ֗בְתִּי  lay  down 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁכַב  
Sense: to lie down.
וָֽאִ֫ישָׁ֥נָה  and  slept 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular, third person feminine singular
Root: יָשֵׁן 
Sense: to sleep, be asleep.
הֱקִיצ֑וֹתִי  I  awoke 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: קוּץ 
Sense: to awake, wake up.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
יִסְמְכֵֽנִי  sustained  me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: סָמַךְ  
Sense: to lean, lay, rest, support, put, uphold, lean upon.