The Meaning of Psalms 4:4 Explained

Psalms 4:4

KJV: Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

YLT: Tremble ye, and do not sin;' Say ye thus in your heart on your bed, And be ye silent. Selah.

Darby: Be moved with anger, and sin not; meditate in your own hearts upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

ASV: Stand in awe, and sin not: Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Stand in awe,  and sin  not: commune  with your own heart  upon your bed,  and be still.  Selah. 

What does Psalms 4:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

David urged his enemies on the basis of his calling by God ( Psalm 4:3) not to give way to sin in their anger against the king (cf. Ephesians 4:26). They needed to tremble with fear and stop sinning. They would be wise to remain still as they meditated on their opposition to David, while lying in bed at night, rather than getting up and opposing him. Opposing the Lord"s anointed would constitute sin. It would be better for them to submit to God by submitting to His agent, King David.

Context Summary

Psalms 4:1-8 - 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 4

1  David prays for audience
2  He reproves and exhorts his enemies
6  Man's happiness is in God's favor

What do the individual words in Psalms 4:4 mean?

Be angry and not do sin Meditate within your heart on your bed and be still Selah
רִגְז֗וּ וְֽאַל־ תֶּ֫חֱטָ֥אוּ אִמְר֣וּ בִ֭לְבַבְכֶם עַֽל־ מִשְׁכַּבְכֶ֗ם וְדֹ֣מּוּ סֶֽלָה

רִגְז֗וּ  Be  angry 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: רָגַז  
Sense: tremble, quake, rage, quiver, be agitated, be excited, be perturbed.
וְֽאַל־  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
תֶּ֫חֱטָ֥אוּ  do  sin 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: חָטָא 
Sense: to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness.
אִמְר֣וּ  Meditate 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
בִ֭לְבַבְכֶם  within  your  heart 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: לֵבָב  
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.
מִשְׁכַּבְכֶ֗ם  your  bed 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: מִשְׁכָּב  
Sense: a lying down, couch, bier, act of lying.
וְדֹ֣מּוּ  and  be  still 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: דָּמַם 
Sense: to be silent, be still, wait, be dumb, grow dumb.
סֶֽלָה  Selah 
Parse: Interjection
Root: סֶלָה  
Sense: to lift up, exalt.