Psalm 91:7

Psalm 91:7

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

a. NLT: Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.

b. NIV: A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

c. Amplified Bible: A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.

d. Septuagint [Listed under Psalm 90:7]: A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

e. Stone Edition: A thousand may fall victim at your side and a myriad at your right hand, but to you it shall not approach.

1. “A thousand shall fall at thy side…”

a. thousand [505 * ‘eleph] [Strong: the same as 504; hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand:--thousand.]

b. shall fall [5307 * naphal] [Strong: a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative):--be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for 6419), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.]

c. side [6654 * tsad] [Strong: from an unused root meaning to sidle off; a side; figuratively, an adversary:--(be-)side.]

1). We must remember that in the previous verse Rabbinic thought was that the last part of Psalm 91:6 referred to demonic spirits. Carrying those thoughts into this verse tells us even under the Old Covenant demonic spirits were no match for someone in Covenant with God. The difference though between us in the New Covenant and those under the Old Covenant is they did not have the authority we have. We only need to look a few passages to see this. The first is in the beginning of the ministry of Jesus.

a). Mark 1:23-27 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

1:24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

1:25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

1:26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

1:27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

2). They were shocked that Jesus could command devils to obey him. Looking at another familiar Scripture, this one on tithing we see that faithful Jews waited on God to deal with demonic spirits.

a). Malachi 3:10, 11  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

3:11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.

c. Under the New Covenant we have authority over demonic spirits, an authority given to us when we got saved.

1). Ephesians 1:19-23 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

2). All principality and power, and might and dominion, and every named that is named includes the spirits who would destroy what is left after the tithe and offering.

d. Tehillim: Commentary from Talmudic, Midrashic and Rabbinic Sources: According to Rashi, this means that thousands and myriads of demons will fall before the man who is shielded by God’s truth.

2. “…and ten thousand at thy right hand…”

a. ten thousand [7233 * rebabah][Gesenius: multitude, myriad, ten thousand.][Strong: abundance (in number), i.e. (specifically) a myriad (whether definite or indefinite):--many, million, X multiply, ten thousand.]

b. right hand [3225 * yamiyn] [Strong: from 3231; the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south:--+ left-handed, right (hand, side), south.]

3. “…but it shall not come nigh thee.”

a. come nigh [5066 * nagash] [Strong: a primitive root; to be or come (causatively, bring) near (for any purpose); euphemistically, to lie with a woman; as an enemy, to attack; relig. to worship; causatively, to present; figuratively, to adduce an argument; by reversal, to stand back:--(make to) approach (nigh), bring (forth, hither, near), (cause to) come (hither, near, nigh), give place, go hard (up), (be, draw, go) near (nigh), offer, overtake, present, put, stand.]

      b. Tehillim: Commentary from Talmudic, Midrashic and Rabbinic Sources: Midrash Shocher Tov       explains that the man of faith is shielded from the forces of evil by a vanguard of angels at his left       hand and at his right.