Psalm 91:11
“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Psalm 91 promises security to those who dwell in God's presence. Verse 11 adds the assurance of angelic guardianship; this verse was later quoted to Jesus during His temptation.
What Does Psalm 91:11 Mean?
This verse promises that God's protection includes the ministry of angels. "He shall give his angels charge over thee" means God places His messengers under orders, assigning them a duty: to watch over His people. The word "charge" carries the sense of a command or commission. The angels are not acting on their own; they are sent by God for a specific task, which makes the protection ultimately God's protection delivered through His servants.
The scope is comprehensive: "to keep thee in all thy ways." Not some ways, but all -- the whole course of a person's life, the ordinary paths as well as the dangerous ones. The verb "keep" means to guard, watch, and preserve. This is the verse that the tempter later quoted to Jesus in the wilderness, lifting it out of context to dare Him to presume on God's care. Jesus' response reminds us that this promise is for those who walk in trust and obedience, not for those who test God recklessly. Read rightly, the verse is a deep comfort: the same God who is our refuge does not leave us unguarded. He commissions unseen servants to watch over the daily walk of those who shelter in Him.
In the Original Language
"Charge" translates the Hebrew tsavah, to command or appoint a duty; "keep" is shamar, to guard, watch over, and preserve, the same verb used for tending and protecting.
Cross References
“He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.”
- Matthew 4:6
“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”
- Hebrews 1:14
“The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.”
- Psalm 34:7
Application
Walk your daily path -- the ordinary and the difficult alike -- trusting that God has commissioned unseen servants to guard those who shelter in Him.