Psalms 91:12 Meaning and Explanation
“They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God gives His angels charge to carry us, attentive even to the small stone that could trip our feet.
The Context of Psalms 91:12
This verse sits in the heart of Psalm 91, the great song of God's protection over those who dwell in Him. The line just before promises that God will give His angels charge to keep us in all our ways (verse 11). This verse shows what that keeping looks like, hands lifting us over the very stone that might trip our step.
What Does Psalms 91:12 Mean?
The picture is unexpectedly tender. Not only does God shelter us from the great dangers, the snares and the plagues named earlier in the psalm, He attends to the small things too, the loose stone on a dark path that could send a traveler sprawling. The angels bear us up in their hands, the way a parent steadies a child learning to walk. It is a promise that the care of God reaches down to the smallest stumble, the ordinary mishaps that never make the news but can undo a day.
These very words were quoted to Jesus in the wilderness, when the tempter urged Him to throw Himself down and test the promise (Matthew 4:6). Jesus would not turn God's care into a dare, answering that we are not to put the Lord our God to the test (Matthew 4:7). He trusted the Father without forcing His hand. And He came to bear us up in the deepest way, lifting us where we had truly fallen and carrying us home.
Psalms 91:12 in the Original Language
nasa' (נָשָׂא), 'bear up' -- to lift, carry, and support, the gesture of raising someone in the arms.
How to Apply Psalms 91:12 Today
So much of life is small, the everyday stumbles that never make headlines but still threaten to trip us. This verse promises that God's care reaches down even to the loose stone underfoot. We are held by a God whose attention misses nothing, and whose Son came to bear us up when we had fallen.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 91:12
What does Psalms 91:12 mean?
God gives His angels charge to carry us, attentive even to the small stone that could trip our feet.
What is the context of Psalms 91:12?
This verse sits in the heart of Psalm 91, the great song of God's protection over those who dwell in Him. The line just before promises that God will give His angels charge to keep us in all our ways (verse 11). This verse shows what that keeping looks like, hands lifting us over the very stone that might trip our step.
How can I apply Psalms 91:12 today?
So much of life is small, the everyday stumbles that never make headlines but still threaten to trip us. This verse promises that God's care reaches down even to the loose stone underfoot. We are held by a God whose attention misses nothing, and whose Son came to bear us up when we had fallen.