For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

PSALMS 5:12KJV
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Psalms 5:12 (KJV)

What does Psalms 5:12 mean?

Psalms 5:12 expresses confidence that the LORD will bless people who live rightly before him. The speaker pictures that blessing as the LORD’s favor surrounding such a person, like a shield placed around someone in danger.

The speaker addresses the LORD directly, saying “thou.” After asking for joy for those who love the LORD’s name in verse 11, the speaker gives a reason for that joy: the LORD’s favorable care.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 5:12

  • “favour” — רָצוֹן (ratson): This word can mean acceptance, goodwill, or pleasure. Here the blessing is pictured as coming from the LORD’s favorable regard, rather than from a shield the person carries.
  • “compass” — עָטַר (atar): This word can mean to surround or encircle. The KJV’s “compass” describes favor enclosing the person on every side.
  • “shield” — צִנָּה (tsinnah): This word often refers to a large shield used for protection. The image would have called to mind equipment that could cover much of a person in battle.

Why Psalms 5:12 matters

  • The verse joins blessing with protection. “Bless the righteous” is followed by the picture of favor as a shield, showing what the blessing looks like in the speaker’s image.
  • The words move from a group to an individual. “The righteous” names those who live rightly, while “him” pictures one such person surrounded by favor.

Where else these words appear

“compass” Hebrew H5849 · used in 7 verses

  • 1 Samuel 23:26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
  • Psalms 65:11 Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
  • Song of Solomon 3:11 Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.

“shield” Hebrew H6793 · used in 20 verses

  • 1 Samuel 17:7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
  • 2 Chronicles 9:15 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target.
  • Proverbs 25:13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

“favour” Hebrew H7522 · used in 56 verses

  • Genesis 49:6 O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.
  • Psalms 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
  • Proverbs 14:9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.