Psalms 55:7 (KJV)

What does Psalms 55:7 mean?

Psalms 55:7 expresses a speaker’s wish to get far away from danger and distress. He imagines finding a place to stay in the wilderness, away from the people and troubles that surround him.

After wishing for wings like a dove in verse 6, the speaker pictures where that flight would take him. The wilderness suggests open, sparsely settled country, a sharp contrast to the troubled city described later in the psalm.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 55:7

• “remain” — לוּן (lun): This word can mean to spend the night or stay somewhere. It gives the imagined escape a place of lodging, not just a destination to pass through.
• “wilderness” — מִדְבָּר (midbar): This word often refers to open country used for grazing, rather than necessarily a sandy desert. The speaker pictures a place away from settled city life.
• “Selah” — סֶלָה (selah): This is a term found in psalms whose exact meaning is uncertain. It is often understood as a pause or musical direction, marking a break after the speaker’s imagined retreat.

Why Psalms 55:7 matters

• The escape is a wish, not a reported journey. The KJV says “would I wander” and “remain,” continuing the imagined flight of verse 6.
• The wilderness contrasts with the city’s unrest. In verses 9–11, the speaker describes violence and trouble within the city, helping explain why distance from it seems appealing.