Psalm 27:1 in Context
Psalm 27:1 read in its full chapter context. See the verses before and after, plus historical setting and flow of thought.
"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"
— Psalm 27:1 (KJV)
Where This Verse Sits
Psalm 27:1 appears in Psalms chapter 27, verse 1. David likely wrote this psalm while fleeing from enemies, possibly during Absalom's rebellion or Saul's persecution, around 1000 BC. Ancient warfare often involved dawn attacks, so darkness symbolized vulnerability and danger. David's declaration that God was his 'light' meant security even in the most dangerous hour.
The Verse Itself
"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"
— Psalm 27:1 (KJV)
Flow of the Passage
To grasp Psalm 27:1 fully, read it inside the surrounding paragraph. The verses before set up the argument, and the verses after show its outworking. Psalms 27 as a whole carries forward the theme of fear, and this single verse is one beat in that larger movement.
David declares his confidence in God using three powerful metaphors: light (guidance), salvation (deliverance), and strength (protection). With God as all three, fear loses its power.
Cross-References
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