What Does Psalm 16:1 Mean in the King James?

Michtam of David. Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.

Psalm 16:1 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The “trust” here is the act of taking shelter, so the plea to be kept is already an expression of trust.

THE MEANING

You ask God to keep you because you have taken shelter in God. Trust here is not merely an idea held about God; it is the movement of vulnerability into refuge.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

This undoes the belief that asking to be kept means trust is absent: the plea and the refuge stand together.

THE ROOT

חָסִיתִי

ḥāsîtî

GROWS FROM

חסה

To seek shelter or take refuge

The verb translated “put my trust” is a refuge word: the speaker says he has taken shelter in God. Trust here is not just a belief about God; it is vulnerability finding cover.

ALSO GROWS

maḥseh: Refuge, shelter

מַחְסֶה

This noun makes the shelter-image explicit: the one who trusts has a place of refuge.

ḥosîm: Those who take refuge

חֹסִים

This form describes people by the same action named here: taking shelter.

שָׁמְרֵנִי

shomrēnî

GROWS FROM

שמר

To keep watch, guard, or preserve

“Preserve me” comes from the seed of watching and guarding. The verse places that attentive keeping beside the shelter already sought: the speaker asks to be guarded while taking refuge.

ALSO GROWS

shōmēr: Keeper, watchman

שֹׁמֵר

The same root names the one who watches over what is entrusted to them.

mishmeret: Guard, watch, charge

מִשְׁמֶרֶת

This branch shows keeping as sustained watch, not a single moment of protection.

דָּוִד

Dāwîd

GROWS FROM

דוד

Beloved

The name David carries the root association of belovedness. It gives the heading a relational note before the plea begins.

ALSO GROWS

dōd: Beloved, loved one

דּוֹד

This word carries the name’s association with being beloved.

dōdîm: Love, beloved affection

דּוֹדִים

This related form shows the root extending from the beloved person to love itself.

THE PATTERN

Divine keeping is an active guard that accompanies a person through exposure and movement.

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

Genesis 28:15 · KJVGod’s keeping accompanies the person wherever they go.

The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Psalm 121:7-8 · KJVThe guarding extends across the person’s whole life, including every departure and return.

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 · KJVThe Lord’s keeping remains an active guard against harm.

THE THREAD

The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Psalm 121:7-8 · KJV

Psalm 16:1 uses shamar for “preserve”; Psalm 121 repeats the same root for God’s guarding of the person and their going out and coming in. The image widens from a single plea to a life held under watch.

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