Psalms 71:3
3 Be my protector and refuge, ▼▼ Heb “become for me a rocky summit of a dwelling place.” The Hebrew term מָעוֹן (
ma’
on, “dwelling place”) should probably be emended to מָעוֹז (
ma’
oz, “refuge”; see
Ps 31:2).
a stronghold where I can be safe! ▼▼ Heb “to enter continually, you commanded to deliver me.” The Hebrew phrase לָבוֹא תָּמִיד צִוִּיתָ (
lavo’
tamid tsivvita, “to enter continually, you commanded”) should be emended to לְבֵית מְצוּדוֹת (
levet metsudot, “a house of strongholds”; see
Ps 31:2).
For you are my high ridge ▼▼ You are my high ridge. This metaphor pictures God as a rocky, relatively inaccessible summit, where one would be able to find protection from enemies. See
1 Sam 23:25,
28.
and my stronghold.