Psalms 55:5Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me.
The setting
Jerusalem, ~1000 BC. David trembling uncontrollably in the palace as messengers bring news of his son's approaching army and advisors' betrayal...
The emotion here: physically overwhelmed by terror and trauma
The original word
pallāṣûṯ (פלצות) — violent shuddering, uncontrollable trembling from terror
Why it matters
The Hebrew describes tremors so severe David couldn't control his body
Read with care
What most readers miss in Psalms 55:5
This isn't poetic language - David is literally shaking so hard he can't function
Common misconceptionPeople think this is metaphorical fear, but David is describing severe physical trauma symptoms - uncontrollable shaking and tremors.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Psalms 55:5
Bible Genome reading
Psalms 55:5 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Psalms 55:5 comes from the book of Psalms, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to David. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 90% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the psalm genre of biblical literature. Key themes include fear, overwhelming emotion, trembling. Notable phrases: fearfulness and trembling; horror has overwhelmed. This verse is a prayer.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same anxious
“And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
“The evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"”
— Acts 19:15
“I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'”
— Acts 22:7
“When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is har…”
— Acts 26:14
Your reflection
What does Psalms 55:5 mean to you, today?
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