Psalms 121:5

The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

The Lord is thy keeper; the Lord is thy shade. "Thy shade," thy protecting shelter: a natural image to pilgrims suffering under the sun's intense heat in the East. Compare , margin.

Upon thy right hand - the position best adapted for defending the person. As the adversary stands at the right hand of him whom he would destroy (; ), so the Lord 'is upon the right hand' to save (; ). He will assist Israel now in building the temple in spite of the Samaritan interruptions. The contemporary, Zechariah 3:1, has the same image in reference to the same event as this psalm, (notes, Psalms 120:1.)