Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. New Living Translation Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! English Standard Version And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; Berean Standard Bible I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest. King James Bible And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. New King James Version So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. New American Standard Bible I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. NASB 1995 I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. NASB 1977 And I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Legacy Standard Bible I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Amplified Bible And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Christian Standard Bible I said, “If only I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest. Holman Christian Standard Bible I said, “If only I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest. American Standard Version And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away, and be at rest. Contemporary English Version I wish I had wings like a dove, so I could fly far away and be at peace. English Revised Version And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! then would I fly away, and be at rest. GOD'S WORD® Translation I said, "If only I had wings like a dove- I would fly away and find rest. Good News Translation I wish I had wings like a dove. I would fly away and find rest. International Standard Version I said, "O, who will give me the wings of a dove, so that I could fly away and live somewhere else? NET Bible I say, "I wish I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and settle in a safe place! New Heart English Bible I said, "Oh that I had wings like a dove. Then I would fly away, and be at rest. Webster's Bible Translation And I said, O that I had wings like a dove! for then I would fly away, and be at rest. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleI said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest. World English Bible I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd I say, “Who gives to me a pinion as a dove?” I fly away and rest, Young's Literal Translation And I say, 'Who doth give to me a pinion as a dove? I fly away and rest, Smith's Literal Translation And saying, Who will give me the wing-feather as a dove? I will fly away and settle down. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd I said: Who will give me wings like a dove, and I will fly and be at rest? Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible I say, “If only I had wings like a dove that I might fly away and find rest. New Revised Standard Version And I say, “O that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away and be at rest. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated But I said, "Who would give me wings like a dove?" I had flown and I would have rested. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And I said: 'Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away, and be at rest. Brenton Septuagint Translation And I said, O that I had wings as those of a dove! then would I flee away, and be at rest. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Cast Your Burden upon the LORD…5Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me. 6I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest. 7How far away I would flee! In the wilderness I would remain. Selah… Cross References Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. / Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. / For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. Jeremiah 9:2 If only I had a traveler’s lodge in the wilderness, I would abandon my people and depart from them, for they are all adulterers, a crowd of faithless people. Revelation 12:14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle to fly from the presence of the serpent to her place in the wilderness, where she was nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. 2 Corinthians 5:2 For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, Job 3:13-17 For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest / with kings and counselors of the earth, who built for themselves cities now in ruins, / or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver. ... 1 Kings 19:3-4 And Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, / while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” Philippians 1:23 I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed. 2 Samuel 15:30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went. Luke 22:41-44 And He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, where He knelt down and prayed, / “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.” / Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. ... Jonah 1:3 Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. Mark 6:31 And He said to them, “Come with Me privately to a solitary place, and let us rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. Exodus 16:3 “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!” 1 Thessalonians 4:17 After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. Genesis 28:12 And Jacob had a dream about a ladder that rested on the earth with its top reaching up to heaven, and God’s angels were going up and down the ladder. Treasury of Scripture And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. Psalm 11:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? Psalm 139:9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Revelation 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. Jump to Previous Dove Flight Fly Pinion Rest WingsJump to Next Dove Flight Fly Pinion Rest WingsPsalm 55 1. David in his prayer complains of his fearful case9. He prays against his enemies, of whose wickedness and treachery he complains 16. He comforts himself in God's preservation oh him, and confusion of his enemies I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! This phrase reflects a deep yearning for escape and peace amidst turmoil. The dove is often a symbol of peace and purity in biblical literature, as seen in Genesis 8:11 when the dove returns to Noah with an olive leaf, signaling the end of the flood. The psalmist's desire for wings like a dove suggests a longing for divine intervention and deliverance from distress. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, birds were often seen as messengers or symbols of freedom, and the dove specifically represents innocence and the Spirit of God, as seen in the New Testament during Jesus' baptism (Matthew 3:16). I would fly away and find rest. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidTraditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 55, David is expressing a deep desire to escape his troubles and find peace. 2. Dove A symbol of peace and innocence, the dove represents the longing for escape and tranquility. 3. Jerusalem While not directly mentioned in this verse, the context of David's life often revolves around Jerusalem, where he faced many of his trials. 4. Enemies The psalm reflects David's struggles with betrayal and opposition, possibly during Absalom's rebellion or another period of personal conflict. 5. Wilderness Implied as a place of refuge and solitude, contrasting with the turmoil David faces. Teaching Points Longing for EscapeIt's natural to desire escape from life's pressures, but we must seek God's presence as our ultimate refuge. Symbolism of the Dove The dove represents peace and the Holy Spirit. In times of distress, seek the Spirit's comfort and guidance. Finding Rest in God True rest is found not in physical escape but in spiritual surrender and trust in God's sovereignty. Dealing with Betrayal Like David, we may face betrayal, but we are called to respond with faith and reliance on God's justice. Prayer as a Refuge Use prayer as a means to 'fly away' from anxiety, casting your cares on God who sustains you. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 55How can I find rest from my burdens? What do the birds symbolize in Noah's flood story? What guidance does the Bible offer on stress? What defines truth?(6) Oh that I had.--Literally, who will give me?--The bird that was in the psalmist's thought was doubtless the Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), which selects for its nesting the lofty cliffs and deep ravines far from the neighbourhood of man. (Comp. Song of Solomon 2:14, Note.) Be at rest.--So the LXX. and Vulg., and the reading is consecrated by long use; but the parallelism seems to require the more literal dwell or abide. Verse 6. - And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! The beauty of this passage has sunk deep into the Christian heart. Great composers have set to it some of their most exquisite music. The desire is one which finds an echo in almost every human breast, and the expression of it here has all the beauty of the best Eastern poetry. Jeremiah's words are far tamer, "Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging-place of wayfaring men, that I might leave my people, and go from them!" For then would I fly away, and be at rest. The desire of "rest" is universal. Whatever the delights of action, they can only charm us for a time. In our hearts we are always longing to have done with action, and to be at rest.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew I said,וָאֹמַ֗ר (wā·’ō·mar) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “Oh, מִֽי־ (mî-) Interjection Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix that יִתֶּן־ (yit·ten-) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set I had wings אֵ֭בֶר (’ê·ḇer) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 83: A pinion like a dove! כַּיּוֹנָ֗ה (kay·yō·w·nāh) Preposition-k, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 3123: A dove I would fly away אָע֥וּפָה (’ā·‘ū·p̄āh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular Strong's 5774: To fly, to faint and find rest. וְאֶשְׁכֹּֽנָה׃ (wə·’eš·kō·nāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular Strong's 7931: To settle down, abide, dwell Links Psalm 55:6 NIVPsalm 55:6 NLT Psalm 55:6 ESV Psalm 55:6 NASB Psalm 55:6 KJV Psalm 55:6 BibleApps.com Psalm 55:6 Biblia Paralela Psalm 55:6 Chinese Bible Psalm 55:6 French Bible Psalm 55:6 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Psalm 55:6 I said Oh that I had wings (Psalm Ps Psa.) |
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