Tehillim 5 – The Hidden Meaning and Segulot

Tehillim 5 – The Hidden Meaning and Segulot

David HaMelech (zechuto yagen aleinu), through Ruach HaKodesh, composed the psalms in such a way that they have a particular effect on specific matters. The primary power of Tehillim 5 is to ward off ruach ra'ah (an evil spirit), provide assistance in court, and ward off ayin hara (the evil eye). There are many known cases of evil spirits taking hold of people. King Saul was a righteous man who suddenly came to hate David and became obsessed with killing him and eliminating him as a rival. The righteous brothers of Joseph—the sons of Jacob—suddenly decided to get rid of their own younger brother. The Sages say that “a person does not sin unless a spirit of folly enters him”. (Sotah 3) If such great people could fall under the influence of evil spirits, all the more so can ordinary people in our generation.

Segulot of Tehillim 5

1. To rid oneself of ruach ra'ah Recite Tehillim 5 when a person feels that a “ruach ra'ah” (evil spirit)—negative energy resulting from a person's violation of spiritual laws—has entered him. The Gemara gives examples of situations in which an evil spirit can attach itself to a person—for example, when someone is careless and neglects netilat yadayim after cutting his nails, hair, and so on. It can also result from serious sins. 2. For success at work – “limtzo chen v’chesed” —so that one will be favorably regarded by one's partners. 3. For victory in court — recite the fifth Psalm aloud 7 times at Ayelet HaShachar—over a glass of pure extra-virgin olive oil—then anoint the face, hands, and feet. 4. For victory in court — recite the fifth Psalm for 3 consecutive days, during bein ha-arbayim—at sunset, at Shkiat HaChama (before all the stars have appeared)—standing facing north, over a glass of pure olive oil; then anoint the face, hands, and feet. At the end, make a personal request in your own words: “Ribono Shel Olam…”. An even greater effect is achieved by performing both segulot on the same day—reciting one in the morning and one in the evening. Rabbi Nachman teaches that judgment is a form of spiritual humiliation: if there is judgment below, it means there is judgment above as well. However, when a person begins to conduct a Cheshbon Nefesh (a self-examination and accounting) here below, the judgment above is nullified. 5. A segula is to recite the verse from Tehillim 5:8 forty times: “Va'ani, berov chasdecha, avo veitecha, eshtachaveh el heichal kodshecha beyiratecha” — (But I, through Your abundant kindness, will enter Your house; I will bow toward Your holy Sanctuary in awe of You). Rabbi Shimshon of Ostropol, in the sefer “Dan Yadin” (a commentary on the Zohar), reveals the secret of Tehillim 5. When a person enters a synagogue, kisses the mezuzah, then bows and recites this verse, it is considered as though he brings the Shechinah, blessings, and good fortune upon himself for the entire day, and removes the evil eye from himself. When a person feels that things are not going well and that he is experiencing problems, the Gemara teaches that this is most likely due to the evil eye. One should say the phrase: “Ani omer zot al da'at Rav Huna” — (I say these words with the intention of doing so according to the words of Rav Huna), and then recite the following verse 40 times over the person's head: — “Va'ani, berov chasdecha, avo veitecha, eshtachaveh el heichal kodshecha beyiratecha”. Rabbi Shimshon reveals that this verse contains 10 words. 40 times 10 equals 400. As is known from Kabbalah, the Sitra Achra (the realm of impurity) contains 400 forces, as indicated by the hidden meaning of the verse: “And behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men”. (Bereishit 33:1) 400 is the gematria of ayin hara (the evil eye). In addition, 400 is the gematria of the word רעעין (“envious,” “one who possesses an evil eye”). The 400 words of this segula nullify 400 negative forces. 5. The Holy Name האא. Rabbi Shimshon of Ostropol also advises directing one's kavanah toward one of the 72 Names of Hashem, which is encoded in this verse and protects against the evil eye: “eshtachaveh el heichal” — אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה אֶל-הֵיכַל — this is the Name האא. (Based on a lecture by Rav Yisrael Yakovov, “The Hidden Meaning of Tehillim 5,” for Silatehilim.com)