Psalms 139:8

Psalms 139:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
• New International Version (NIV)If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
• New King James Version (NKJV)If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

Context of Psalms 139:8

6Such [infinite] knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high [above me], I cannot reach it. 7Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), behold, You are there. 9If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will take hold of me.

Psalms 139:8 word by word

אִם־אֶסַּ֣ק שָׁ֭מַיִם שָׁ֣ם אָ֑תָּה וְאַצִּ֖יעָה שְּׁא֣וֹל הִנֶּֽךָּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• If I ascend upסָלֵקnâsaq · to ascendH5266
• into heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
• there: if I make my bedיָצַעyatsa‛ · to layH3331
• in hellשְׁאוֹלshe'ôl she'ôl · hell: SheolH7585

Cross-references for Psalms 139:8

• Ezekiel 28:12“Son of man, take up a dirge (funeral poem to be sung) for the king of Tyre and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “You had the full measure of perfection and the finishing touch [of completeness], Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
• Amos 9:2Though they dig into Sheol [to hide in the deepest pit], From there My hand will take them [for judgment]; And though they climb up to heaven [to hide in the realm of light], From there will I bring them down [for judgment].
• Obadiah 1:4Though you build [your nest] on high like the eagle, Though you set your nest among the stars, I will bring you down from there,” says the Lord.
• Job 26:6Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) is naked before God, And Abaddon (the place of destruction) has no covering [from His eyes].
• Job 34:21“For God’s eyes are on the ways of a man, And He sees all his steps.
• Proverbs 15:11Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) and Abaddon (the abyss, the place of eternal punishment) lie open before the Lord— How much more the hearts and inner motives of the children of men.
• Jonah 2:2and said, “I called out of my trouble and distress to the Lord, And He answered me; Out of the belly of Sheol I cried for help, And You heard my voice.

Commentaries on Psalms 139:8

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8If I ascend up into heaven - The word “heaven” here, in the original is in the plural number - “heavens,” - and includes all that there is above the earth - the highest worlds. If I make my bed - Properly, “If I strew or spread my couch.” If I should seek that as the place where to lie down. In hell - Hebrew, “Sheol.” See the notes at Isaiah 14:9, where the word is fully explained. The word here refers to the under-world - the abodes of the dead; and, in…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-16Verses 7-16 We cannot see God, but he can see us. The psalmist did not desire to go from the Lord. Whither can I go? In the most distant corners of the world, in heaven, or in hell, I cannot go out of thy reach. No veil can hide us from God; not the thickest darkness. No disguise can save any person or action from being seen in the true light by him. Secret haunts of sin are as open before God as the most open villanies. On the other hand, the believer…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8if I make my bed in Sheol: God has complete access to all he has created, even the most hidden or hard-to-reach places.Read the comment
• Rashi on Tanakh · v. 8and if I make my bed Heb. ואציעה, an expression of a spread (מצע) and a bed.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 139:8

• God Continued...
• Heart
• Hell

In the dictionaries

• Attain
• Continuance
• Count
• Cover
• Curiously
• Fearfully
• Hades
• Hold
• Sum
• Uprising

Commentaries on Psalms 139

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings