Christian Standard Bible
Psalms 139:8
8If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
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
6This wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it. 7Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. 9If I fly on the wings of the dawn and settle down on the western horizon, 10even there your hand will lead me; your right hand will hold on to me.
Read all of Psalms 139Psalms 139:8 word by word
אִם־אֶסַּ֣ק שָׁ֭מַיִם שָׁ֣ם אָ֑תָּה וְאַצִּ֖יעָה שְּׁא֣וֹל הִנֶּֽךָּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 139:8
- Ezekiel 28:12“Son of man, lament for the king of Tyre and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord God says: You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
- Amos 9:2If they dig down to Sheol, from there my hand will take them; if they climb up to heaven, from there I will bring them down.
- Obadiah 1:4Though you seem to soar like an eagle and make your nest among the stars, even from there I will bring you down. This is the Lord’s declaration.
- Job 26:6Sheol is naked before God, and Abaddon has no covering.
- Job 34:21For his eyes watch over a man’s ways, and he observes all his steps.
- Proverbs 15:11Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord — how much more, human hearts.
- Jonah 2:2I called to the Lord in my distress, and he answered me. I cried out for help from deep inside Sheol; 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
In the dictionaries
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
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