Psalms 8:3

Psalms 8:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
• New International Version (NIV)When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
• English Standard Version (ESV)When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
• New King James Version (NKJV)When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,

Context of Psalms 8:3

1Lord, our ruler, your name is famous all over the world. The sky above shows how great you are. 2You have taught children and babies to praise you. You do that to show your enemies how strong you are. Anyone who turns against you has to be quiet. Your cruel enemies can do nothing! You made the skies with your own hands. When I look up, I see the moon and the stars. You have put them all in their right place. 4So why do you even think about men and women? Why do you take care of humans? 5You have made their place a little below God himself. You have given them honour, like kings.

Psalms 8:3 word by word

כִּֽי־אֶרְאֶ֣ה שָׁ֭מֶיךָ מַעֲשֵׂ֣י אֶצְבְּעֹתֶ֑יךָ יָרֵ֥חַ וְ֝כוֹכָבִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר כּוֹנָֽנְתָּה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• When I considerרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• thy heavensשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
• the workמַעֲשֶׂהma‛ăώeh · deed: workH4639
• of thy fingersאֶצְבַּע'etsba‛ · fingerH676
• the moonיָרֵחַyârêach · moonH3394
• and the starsכּוֹכָבkôkâb · starH3556
• which thou hast ordainedכּוּןkûn · to establish: makeH3559

Cross-references for Psalms 8:3

• Psalms 19:1The heavens show us how great God is. The sky above shows his good work.
• Psalms 111:2The Lord does great things! People who enjoy them, think carefully about them.
• Job 22:12God lives high above us in heaven. Look up at the stars and see how high they are!
• Job 36:24People sing songs to praise God for the things that he has done. You also should remember to praise him.
• Romans 1:20Ever since God made the world, he has been showing people clearly about himself. We cannot see God. But the things that he has made show us clearly what he is like. We can understand his great power that continues for ever. We can know that he is the true God. So there is no reason for anyone to say, ‘We could not know about God.’
• Psalms 33:6The word of the Lord made the heavens. When he spoke, all the stars in the sky appeared.
• Genesis 1:1In the beginning, God made the heavens and the earth.
• Exodus 8:19Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, ‘This is the work of God.’ But there was no change in Pharaoh's thoughts. He would not listen to them. The Lord had said that this would happen, and it did!
• Exodus 31:18The Lord finished speaking to Moses on Sinai mountain. Then he gave Moses the two flat stones with the special commands that God himself had written on them.
• Luke 11:20When I send bad spirits out of people, I use the power of God. This shows that God has come to rule among you.
• Psalms 104:19You made the moon to tell us the months and seasons. The sun also knows the right time for sunset.
• Psalms 148:3Praise him, sun and moon. Praise him, all bright stars.
• Genesis 1:16God made two great lights. The brighter light ruled over the day. The less bright light ruled over the night. God also made the stars.
• Deuteronomy 4:19When you look up at the sky, you see the sun, the moon and the stars. They all shine up in the sky. But do not bend down low to them or worship them. They are there because the Lord your God has made them. He has given them to people everywhere in the world.
• Job 25:3The number of angels in his armies are too many to count. His light shines over everyone.

Commentaries on Psalms 8:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3When I Consider thy heavens - אראה כי ki ereh ; Because I will see. He had often seen the heavens with astonishment, and he purposes to make them frequent subjects of contemplation; and he could not behold them without being affected with the skill, contrivance, and power, manifested in their formation. The work of thy fingers - What a view does this give of the majesty of God! The earth is nearly eight thousand English miles in diameter: but to form an…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3When I consider thy heavens - When I contemplate or look upon. They are called his heavens because he made them - because he is the proprietor of them - perhaps because they are his abode. The work of thy fingers - Which thy fingers have made. The fingers are the instruments by which we construct a piece of work - perhaps indicating skill rather than strength; and hence so used in respect to God, as it is by his skill that the heavens have been made. The…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3-9Verses 3-9 We are to consider the heavens, that man thus may be directed to set his affections on things above. What is man, so mean a creature, that he should be thus honoured! so sinful a creature, that he should be thus favoured! Man has sovereign dominion over the inferior creatures, under God, and is appointed their lord. This refers to Christ. In He 2:6-8, the apostle, to prove the sovereign dominion of Christ, shows he is that Man, that Son of man…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3Many nations near Israel worshiped the sun, moon, and stars as gods. They thought these objects controlled life and events. The psalmist reminds us that, while the sun, moon, and stars are great and beautiful, they are only created by God. Because these things are his creation, they point to God’s power and majesty. They give a reason to praise the Almighty, who alone is worthy of worship.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-43-4. The allusion to the magnificence of the visible heavens is introduced for the purpose of illustrating God's condescension, who, though the mighty Creator of these glorious worlds of light, makes man the object of regard and recipient of favor.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 8:3

• Astronomy
• God
• Heaven
• Humility
• Man
• Moon
• Power
• Religion
• Stars

In the dictionaries

• Astronomy
• Crown
• Gittith
• Moon
• Music, Instrumental
• Suckling
• Adoration
• Consider
• Finger (1)
• God, Image of

Commentaries on Psalms 8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings