English Standard Version
Psalms 121:4
4Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
Psalms 121:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
- New International Version (NIV)indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.
Context of Psalms 121:4
2My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. 6The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
Read all of Psalms 121Psalms 121:4 word by word
הִנֵּ֣ה לֹֽא־יָ֭נוּם וְלֹ֣א יִישָׁ֑ן שׁ֝וֹמֵ֗ר יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 121:4
- Psalms 27:1The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
- Psalms 32:7You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah
- Psalms 127:1Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
- Isaiah 27:3I, the Lord, am its keeper; every moment I water it. Lest anyone punish it, I keep it night and day;
- 1 Kings 18:27And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened."
- Ecclesiastes 8:16When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one's eyes see sleep,
Commentaries on Psalms 121:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4He that keepeth Israel - The Divine Being represents himself as a watchman, who takes care of the city and its inhabitants during the night-watches; and who is never overtaken with slumbering or sleepiness. There is a thought in the Antigone of Sophocles, that seems the counterpart of this of the psalmist, , , ̔ , '̔ ̔ - '̔ , ; Antig. ver. 613, Edit. Johnson. Shall men below control great Jove above, Whose eyes by all-subduing sleep Are never closed, as…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Behold, he that keepeth Israel - The Keeper - the Guardian - of his people. The psalmist here passes from his own particular case to a general truth - a truth to him full of consolation. It is, that the people of God must always be safe; that their great Guardian never slumbers; and that he, as one of his people, might, therefore, confidently look for his protecting care. Shall neither slumber nor sleep - Never slumbers, never ceases to be watchful. Man…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4God watches over his own, even and especially when they face many troubles (Psalms 12:5, 7; 69:29; 91:14; 146:9).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-43-4. His sleepless vigilance is added. to be moved--(Compare Psa 38:16; 66:9).Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 121:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 121
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries