God’s Word Translation
Psalms 121:4
4Indeed, the Guardian of Israel never rests or sleeps.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
Context of Psalms 121:4
2My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. 3He will not let you fall. Your guardian will not fall asleep. Indeed, the Guardian of Israel never rests or sleeps. 5The Lord is your guardian. The Lord is the shade over your right hand. 6The sun will not beat down on you during the day, nor will the moon at 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. Who is there to fear? The Lord is my life’s fortress. Who is there to be afraid of?
- Psalms 32:7You are my hiding place. You protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyous songs of salvation. Selah
- Psalms 127:1If the Lord does not build the house, it is useless for the builders to work on it. If the Lord does not protect a city, it is useless for the guard to stay alert.
- Isaiah 27:3I, the Lord, watch over it. I water it continually. I watch over it day and night so that no one will harm it.
- 1 Kings 18:27At noon Elijah started to make fun of them. “Shout louder, since he is a god. Maybe he’s thinking, relieving himself, or traveling! Maybe he’s sleeping, and you have to wake him!”
- Ecclesiastes 8:16When I carefully considered how to study wisdom and how to look at the work that is done on earth (even going without sleep day and night),
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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