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

1O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the earth! Your glory is sung above the heavens. 2From the mouths of little children and infants, you have built a fortress against your opponents to silence the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the creation of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have set in place— 4what is a mortal that you remember him or the Son of Man that you take care of him? 5You have made him a little lower than yourself. You have crowned him with glory and honor.

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 declare the glory of God, and the sky displays what his hands have made.
• Psalms 111:2The Lord’s deeds are spectacular. They should be studied by all who enjoy them.
• Job 22:12“Isn’t God high above in the heavens? Look how high the highest stars are!
• Job 36:24Remember that you should praise his work. People have sung about it.
• Romans 1:20From the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly observed in what he made. As a result, people have no excuse.
• Psalms 33:6The heavens were made by the Lord’s word and all the stars by the breath of his mouth.
• Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created heaven and earth.
• Exodus 8:19So the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the hand of God!” Yet, Pharaoh continued to be stubborn and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, as the Lord had predicted.
• Exodus 31:18The Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai. Then he gave him the two tablets with his words on them, stone tablets inscribed by God himself.
• Luke 11:20But if I force out demons with the help of God’s power, then God’s kingdom has come to you.
• Psalms 104:19He created the moon, which marks the seasons, and the sun, which knows when to set.
• Psalms 136:7to the one who made the great lights— because his mercy endures forever.
• Psalms 148:3Praise him, sun and moon. Praise him, all shining stars.
• Genesis 1:16God made the two bright lights: the larger light to rule the day and the smaller light to rule the night. He also made the stars.
• Deuteronomy 4:19Don’t let yourselves be tempted to worship and serve what you see in the sky—the sun, the moon, the stars, or anything else. The Lord your God has given them to all people everywhere.
• Job 25:3Is there any ⌞limit to the⌟ number of his troops? Is there anyone on whom his light does not rise?

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