Psalms 139:11
What does Psalms 139:11 mean?
A plain-English look at Psalms 139:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Psalms 139:11 means
David considers another scenario for escaping God's notice: hiding in the darkness. He imagines saying, "Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me, And the light about me shall be night." This reveals a human tendency to believe that darkness can conceal deeds or even one's very existence from a benevolent or watchful eye. It's a natural thought for someone seeking to hide, but the following verse will immediately challenge this presumption.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000If I say, Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me, And the light about me shall be night;
KJV
King James Version · 1611If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901If I say, Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me, And the light about me shall be night;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949If I say, Only let me be covered by the dark, and the light about me be night;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And I say, `Surely darkness bruiseth me, Then night <FI>is<Fi> light to me.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Burning coals shall fall upon them; thou wilt cast them down into the fire: in miseries they shall not be able to stand.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And if I say, Surely darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night;
Context
Having explored the impossibility of escaping God's omnipresence through physical location, David now turns his thoughts to the possibility of concealment through darkness. This verse presents the human assumption that night provides cover, directly setting up the powerful counter-argument in the next verse that God's divine sight transcends all such earthly limitations, revealing His mastery over light and shadow.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 29:15
Woe unto them that hide deep their counsel from Jehovah, and whose works are in the dark, and that say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
- Psalms 10:11
He saith in his heart: God hath forgotten; He hideth his face, he will never see it.
- Job 12:22
He uncovereth deep things out of darkness, And bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
- Job 22:12
Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the height of the stars, how high they are!
- Jeremiah 23:24
Can any hide himself in secret places so that I shall not see him? saith Jehovah. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith Jehovah.
- Psalms 94:7
And they say, Jehovah will not see, Neither will the God of Jacob consider.
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