Devine Scripture

Psalms 139:12

What does Psalms 139:12 mean?

A plain-English look at Psalms 139:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Psalms 139:12 means

This verse powerfully refutes the idea that darkness can hide anything from God. For God, darkness does not obscure; rather, "the night shineth as the day." This means that for the Almighty, there is no distinction between darkness and light in terms of visibility. Both are equally transparent to Him. This emphasizes God's unique nature, for whom the deepest shadows hold no mystery and offer no concealment.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Even the darkness hideth not from thee, But the night shineth as the day: The darkness and the light are both aliketo thee.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Even the darkness hideth not from thee, But the night shineth as the day: The darkness and the light are both aliketo thee.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Even the dark is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day: for dark and light are the same to you.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Also darkness hideth not from Thee, And night as day shineth, as <FI>is<Fi> darkness so <FI>is<Fi> light.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

A man full of tongue shall not be established in the earth: evil shall catch the unjust man unto destruction.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Even darkness hideth not from thee, and the night shineth as the day: the darkness is as the light.

Context

This verse directly refutes the presumption made in verse 11 that darkness could provide concealment from God. It highlights God's unique attribute: His ability to see perfectly even in absolute darkness, effectively removing any possibility of escaping His gaze. This profound declaration of God's transcendence over light and darkness serves as a powerful bridge to the subsequent section on God's creative power, implying that the One who created light and darkness also masters them.

v.11If I say, Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me, And the light about me shall be night;

v.12This passage

v.13For thou didst form my inward parts: Thou didst cover me in my mother’s womb.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Job 34:22

    There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

  • Exodus 20:21

    And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

  • Job 26:6

    Sheol is naked beforeGod, And Abaddon hath no covering.

  • Exodus 14:20

    and it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud and the darkness, yet gave it light by night: and the one came not near the other all the night.

  • Daniel 2:22

    he revealeth the deep and secret things; he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

  • Hebrews 4:13

    And there is no creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

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