Psalms 139:8
What does Psalms 139:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Psalms 139:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Psalms 139:8 means
David offers his first examples of God's inescapable omnipresence. If he were to ascend to the highest heavens, God would be there. Likewise, if he were to descend into Sheol, the realm of the dead, God would also be present. This demonstrates that God's presence is not confined to any specific domain but extends throughout the entire vertical spectrum of existence, from the highest spiritual realms to the very lowest and darkest places.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there.
KJV
King James Version · 1611If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949If I go up to heaven, you are there: or if I make my bed in the underworld, you are there.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862If I ascend the heavens--there Thou <FI>art<Fi> , And spread out a couch in Sheol, lo, Thee!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752O Lord, Lord, the strength of my salvation: thou hast overshadowed my head in the day of battle.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890If I ascend up into the heavens thou art there; or if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou [art there];
Context
Continuing the line of thought from verse 7, which questioned where one could flee from God, this verse provides the first concrete examples. It establishes God's presence in both the highest (heaven) and lowest (Sheol) points of the known universe, setting up the subsequent verses to explore God's omnipresence across the horizontal expanse of the earth.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Job 26:6
Sheol is naked beforeGod, And Abaddon hath no covering.
- Jonah 2:2
And he said, I called by reason of mine affliction unto Jehovah, And he answered me; Out of the belly of Sheol cried I, And thou heardest my voice.
- Obadiah 1:4
Though thou mount on high as the eagle, and though thy nest be set among the stars, I will bring thee down from thence, saith Jehovah.
- Amos 9:2
Though they dig into Sheol, thence shall my hand take them; and though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down.
- Proverbs 15:11
Sheol and Abaddon are before Jehovah; How much more then the hearts of the children of men!
- Job 34:21
For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, And he seeth all his goings.
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