Psalms 121 · Verse 4

Psalms 121:4

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
Psalms 121:4, King James Version

Psalms 121:4 in other translations

BSBBehold, the Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
WEBBehold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
ASVBehold, he that keepeth Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.
YLTLo, He slumbereth not, nor sleepeth, He who is preserving Israel.
DARBYBehold, he that keepeth Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
BBESee, the eyes of Israel's keeper will not be shut in sleep.
WebsterBehold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

What does Psalms 121:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 121:3-4

3-4. His sleepless vigilance is added. to be moved--(Compare Psa 38:16; 66:9).

Read the full comment on Psalms 121:3-4 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 He 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, Ταν σαν, Ζευ, δυναμιν τις ανδρων Ὑπερβασια κατασχοι, Ταν ουθ' ὑπνος αἱ - ρει ποθ' ὁ παντογηρως, Ακαματοι τε θεων Μηνες; Antig. ver. 613, Edit. Johnson. Shall men below control great Jove above,Whose eyes by all-subduing sleep Are never closed, as feeble mortals' are;But still their watchful vigil keep Through the long circle of th' eternal year? Franklin.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Psalms 121:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הִנֵּ֣הhi.Nehthere!H2009
לֹֽא\־lo'-notH3808
יָ֭נוּםYa.numhe will slumberH5123
וְלֹ֣אve.Lo'and notH3808
יִישָׁ֑ןyi.Shanhe will sleepH3462
שׁ֝וֹמֵ֗רSho.Mer[the] protector ofH8104
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל\׃Yis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 121:4

  • Psalms 127:1

    A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

  • Isaiah 27:3

    I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.

  • Psalms 32:7-8

    Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

  • 1 Kings 18:27

    And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

  • Ecclesiastes 8:16

    When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)

  • Psalms 27:1

    A Psalm of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

  • Revelation 7:15

    Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he that.
27:1; 32:7,8; 127:1; Isa 27:3
shall.
1Ki 18:27; Ec 8:16; Re 7:15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 121:3

    He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

  • Psalms 121:4

    Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

  • Psalms 121:5

    The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

Read all of Psalms 121

Psalms 121:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		He aquí, no se adormecerá ni dormirá el que guarda á Israel.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Voici, celui qui garde Israël ne sommeillera pas, et ne dormira pas.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Siehe, der Hüter Israels, nicht schlummert noch schläft er.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Illuc enim ascenderunt tribus, tribus Domini: testimonium Israël, ad confitendum nomini Domini.