Psalms 139 · Verse 18

Psalms 139:18

If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
Psalms 139:18, King James Version

Psalms 139:18 in other translations

BSBIf I were to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; and when I awake, I am still with You.
WEBIf I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.
ASVIf I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: When I awake, I am still with thee.
YLTI recount them! than the sand they are more, I have waked, and I am still with Thee.
DARBYIf I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I awake, I am still with thee.
BBEIf I made up their number, it would be more than the grains of sand; when I am awake, I am still with you.
WebsterIf I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

What does Psalms 139:18 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 If I should count them - I should be glad to enumerate so many interesting particulars: but they are beyond calculation. When I awake - Thou art my Governor and Protector night and day. I am still with thee - All my steps in life are ordered by thee: I cannot go out of thy presence; I am ever under the influence of thy Spirit. The subject, from the Psa 139:14 to the Psa 139:16 inclusive, might have been much more particularly illustrated, but we are taught, by the peculiar delicacy of expression in the Sacred Writings, to avoid, as in this case, the entering too minutely into anatomical details. I would, however, make an additional observation on the subject in the Psa 139:15 and Psa 139:16. I have already remarked the elegant allusion to embroidery, in the word רקמתי rukkamti, in the astonishing texture of the human body; all of which is said to be done in secret, בסתר bassether, in the secret place, viz., the womb of the mother, which, in the conclusion of the verse, is by a delicate choice of expression termed the lower parts of the earth. The embryo state, גלם golem, has a more forcible meaning than our word substance amounts to. גלם galam signifies to roll or wrap up together; and expresses the state of the fetus before the constituent members were developed. The best system of modern philosophy allows that to semine masculino all the members of the future animal are contained; and that these become slowly developed or unfolded, in the case of fowls, by incubation; and in the case of the more perfect animals, by gestation in the maternal matrix. It is no wonder that, in considering these, the psalmist should cry out, How precious, or extraordinary, are thy thoughts! how great is the sum-heads or outlines, of them! The particulars are, indeed, beyond comprehension; even the heads - the general contents, of thy works; while I endeavor to form any tolerable notion of them, prevail over me - they confound my understanding, and are vastly too multitudinous for my comprehension.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 139:17-24

God's counsels concerning us and our welfare are deep, such as cannot be known. We cannot think how many mercies we have received from him. It would help to keep us in the fear of the Lord all the day long, if, when we wake in the morning, our first thoughts were of him: and how shall we admire and bless our God for his precious salvation, when we awake in the world of glory! Surely we ought not to use our members…

Read the full comment on Psalms 139:17-24 →

Psalms 139:18 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.

אֶ֭סְפְּרֵם'Es.pe.remI will count themH5608
מֵח֣וֹלme.Cholmore than sandH2344
יִרְבּ֑וּןyir.Bunthey will be numerous !H7235
הֱ֝קִיצֹ֗תִיhe.ki.Tzo.tiI awokeH6974
וְעוֹדִ֥יve.'o.Diand still IH5750
עִמָּֽךְ\׃'i.Makh[am] with youH5973

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

Cross references for Psalms 139:18

  • Psalms 3:5

    I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.

  • Psalms 139:3

    Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

  • Psalms 40:5

    Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:10

    Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

  • Psalms 63:6-7

    When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

  • Psalms 16:8-11

    I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

  • Psalms 17:15

    As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

  • Isaiah 26:19

    Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

  • Daniel 12:2

    And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

  • Psalms 40:12

    For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they are more.
40:12
when I awake.
3; 3:5; 16:8-11; 17:15; 63:6,7; Isa 26:19; Da 12:2; 1Th 5:10

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

Context

  • Psalms 139:17

    How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

  • Psalms 139:18

    If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

  • Psalms 139:19

    Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

Read all of Psalms 139

Psalms 139:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Si los cuento, multiplícanse más que la arena: despierto, y aun estoy contigo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Si je veux les compter, elles sont plus nombreuses que le sable. Si je me réveille, je suis encore avec toi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wollte ich sie zählen, ihrer sind mehr als des Sandes. Ich erwache und bin noch bei dir.