Psalms 36 · Verse 9

Psalms 36:9

For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
Psalms 36:9, King James Version

Psalms 36:9 in other translations

BSBFor with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.
WEBFor with you is the spring of life. In your light we will see light.
ASVFor with thee is the fountain of life: In thy light shall we see light.
YLTFor with Thee is a fountain of life, In Thy light we see light.
DARBYFor with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
BBEFor with you is the fountain of life: in your light we will see light.
WebsterFor with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

What does Psalms 36:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. Light is an emblem of all blessings, given of God as a means to gain more.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 For with thee is the fountain of life - This, in Scripture phrase, may signify a spring of water; for such was called among the Jews living water, to distinguish it from ponds, tanks, and reservoirs, that were supplied by water either received from the clouds, or conducted into them by pipes and streams from other quarters. But there seems to be a higher allusion in the sacred text. כי עמך מקור חיים ki immecha mekor chaiyim, "For with thee is the vein of lives." Does not this allude to the great aorta, which, receiving the blood from the heart, distributes it by the arteries to every part of the human body, whence it is conducted back to the heart by means of the veins. As the heart, by means of the great aorta, distributes the blood to the remotest parts of the body; so, God, by Christ Jesus, conveys the life-giving streams of his providential goodness to all the worlds and beings he has created, and the influences of his grace and mercy to every soul that has sinned. All spiritual and temporal good comes from Him, the Father, through Him, the Son, to every part of the creation of God. In thy light shall we see light - No man can illuminate his own soul; all understanding must come from above. Here the metaphor is changed, and God is compared to the sun in the firmament of heaven, that gives light to all the planets and their inhabitants. "God said, Let there be light; and there was light; "by that light the eye of man was enabled to behold the various works of God, and the beauties of creation: so, when God speaks light into the dark heart of man, he not only beholds his own deformity and need of the salvation of God, but he beholds the "light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ;" "God, in Christ, reconciling the world to himself." "In thy light shall we see light." This is literally true, both in a spiritual and philosophical sense.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 36:5-12

Men may shut up their compassion, yet, with God we shall find mercy. This is great comfort to all believers, plainly to be seen, and not to be taken away. God does all wisely and well; but what he does we know not now, it is time enough to know hereafter. God's loving-kindness is precious to the saints. They put themselves under his protection, and then are safe and easy. Gracious souls, though still desiring more…

Read the full comment on Psalms 36:5-12 →

Psalms 36:9 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.

כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
עִ֭מְּךָ'I.me.kha[is] with youH5973
מְק֣וֹרme.Kora fountain ofH4726
חַיִּ֑יםchai.YimlifeH2416
בְּ֝אוֹרְךָ֗be.'or.khain light yourH216
נִרְאֶה\־nir.'eh-we seeH7200
אֽוֹר\׃'orlightH216

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

Cross references for Psalms 36:9

  • John 8:12

    Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

  • John 4:14

    But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

  • 1 John 1:7

    But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

  • John 4:10

    Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

  • Revelation 21:6

    And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

  • John 7:37-39

    In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

  • 2 Corinthians 4:6

    For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

  • Jeremiah 2:13

    For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

  • Isaiah 60:19

    The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.

  • James 1:17

    Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

  • Job 29:3

    When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;

  • 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?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
For.
Isa 12:3; Jer 2:13; Joh 4:10,14; 7:37-39; Re 21:6; 22:17
in thy.
27:1; Job 29:3; Pr 4:18; Isa 2:5; 60:1,2,19; Mal 4:2; Joh 1:8,9
Joh 8:12; 2Co 4:6; Jas 1:17; 1Pe 2:9; 1Jo 1:7; Re 21:23

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

Context

  • Psalms 36:8

    They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

  • Psalms 36:9

    For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

  • Psalms 36:10

    O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.

Read all of Psalms 36

Psalms 36:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque contigo está el manantial de la vida: en tu luz veremos la luz.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ils seront abondamment rassasiés de la graisse de ta maison, et tu les abreuveras au fleuve de tes délices;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn bei dir ist der Quell des Lebens, in deinem Lichte werden wir das Licht sehen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quoniam qui malignantur exterminabuntur; sustinentes autem Dominum, ipsi hæreditabunt terram.