Psalm 121 6

Psalm 121:6 kjv

The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

Psalm 121:6 nkjv

The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.

Psalm 121:6 niv

the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

Psalm 121:6 esv

The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.

Psalm 121:6 nlt

The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon at night.

Psalm 121 verses

Psalm 121 6 Meaning

Psalm 121:6 declares God's comprehensive and continuous protection over His people from all forms of harm associated with the natural elements. It specifically assures that the sun will not injure or scorch them by day, nor the moon harm them by night, symbolizing a perpetual safeguard against dangers both evident and subtle, whether occurring during waking hours or in vulnerability of darkness. This verse signifies God's vigilant, all-encompassing care, guarding against perceived and unseen perils of the journey through life.

Psalm 121 6 Context

Psalm 121 is one of the "Songs of Ascent" (Psalms 120-134), traditionally sung by pilgrims traveling "up" to Jerusalem for the great annual festivals. These journeys, often lengthy and arduous, exposed travelers to various physical dangers and environmental challenges. The psalmist expresses reliance on God as their sole source of help, not on mountains or pagan deities associated with high places. Verse 6, specifically, speaks to the immediate environmental threats faced during such a journey. The hot sun by day could cause sunstroke, dehydration, or heat exhaustion, while the cold moon by night (and its associated chill or ancient superstitions about lunar influences, such as lunacy) also presented potential harm. Thus, this verse reassures the pilgrim of divine protection from all such perils, extending the promise of God as their "Keeper" (v. 5), whose vigilance is ceaseless, covering all hours and all dangers inherent in their passage. It stands as a profound statement of faith against the backdrop of both physical vulnerability and surrounding pagan beliefs that worshipped natural phenomena like the sun and moon.

Psalm 121 6 Word analysis

• The sun (שֶׁמֶשׁ - shemesh): In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the sun was often deified and worshipped (e.g., Ra in Egypt, Shamash in Mesopotamia, Baal in Canaan often had solar connections). In the biblical worldview, however, the sun is a created entity, subject to the Creator. Its mention here signifies a common, powerful natural element capable of causing significant harm (e.g., scorching, heatstroke). The text underscores that even this formidable element is under God's control and cannot harm His protected ones without His allowance.
• shall not strike you (לֹא-יַכֶּכָּה - lo yakkecha): From the Hebrew root נָכָה (nakah), meaning "to strike," "to smite," "to hit," "to wound," or "to inflict harm." This is a strong verb often used for divine judgment or severe physical harm. Its negation here signifies a complete and effective defense against any adverse impact or injury, emphasizing proactive divine intervention that prevents the harm from materializing. It is an assurance of immunity from its destructive potential.
• by day (יוֹמָם - yomam): This adverb emphasizes "by day," highlighting the protection during the hours of daylight when the sun is dominant. It signifies the perils of daytime journeys, particularly exposure to intense heat.
• nor the moon (וְיָרֵחַ - ve-yareach): The moon (יָרֵחַ - yareach) was also often venerated in pagan cultures. Here, like the sun, it is depicted as a mere creation under God's dominion. While the moon itself does not "strike" in the same way the sun scorches, ancient beliefs sometimes attributed ill effects to lunar exposure, such as cold-related illnesses or mental disturbances (from which we get the word "lunacy"). The inclusion of the moon extends the sphere of protection to include the unseen or less obvious perils associated with night.
• by night (בַּלָּיְלָה - ballaylah): This phrase specifies protection during the dark hours, which were often associated with different kinds of dangers – cold, predatory animals, bandits, and even spiritual terrors or evil influences. Together with "by day," it underscores round-the-clock, continuous guardianship.

• The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night: This phrase acts as a powerful parallelism, employing a poetic hyperbole regarding the moon to emphasize the totality and universality of God's protection. It encompasses all times (day and night) and all elemental forces (both the fiercely evident and the subtly dangerous). It asserts God's supreme authority over creation and His benevolent oversight, ensuring no element, however powerful or mysterious, can bring harm to His chosen ones without His divine allowance or actively intervene to protect. This statement is a profound theological affirmation of God’s complete sovereignty and meticulous care over the lives of those who trust in Him.

Psalm 121 6 Bonus section

The mention of the moon "striking" is a key element for understanding the verse's hyperbole and comprehensiveness. While the sun clearly causes literal scorching and heatstroke, the moon's "strike" likely alludes to the adverse effects of night chills or perhaps ancient superstitions regarding lunar influences on health and sanity ("lunacy"). By explicitly including the moon, the psalmist extends God's protection beyond just the most obvious perils to cover all forms of potential harm, including those less direct or understood by the people of the time. This verse is not just about physical protection from nature, but points to God's total dominion over all elements that could affect a human being, spiritually, mentally, or physically, around the clock. It reinforces the earlier statement in Ps 121:5 that the LORD is "your shade at your right hand," implying not just a literal shield from heat but a constant, ever-present guard.

Psalm 121 6 Commentary

Psalm 121:6 beautifully articulates the scope of God’s protective care for His people. Building on the preceding verses that establish the LORD as the ever-vigilant "Keeper" and "Shade," this verse specifies that divine protection covers all aspects of daily and nightly exposure. It is a promise against both obvious, physical dangers like scorching heat from the sun and more subtle, less understood risks attributed to the moon. This extends the spiritual assurance to tangible, environmental protection. For the pilgrim, vulnerable to nature’s extremes and hazards during travel, it was a profound comfort. Theologically, it asserts God’s absolute sovereignty over creation, dismantling any lingering fear of cosmic forces or pagan deities often associated with the sun and moon in the ancient world. It signifies a profound confidence that all things, even those powerful enough to harm, are subject to the will of the Almighty who actively keeps watch over His beloved. This comprehensive shield reminds believers that God's guardianship is neither partial nor temporary but is a constant, holistic embrace against all adversarial elements of life's journey, whether seen or unseen, day or night.