Psalm 139 10

Psalm 139:10 kjv

Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

Psalm 139:10 nkjv

Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.

Psalm 139:10 niv

even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139:10 esv

even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

Psalm 139:10 nlt

even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.

Psalm 139 verses

Psalm 139 10 Meaning

Psalm 139:10 affirms the profound truth that no place, no matter how remote, dark, or unimaginable, lies beyond the active presence and benevolent power of God. Even in locations or circumstances where one might feel utterly lost or alone, the divine hand will actively guide and the mighty right hand of God will securely uphold and sustain the individual. It is an assurance of God's pervasive, intimate, and never-failing care for the psalmist.

Psalm 139 10 Context

Psalm 139 is a profound reflection on God's omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence, celebrating His intricate knowledge and creation of the psalmist. Verses 7-12, where verse 10 is found, specifically explore the theme of God's omnipresence. The psalmist asks rhetorically where he could flee from God's Spirit or presence (v. 7). He then lists extreme, opposite ends of the known world or existence: ascending to heaven or making his bed in Sheol (the realm of the dead, v. 8), or taking the wings of the morning to dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea (v. 9, referring to the furthest east to the furthest west). Verse 10 is the resounding affirmation to these rhetorical questions: even in those ultimate, seemingly unreachable places, God's presence is not merely static but actively engaged in leading and holding. This deeply personal confession stands in contrast to common Ancient Near Eastern beliefs that gods were limited by geographical boundaries or specific cultic sites, asserting Yahweh's unique, universal, and personal sovereignty.

Psalm 139 10 Word analysis

• Even there (גַּם־שָׁ֭ם - gam-sham):
  • `gam`: Hebrew adverb meaning "also," "even," "moreover." Its inclusion here intensifies the statement, emphasizing the comprehensiveness of God's presence.
  • `sham`: Hebrew adverb meaning "there," referring directly back to the "wings of the morning" and "uttermost parts of the sea" in verse 9.
  • Significance: This phrase highlights the absolute boundlessness of God's presence, indicating no location is beyond His reach, control, or care. It transcends geographical limits and even metaphorical "dark places" of the soul.
• Your hand (יָדְךָ֫ - yad’ḵā):
  • `yad`: Hebrew noun for "hand." In Hebrew thought, the hand often symbolizes power, agency, authority, control, and decisive action.
  • `your (ḵā)`: The personal suffix emphasizes God's direct and personal involvement with the psalmist.
  • Significance: This is not passive presence but active, powerful engagement. It is a metonymy for God's operative divine will and executive action, indicating His purposeful interaction with creation and individual lives.
• will lead me (תַּנְחֵ֑נִי - tann·ḥê·nî):
  • Root: `נָחָה (nachah)`: A verb meaning "to lead, guide, conduct, direct." It often implies a secure, beneficial, and intentional guiding, like leading one to rest or safety.
  • Significance: God's presence is not merely for observation but for direction. Even in circumstances that might seem disorienting or perilous, God provides direction and purpose, ensuring that one's path is not without divine guidance. This assures a deliberate pathway from God.
• And Your right hand (וְתֹּֽאחֲזֵ֥נִי יְמִינֶֽךָּ - wə·ṯō·’ă·ḥă·zê·nî yə·mî·neḵ·kā):
  • `yə·mî·neḵ·kā`: "your right hand." `yamin` (right hand) is often associated with strength, power, honor, and decisive action in biblical and ancient cultures.
  • `we`: The conjunction "and," connecting the two affirmations.
  • Significance: The "right hand" emphasizes the full might and unchallengeable authority of God. It's not just His active presence but His strongest, most effective power employed on behalf of the psalmist, ensuring an immovable foundation and decisive control. This challenges the notion of weak, limited deities.
• will hold me (תֹּֽאחֲזֵ֥נִי - tō·’ă·ḥă·zê·nî):
  • Root: `אָחַז (achaz)`: A verb meaning "to seize, take hold of, grasp, hold fast." It implies a firm, secure, and protective grip, preventing falling or being lost.
  • Significance: God's presence also signifies His unwavering support and security. He not only guides the way but provides stability, preventing the individual from being utterly lost or falling beyond hope. This brings profound comfort against feelings of helplessness or isolation.
• Word-Group Analysis:
  • "Even there Your hand will lead me": This segment underscores the directive aspect of God's omnipresence. It assures the psalmist that despite potentially frightening or unknown territories ("even there"), God's power is actively engaged in purposeful leadership, preventing a state of aimless wandering or being permanently lost. It's an affirmation of divine strategy for one's path.
  • "And Your right hand will hold me": This second clause highlights the sustaining and protective aspect. Beyond merely guiding, God's supreme power—represented by His "right hand"—provides unshakeable stability and security, ensuring that no circumstance can dislodge or separate the individual from His unwavering grasp. This conveys unwavering support and protection from falling.
  • Combined Clauses: The two clauses together present a holistic picture of God's perfect, encompassing care: He guides forward progress and upholds stability, simultaneously providing direction and security. This powerful parallelism magnifies the comforting truth that divine power is ever-present for active benevolent engagement, ensuring no situation is truly overwhelming when one is in His care.

Psalm 139 10 Bonus section

• The use of personal pronouns throughout Psalm 139 ("me," "my") ensures that the profound theological truths of God's attributes are made intimately relational, transforming abstract concepts into a deeply personal experience of divine care.
• This verse contributes significantly to the biblical doctrine of divine providence, which states that God sovereignly governs all events, actively intervening and providing for His creation. Psalm 139:10 particularly emphasizes individual, minute providence, assuring personal guidance and sustenance.
• The parallelism ("Your hand will lead me" / "Your right hand will hold me") is a characteristic feature of Hebrew poetry. It is a form of synonymous parallelism that reinforces the same core idea—God's active and comprehensive support—through slightly varied but complementary expressions, enhancing its emphasis and impact.
• Anthropomorphisms, such as "hand" and "right hand," are used to describe God's attributes in human terms, making His vast, incomprehensible nature relatable and understandable to finite human beings, signifying His tangible and effective power in the world.

Psalm 139 10 Commentary

Psalm 139:10 serves as a powerful personal assurance derived from the truth of God's omnipresence. It refutes any human thought of being able to escape or be outside of God's reach, transforming the potentially daunting idea of inescapable divine presence into one of profound comfort and unwavering support. When the psalmist ponders fleeing to the heavens, Sheol, or the remotest corners of the earth, he realizes that "even there," God's benevolent engagement persists. "Your hand will lead me" signifies active divine guidance, directing paths in unknown territories. This guidance is not arbitrary but purposeful, aiming towards welfare. Furthermore, "Your right hand will hold me" highlights God's strength and unwavering grip. The right hand, a symbol of power and authority, reassures that this divine grasp is secure and unyielding, providing stability and preservation against any adversity. This verse fundamentally declares that isolation or being utterly lost is impossible for one known and cared for by the omniscient and omnipresent God, offering solace in times of doubt, fear, or disorientation.