Psalm 139 11

Psalm 139:11 kjv

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

Psalm 139:11 nkjv

If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," Even the night shall be light about me;

Psalm 139:11 niv

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"

Psalm 139:11 esv

If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,"

Psalm 139:11 nlt

I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night ?

Psalm 139 verses

Psalm 139 11 Meaning

Psalm 139:11 contemplates a hypothetical scenario where an individual might imagine escaping God's omnipresence by seeking refuge in darkness. The verse portrays a human attempt to hide or become unseen from the divine eye by wishing that darkness would completely envelop them and that any surrounding light would transform into profound night. However, this thought is immediately negated by the following verse (Ps 139:12), highlighting the ultimate futility of such an endeavor before the all-knowing and ever-present God. It underscores God's absolute dominion over both light and darkness, affirming that no place, however dim or concealed, can obscure one from His gaze.

Psalm 139 11 Context

Psalm 139 is a profound reflection on God's omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent nature. The psalmist, King David, meditates on God's intimate knowledge of every thought and action (vv. 1-6), His inescapable presence in every conceivable place (vv. 7-12), and His intricate work in creating human life (vv. 13-16). This psalm moves from personal awareness of God's complete knowledge to cosmic acknowledgment of His all-encompassing power. Verse 11 specifically continues the theme of God's omnipresence established in verses 7-10. Having explored the physical boundaries of heaven and Sheol, and the furthest reaches of the sea, the psalmist then considers the possibility of hiding through the absence of light itself. Historically and culturally, darkness in the ancient Near East often symbolized chaos, evil, concealment, and the unknown, places where human or even divine beings were thought to be limited or absent. This verse therefore sets up a polemic, implicitly challenging the notion that darkness, a common hiding place, could ever be a barrier to the omnipresent God.

Psalm 139 11 Word analysis

• If I say: This introduces a hypothetical thought or intention. It indicates a contemplative, almost desperate, human desire to escape God's reach.
• 'Surely: Expresses certainty or assurance within the hypothetical statement, emphasizing the hope that such a plan might succeed.
• the darkness: (Hebrew: חֹשֶׁךְ, choshek). This word signifies deep obscurity, absence of light, often associated with mystery, concealment, fear, and even evil or judgment in biblical literature. Here, it refers to absolute physical darkness, imagined as a cloak.
• will cover me: (Hebrew: יְשׂוּכֵנִי, yesukheni from the root sakakh meaning to cover, hedge in, overshadow, or shield). This denotes a complete enveloping, a blanket of obscurity that would hide one from view. It implies a desire for full concealment. The root can also mean protection, but here it is a desperate attempt at concealment from God, not protection by God.
• and the light around me: (Hebrew: בַּעֲדֵנִי לַיְלָה, ba'adeni laylah or from another rendering or 'light'). This refers to the general ambient illumination. The phrase directly contrasts the preceding 'darkness.' The thought is that even if some light remains, it should be nullified.
• become night: (Hebrew: לַיְלָה, laylah). This signifies a complete transformation into the deepest form of darkness. Night implies a time when things are obscured, and activities can go unnoticed. The wish is not just for darkness to cover, but for any existing light to be consumed by night. This intensification of darkness shows the thoroughness of the attempted concealment. This imagery speaks against the common ancient belief that deities had limited sight or jurisdiction in certain realms, especially those of darkness or the underworld.

Psalm 139 11 Bonus section

This verse implicitly challenges certain ancient pagan worldview where deities were often localized, tied to specific geographical areas, temples, or celestial bodies. They might also be thought to have limited power or vision in the underworld or during the night. The psalmist's meditation, therefore, serves as a direct polemic against such limitations imposed on the divine, strongly asserting that the God of Israel is omnipresent and omniscient, reigning supreme over all conditions of light and darkness. This truth carries significant spiritual implications: no sin committed in secrecy is hidden, no thought harbored in the deep recesses of the mind escapes Him, and no individual is ever truly alone, outside of His loving or judging presence.

Psalm 139 11 Commentary

Psalm 139:11 is a powerful expression of the human mind contemplating the impossibility of escaping the Divine gaze. The psalmist considers the most profound natural veil—utter darkness—as a potential hiding place from God. The progression from 'darkness will cover me' to 'the light around me become night' demonstrates a yearning for complete, absolute concealment, a place where no eyes could penetrate. This reflects an instinctive, though flawed, human assumption that physical obscurity equals spiritual or divine blindness. However, the brilliance of this verse lies in its setup: it poses a question that it immediately answers in the subsequent verse (Ps 139:12), showing that such an idea is futile. For the God of Israel, darkness is not a barrier; rather, it is as illuminated as the brightest day. The verse thus asserts God's unparalleled omnipresence and omniscience, dismissing any notion of a realm beyond His sight or control. It teaches us that hiding from God is impossible, whether through physical escape, deep secrecy, or even mental concealment.