Psalm 56 8

Psalm 56:8 kjv

Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

Psalm 56:8 nkjv

You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?

Psalm 56:8 niv

Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll? are they not in your record?

Psalm 56:8 esv

You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?

Psalm 56:8 nlt

You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.

Psalm 56 verses

Psalm 56 8 Meaning

Psalm 56:8 profoundly expresses David's conviction that God is intimately aware of and meticulously records every aspect of his suffering. His "wanderings" refer to physical displacement and internal distress, while his "tears" symbolize profound sorrow and affliction. The imagery of God collecting tears in a bottle and noting everything in a book signifies divine compassion, an infallible memory, and a promise that no suffering of His people goes unnoticed or unvalued, implying future vindication or recompense.

Psalm 56 8 Context

Psalm 56 is a "Michtam of David," meaning a "golden" or "skillful" psalm. It was penned by David during an incredibly perilous period of his life: when he was fleeing from King Saul's persecution and was subsequently captured by the Philistines in Gath (recounted in 1 Sam 21:10-15). This was a time of intense fear, humiliation, and deep distress. The psalm oscillates between raw expressions of fear due to relentless enemies and fervent declarations of trust in God's steadfast faithfulness and help. Verse 8 comes as David pours out his soul, trusting that his all-seeing God is keeping a meticulous account of his desperate circumstances.

Psalm 56 8 Word analysis

• You (אַתָּה - 'Attah): A direct, personal address to God, emphasizing an intimate relationship. It sets a tone of direct communication and profound trust.
• have recorded (סָפַרְתָּה - sapar`ta): From the verb sapar, meaning "to count," "to number," "to recount," "to declare." It implies meticulous precision, not just casual observation. God has taken an exact measure or register of David's experiences.
• my wanderings (נֹדִי - nodi): From the root nud, meaning "to wander," "to flee," "to mourn," "to shake." This word encompasses not only David's physical dislocation and flight from enemies (being driven from place to place) but also the internal unrest, lamentation, and emotional distress caused by such circumstances.
• Put (נָתַתָּה - natahta): This verb can be interpreted as either an emphatic command or a past tense assertion. In this context, it is usually understood as an earnest plea or request ("O that you would put!") indicating David's profound desire for God to literally "collect" and treasure his tears.
• my tears (דִמְעָתִי - dim`ati): The raw expression of deep sorrow, anguish, and helpless weeping. It signifies the profound emotional pain and grief David experienced.
• in Your bottle (בְנֹאדֶךָ - b'nodekha): nod refers to a leather flask or wineskin. This is a unique and powerful anthropomorphic metaphor. It's not merely that God sees the tears, but He collects them, as one might save something precious. This signifies God's deep empathy, His preservation of suffering, and His valuing of the anguish experienced by His servant.
• Are they not (הֲלֹא - halo`): A rhetorical question expecting an affirmative answer. It strengthens the conviction and provides an emphatic confirmation. David is confident in God's answer: "Yes, indeed they are!"
• in Your book (עַל־סִפְרָתֶךָ - al-sifratekha): sifrah refers to a written record, scroll, or ledger. This refers to a divine register or ledger. This reiterates the meticulous "recording" mentioned at the beginning of the verse. It suggests an eternal, infallible divine memory and a precise account, ensuring that David's suffering is not forgotten but is documented for future remembrance and eventual vindication.

Psalm 56 8 Bonus section

The image of collecting tears in a bottle (b'nodekha) is remarkably unique and singular in the Hebrew Scriptures. While similar customs might have existed in some ancient Near Eastern cultures to memorialize significant events, its use here serves to profoundly illustrate divine empathy and personal care, transforming sorrow into something precious. It stands in stark contrast to pagan deities who were often depicted as indifferent or cruel. This verse eloquently shifts from God's observational knowledge ("You have recorded my wanderings") to David's earnest appeal for special divine care ("Put my tears in Your bottle"), concluding with an affirmation of settled conviction ("Are they not in Your book?"), demonstrating the progression of David's trust amidst distress.

Psalm 56 8 Commentary

Psalm 56:8 is a profound testament to God's compassionate intimacy with His suffering people. It moves beyond simply believing that God sees one's distress, asserting that He meticulously records it and cherishes even the smallest expressions of sorrow, like tears. David's plea to put his tears in God's bottle reveals a deep longing for his pain to be acknowledged and treasured, implying it is not in vain. The confirmation that these are "in Your book" underscores God's infallible memory and meticulous accounting. This divine record provides comfort and hope, assuring that no pain is forgotten and suggesting a future day of vindication or recompense for those who suffer for righteousness. It portrays God not as a distant observer, but as a tender Father who keeps account of every detail of His children's trials, turning their anguish into something eternally valuable in His sight.