Psalm 63 6

Psalm 63:6 kjv

When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

Psalm 63:6 nkjv

When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.

Psalm 63:6 niv

On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

Psalm 63:6 esv

when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

Psalm 63:6 nlt

I lie awake thinking of you,
meditating on you through the night.

Psalm 63 verses

Psalm 63 6 Meaning

Psalm 63:6 expresses King David’s profound and sustained devotion to God, particularly during his personal solitude and vulnerable moments. Despite his likely desperate situation in the wilderness, his thoughts naturally gravitate towards remembering and meditating upon the Lord, even in the stillness and potential anxieties of the night. This verse signifies finding deep spiritual nourishment, comfort, and peace by intimately focusing on God, making quiet contemplation the sustenance of his soul. It speaks of a continuous, deeply personal fellowship with the Divine that transcends physical circumstances and external distractions.

Psalm 63 6 Context

Psalm 63 is titled "A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah." This historical note is crucial for understanding the verse. David was likely fleeing either from King Saul (1 Sam 23:14) or, more probably, from his son Absalom (2 Sam 15:23, 28). This context paints a picture of intense physical hardship, deprivation, loneliness, and possibly danger. He was in a parched land, yearning for God's presence as desperately as he craved water (Psa 63:1). Amidst such a dire external situation, David's response is not despair but an even deeper spiritual turning towards God. Verse 6 specifically emphasizes his private devotion, suggesting that even his most vulnerable and unguarded moments – lying awake on his bed during the long, dark "night watches" – were sanctified by remembrance and meditation on God, finding true refreshment there despite his desert surroundings.

Psalm 63 6 Word analysis

• When I remember (בְּזָכְרִךְ - b'zakri): From the root zakhar (זָכַר), meaning to recall, to call to mind, to be mindful of, to think upon, to mention. This is not mere intellectual recollection but an active, heartfelt bringing God to the forefront of the mind. It implies cherishing, acknowledging, and living in light of who God is and what He has done, particularly His faithfulness and lovingkindness. This "remembering" is foundational to a covenant relationship, where both parties remember their commitments.
• thee: The direct, intimate address to God emphasizes the personal nature of David's relationship and devotion. God is the specific, beloved object of his thought.
• upon my bed (עַל־יְצוּעָי - al yetzu'ay): Hebrew yatzu'a (יְצוּעָה), meaning couch, bed, resting place. This signifies a place of intimacy, privacy, rest, but also vulnerability and solitude. It highlights that David's devotion was not limited to public worship or specific times, but extended into the most private and unguarded moments of his life. Often, a person's thoughts before sleep or upon waking truly reveal their heart's deepest inclination.
• and meditate (אֶהְגֶּה - ehgeh): From the verb hagah (הָגָה), which means to moan, growl, mutter, ponder, muse, or meditate. It suggests a deep, internalized, often slow rumination on a thought, much like an animal chewing its cud. It's an active, deliberate process of internal spiritual nourishment, a thoughtful pondering that fully absorbs the mind and heart. This word also implies an audible, though quiet, expression, like mumbling to oneself.
• on thee: Again, stressing that God is the specific and central focus of his deep contemplation and rumination.
• in the night watches (בְּאַשְׁמוּרוֹת - b'ashmurot laylah): Hebrew ashmurah (אַשְׁמוּרָה), referring to the divisions of the night. Originally three watches (Lam 2:19), later four (Mk 13:35). This term denotes an extended period, particularly through the dark, quiet hours when others are asleep, and one is often alone with their thoughts, worries, or longings. For David, these hours, which could have been filled with fear or despair in the wilderness, were instead dedicated to devoted concentration on God. It indicates sustained, even sleepless, communion with the Divine.

Words-group analysis

• "When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee": This pairing highlights the deep personal and private nature of David's devotion. It's a continuous, intentional internal turning to God. "Remembering" speaks to bringing God to mind, while "meditating" denotes a deeper, sustained engagement with that thought, a prolonged contemplation that allows God's nature and deeds to nourish the soul.
• "upon my bed... in the night watches": These phrases signify the consistency and depth of his relationship with God that permeates his personal and vulnerable moments. The "bed" symbolizes the quiet solitude before sleep or during waking, while "night watches" refer to the extended, often solitary hours of night. Together, they demonstrate that God is his constant companion, transforming potential hours of anxiety or loneliness into times of rich communion and spiritual feasting. It indicates an active seeking of God even in physical rest or wakefulness.

Psalm 63 6 Bonus section

• This verse counters the modern tendency for distraction. In an age filled with digital stimulation, David’s example urges believers to intentionally create space for silent, sustained reflection on God, even through wakeful nights.
• The emphasis on "my bed" and "night watches" transforms potentially mundane or anxious times into spiritual disciplines. It reveals that intimacy with God is forged not just in formal worship, but also in the quietest, most personal corners of life.
• Historically, this meditative practice often included repeating and murmuring scriptural truths or attributes of God, imbuing the mind with divine principles rather than fleeting worries. This form of "chewing" on the truth strengthens faith and dispels fear.
• The "night watches" highlight perseverance. David’s devotion was not fleeting but enduring through extended periods of solitude and trial, showing that genuine faith remains constant.

Psalm 63 6 Commentary

Psalm 63:6 is a testament to the power of profound, personal communion with God that transcends physical discomfort or external peril. David, likely fleeing for his life in a desolate wilderness, reveals that his mind is not consumed by his predicament but by his devotion to the Lord. His "bed" and "night watches," traditionally times of rest or potential fear and despair, are transformed into hallowed spaces of remembrance and meditation. The act of "remembering" (from zakhar) is more than mere recall; it’s an active re-centering of his soul on God's character and covenant faithfulness. Similarly, "meditating" (from hagah) implies a deep, guttural rumination, a thoughtful mulling over of God's presence, goodness, and attributes. This verse underscores that true spiritual sustenance comes not from material comforts or a lack of trouble, but from continually focusing one's inner being on God, turning private moments into deep worship. It depicts a soul utterly satisfied by the spiritual richness of dwelling on the Divine, proving that a relationship with God can nourish one's deepest parts more fully than any physical sustenance. This verse provides a powerful example for believers to cultivate such deliberate and heartfelt internal focus on God in all circumstances, especially during quiet, solitary times.