Psalm 90:8 kjv
Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
Psalm 90:8 nkjv
You have set our iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.
Psalm 90:8 niv
You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.
Psalm 90:8 esv
You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.
Psalm 90:8 nlt
You spread out our sins before you ?
our secret sins ? and you see them all.
Psalm 90 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 16:13 | So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, "You are a God of seeing"... | God's omniscience |
| 1 Sam 16:7 | ...the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. | God judges the heart |
| 1 Chr 28:9 | ...for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought... | God knows all thoughts |
| Job 34:21 | "For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps." | God observes all actions |
| Ps 32:5 | I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity... | Confession reveals sin |
| Ps 36:9 | For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. | God's light reveals |
| Ps 44:21 | Would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart. | God knows hidden secrets |
| Ps 139:1-4 | O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up... | God's comprehensive knowledge |
| Ps 139:11-12 | If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me...even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day..." | Darkness cannot hide from God |
| Prov 5:21 | For a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths. | God sees all human paths |
| Prov 15:3 | The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. | God's omnipresence |
| Prov 28:13 | Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. | Concealing vs. confessing sin |
| Isa 6:3 | "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" | God's holiness |
| Jer 17:10 | "I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds." | God tests heart and deeds |
| Jer 23:24 | "Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the Lord. "Do I not fill heaven and earth?" declares the Lord. | No hiding from God's omnipresence |
| Hab 1:13 | You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong... | God's pure eyes |
| Mt 10:26 | So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. | All hidden things revealed |
| Lk 8:17 | For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. | Secrets brought to light |
| Rom 2:16 | ...on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. | God judges secret sins through Christ |
| 1 Cor 4:5 | Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. | God exposes hidden things |
| Eph 5:11-13 | Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them... For everything that becomes visible is light. | Light exposes darkness |
| Heb 4:13 | And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. | Nothing hidden from God |
| 1 John 1:5 | This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. | God as pure light |
Psalm 90 verses
Psalm 90 8 Meaning
Psalm 90:8 declares God's absolute omniscience and perfect holiness, revealing that no human transgression, whether overt or covert, escapes His divine knowledge and scrutiny. God deliberately places "our iniquities" – our rebellion and moral perversions – directly "before Him," fully exposed to His unyielding standard. Furthermore, our "secret sins" – those hidden from others, perhaps even forgotten by us, or committed in the deepest recesses of the heart – are laid bare "in the light of His presence," illuminated by the very essence of His holy being. This verse profoundly underscores the accountability of humanity before an all-seeing God.
Psalm 90 8 Context
Psalm 90 is unique as the only psalm attributed to Moses, titled "A Prayer of Moses, the Man of God." It contrasts humanity's brevity, frailty, and sinfulness with God's eternal nature and sovereign power. Verses 1-2 establish God as the eternal dwelling place and Creator. Verses 3-6 describe human life as fleeting, like grass, and rapidly consumed by divine wrath due to sin. Verse 7 specifically links God's anger and the rapid decay of human life to human iniquity. Thus, Psalm 90:8 directly follows this, explaining why God's wrath is poured out: because He sees and remembers every transgression. This verse underscores the root cause of humanity's suffering and transient existence – their sin exposed before God's holy scrutiny – a profound reflection from a leader who experienced both God's power and the consequences of the wilderness generation's disobedience.
Psalm 90 8 Word analysis
You have set (שַׁתָּה, shattah): From the Hebrew root shit, meaning to place, set, lay down, or appoint. This is not passive observation, but an active, deliberate placement. God intentionally positions these sins before Himself for full contemplation and accountability. It conveys the certainty of His awareness and eventual judgment.
our iniquities (עֲוֺנֹתֵינוּ, 'avonotenu): From 'avon, meaning iniquity, guilt, moral perversity, twistedness. It speaks of deviations from God's standard, wrongs that warp moral rectitude. This encompasses rebellious acts and sins against God's law, highlighting the deep-seated brokenness.
before you (לְנֶגְדֶּךָ, lenegdekha): Literally "opposite you" or "in front of you." It denotes full, unobstructed visibility. There is no angle or shadow where these "iniquities" can hide from God's direct gaze. They are directly confronting His holy nature.
our secret sins (עַלֻמֵנֻי, 'alumenu): From 'alam, meaning to hide, conceal, or be hidden. These are sins known only to the individual, or even suppressed from their own conscious memory. It covers hidden thoughts, unspoken motives, internal rebellions, and covert actions that escape human detection.
in the light (לִמְאוֹר, lim'or): From ma'or, referring to a source of light or illumination. This isn't metaphorical darkness; God's very being functions as the light source, making everything manifest. It implies revelation and exposure.
of your presence (פָּנֶיךָ, paneykha): Literally "your face." This refers to God's manifested being, His very self, His divine essence. It is not just a light, but His light – the illuminating, exposing power of His perfect holiness and absolute moral purity. To be in the light of His presence means to be utterly exposed by His inherent holiness.
Words-group by words-group analysis
"You have set our iniquities before you": This phrase emphasizes divine intentionality. God doesn't merely know our iniquities, He actively brings them into full view before Himself. This deliberate "setting" prepares the way for His just assessment and response. It implies an accountability ledger being maintained.
"our secret sins in the light of your presence": This extends the scope of divine knowledge beyond obvious transgressions. "Secret sins" encompass the hidden realm of human will, thought, and intent. The "light of your presence" is more than simple illumination; it is the perfect, penetrating, holy radiance of God Himself that leaves no crevice of darkness unexplored, exposing even the most clandestine internal or external acts. It underlines God's nature as light in whom there is no darkness at all.
Psalm 90 8 Bonus section
This verse implies not only God's knowledge but also His uncompromised justice. Because all sin, even secret sin, is revealed by His presence, it necessitates a holy reaction from God. This lays the groundwork for understanding the need for atonement and a mediator, as humanity cannot stand in its sinfulness before such perfect light without being consumed. The very "light of God's presence" which exposes sin is also the light that reveals His pathway to salvation for those who confess their sins (Ps 32:5) and seek mercy through His appointed means.
Psalm 90 8 Commentary
Psalm 90:8 serves as a stark reminder of God's perfect omniscience and unblemished holiness. It dispels any illusion that sins, particularly those hidden from human view, can remain unperceived by the Divine. Moses, perhaps reflecting on the consequences of sin during the wilderness wandering, presents a terrifying truth: God does not overlook transgression. Both overt iniquities and clandestine "secret sins" are meticulously placed by God before Himself and fully exposed by the blinding brilliance of His holy character. This divine illumination serves not merely to observe but to reveal the full extent of humanity's sinfulness, necessitating a divine response of judgment or an avenue for repentance and atonement. It reveals why our days are swift and life is transient; it's a consequence of an unholy humanity living before a holy God whose very presence uncovers all darkness. This should drive humanity to humility, repentance, and reliance on divine grace, as there is no true hiding place from the Almighty.