Psalms 139:12

12 even [the] darkness is not too dark for you, and [the] night shines as the day-- the darkness [and] the light are alike [for you].

Psalms 139:12 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 139:12

Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee
Any thing that is done by men in it; or "darkeneth not from thee" F9, or causeth such darkness as to hinder the sight of any action committed. The Targum is,

``from thy Word;''

see ( Hebrews 4:12 Hebrews 4:13 ) ;

but the night shineth as the day;
or "enlightens as the day" F11, gives as much light with respect to God as the day does;

the darkness and the light [are] both alike [to thee];
as is the one, so is the other: the day gives him no more light than the night, and the night no more darkness than the day; he sees as well, as clearly and distinctly, in the one as in the other. The psalmist expresses the same thing in different words three or four times, as Kimchi observes, to show that so the Lord is, that thus it is with him; he has as clear a discerning of all things done in the darkest night as at bright noon day; see ( Job 34:21 Job 34:22 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F9 (Kmm Kyvxy al) "non obscurabit a te", Montanus; "non obtenebrant", Gejerus; so Michaelis.
F11 (ryay) "illustrat", Junius & Tremellius; "illuminabit", Gejerus Michaelis; so Ainsworth.

Psalms 139:12 In-Context

10 even there your hand would lead me, and your right hand would hold me fast.
11 And if I should say, "Surely darkness will cover me, and [the] light around me [will be as] night,"
12 even [the] darkness is not too dark for you, and [the] night shines as the day-- the darkness [and] the light are alike [for you].
13 Indeed you created my {inward parts}; you wove me in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you, because I am fearfully [and] wonderfully [made]. Wonderful [are] your works, and my soul knows [it] well.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or "does not obscure from you"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.