King James Version
What Does Psalms 139:8 Mean?
“If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.”
Psalms 139:8 · KJV
Context
6
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10
Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
Commentary
KJV Study CommentaryIf I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there—David explores God's omnipresence through cosmic extremes. Heaven (shamayim, שָׁמַיִם) represents the highest heights, God's dwelling place. Hell (sheol, שְׁאוֹל) is the grave, the realm of the dead, the lowest depths. The emphatic thou art there (sham attah, שָׁם אַתָּה) brackets both locations—God's presence is not limited by spatial or spiritual boundaries.
Sheol was understood as shadowy separation from God's active presence (Psalm 88:5), yet even there, God is. This anticipates the Christian truth that Christ descended to the dead (1 Peter 3:19). There is literally nowhere—no height of blessing, no depth of despair—outside God's presence.
Sheol was understood as shadowy separation from God's active presence (Psalm 88:5), yet even there, God is. This anticipates the Christian truth that Christ descended to the dead (1 Peter 3:19). There is literally nowhere—no height of blessing, no depth of despair—outside God's presence.
KJV Study — Public Domain
Historical & Cultural Context
Ancient cosmology conceived heaven above and sheol below, with earth between. David uses this three-tiered worldview to express God's universal presence. Notably, sheol wasn't hell in the later Christian sense but the shadowy underworld where all the dead went—making God's presence there even more remarkable.
Reflection Questions
- What 'heavenly' highs or 'sheol' lows have you experienced where you felt God's presence was absent—and how does this verse challenge that perception?
- How does knowing that God is present even in sheol (death, darkness, separation) change how you face your deepest fears?
- Are you trying to ascend to some spiritual height to meet God, forgetting that He is already wherever you are?
Original Language Analysis
Hebrew · 8 wordsאִם1 of 8
H518used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
שָׁ֭מַיִם3 of 8
“into heaven”
H8064the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
שְּׁא֣וֹל7 of 8
“in hell”
H7585hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates
Study Guide
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Psalms. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Psalms 139:8 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Psalms 139:8 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge