CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Psalm 121:6 The sun will not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/121-6.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/19_Psa_121_006.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 121:6 - I Lift Up My Eyes to the Hills" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The sun will not strike you by day, nor the moon by night." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/psalms/121-6.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/psalms/121-6.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/psalms/">Psalms</a> > <a href="/psalms/121.htm">Chapter 121</a> > Verse 6</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad6.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/psalms/121-5.htm" title="Psalm 121:5">◄</a> Psalm 121:6 <a href="/psalms/121-7.htm" title="Psalm 121:7">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/psalms/121.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/psalms/121.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/121.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/121.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/121.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />The sun will not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/121.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/121.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/121.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />The sun will not beat down on you by day, Nor the moon by night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/121.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/121.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/121.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />The sun will not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/121.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />The sun will not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/121.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The sun will not strike you by day or the moon by night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/121.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The sun will not strike you by day or the moon by night. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/121.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />The sun shall not smite thee by day, Nor the moon by night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/121.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />You won't be harmed by the sun during the day or by the moon at night. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/121.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/121.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The sun will not beat down on you during the day, nor will the moon at night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/121.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The sun will not hurt you during the day, nor the moon during the night. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/121.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The sun will not ravage you by day, nor the moon by night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/121.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The sun will not harm you by day, or the moon by night. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/121.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/121.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/121.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />The sun will not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/121.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/121.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />By day the sun does not strike you, "" Nor the moon by night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/121.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> By day the sun doth not smite thee, Nor the moon by night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/121.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />By day the sun shall not burn thee, and the moon in the night.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/121.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />The sun shall not burn thee by day: nor the moon by night. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/121.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 120:6>The sun will not burn you by day, nor the moon by night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/121.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />By day the sun will not strike you, nor the moon by night. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/121.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/121.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/121.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />The sun will not smite you by day, neither the moon by night.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/121.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />The sun shall not smite thee by day, Nor the moon by night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/121.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />The sun shall not burn thee by day, neither the moon by night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/121-6.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=16075" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/121.htm">I Lift Up My Eyes to the Hills</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">5</span>The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is the shade on your right hand. <span class="reftext">6</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/8121.htm" title="8121: haš·še·meš (Art:: N-cs) -- From an unused root meaning to be brilliant; the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. A notched battlement.">The sun</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">will not</a> <a href="/hebrew/5221.htm" title="5221: yak·kek·kāh (V-Hifil-Imperf-3ms:: 2mse) -- To smite. A primitive root; to strike.">strike</a> <a href="/hebrew/3119.htm" title="3119: yō·w·mām (Adv) -- Daytime, by day. From yowm; daily.">you by day,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3394.htm" title="3394: wə·yā·rê·aḥ (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- Moon. From the same as yerach; the moon.">nor the moon</a> <a href="/hebrew/3915.htm" title="3915: bal·lā·yə·lāh (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- Night. Or leyl; also laylah; from the same as luwl; properly, a twist, i.e. Night; figuratively, adversity.">by night.</a> </span><span class="reftext">7</span>The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/49-10.htm">Isaiah 49:10</a></span><br />They will not hunger or thirst, nor will scorching heat or sun beat down on them. For He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/7-16.htm">Revelation 7:16</a></span><br />‘Never again will they hunger, and never will they thirst; nor will the sun beat down upon them, nor any scorching heat.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/60-19.htm">Isaiah 60:19-20</a></span><br />No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor. / Your sun will no longer set, and your moon will not wane; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your sorrow will cease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/31-35.htm">Jeremiah 31:35</a></span><br />Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day, who sets in order the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/malachi/4-2.htm">Malachi 4:2</a></span><br />“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/1-17.htm">James 1:17</a></span><br />Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/8-22.htm">Genesis 8:22</a></span><br />As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall never cease.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/91-5.htm">Psalm 91:5-6</a></span><br />You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, / nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the calamity that destroys at noon.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/4-6.htm">Isaiah 4:6</a></span><br />a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and the rain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/13-6.htm">Matthew 13:6</a></span><br />But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jonah/4-8.htm">Jonah 4:8</a></span><br />As the sun was rising, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint and wished to die, saying, “It is better for me to die than to live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/30-26.htm">Isaiah 30:26</a></span><br />The light of the moon will be as bright as the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter—like the light of seven days—on the day that the LORD binds up the brokenness of His people and heals the wounds He has inflicted.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/20-11.htm">2 Kings 20:11</a></span><br />So Isaiah the prophet called out to the LORD, and He brought the shadow back the ten steps it had descended on the stairway of Ahaz.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/31-26.htm">Job 31:26-28</a></span><br />if I have beheld the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor, / so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth, / this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ecclesiastes/1-5.htm">Ecclesiastes 1:5</a></span><br />The sun rises and the sun sets; it hurries back to where it rises.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.</p><p class="hdg">the sun</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/91-5.htm">Psalm 91:5-10</a></b></br> Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; <i>nor</i> for the arrow <i>that</i> flieth by day; … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/49-10.htm">Isaiah 49:10</a></b></br> They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/revelation/7-16.htm">Revelation 7:16</a></b></br> They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/105-15.htm">Harm</a> <a href="/psalms/104-19.htm">Moon</a> <a href="/psalms/119-148.htm">Night</a> <a href="/psalms/110-5.htm">Smite</a> <a href="/psalms/119-147.htm">Sun</a> <a href="/job/19-21.htm">Touched</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/121-7.htm">Harm</a> <a href="/psalms/136-9.htm">Moon</a> <a href="/psalms/134-1.htm">Night</a> <a href="/psalms/141-5.htm">Smite</a> <a href="/psalms/136-8.htm">Sun</a> <a href="/proverbs/19-23.htm">Touched</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 121</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/121-1.htm">The great safety of the godly, who put their trust in God's protection</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/121.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/psalms/121.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>The sun will not strike you by day</b><br>This phrase reflects the protection God provides against the harshness of the sun, which in the ancient Near Eastern context, was a significant concern due to the intense heat and potential for sunstroke. The imagery of the sun striking is a metaphor for any form of harm or danger that might befall someone during the day. In biblical times, travelers and shepherds were particularly vulnerable to the sun's heat, making this promise of divine protection especially comforting. This assurance can be connected to the broader biblical theme of God as a shield and protector, as seen in passages like <a href="/psalms/91.htm">Psalm 91:1-6</a>, where God is described as a refuge and fortress. The sun's symbolism also extends to God's provision and guidance, as seen in the pillar of fire and cloud that led the Israelites in the wilderness (<a href="/exodus/13-21.htm">Exodus 13:21</a>).<p><b>nor the moon by night</b><br>The mention of the moon provides a parallel assurance of protection during the night. In ancient cultures, the moon was often associated with various superstitions and fears, including the belief in "lunacy" or madness caused by the moon. The promise here is that God will protect from any harm that might be associated with the night, whether physical, spiritual, or psychological. This reflects the comprehensive nature of God's care, covering all times and circumstances. The night, often a time of vulnerability and fear, is transformed into a period of safety under God's watchful eye. This protection is echoed in other scriptures, such as <a href="/psalms/91-5.htm">Psalm 91:5</a>, which assures believers they will not fear the terror of night. Theologically, this can also be seen as a type of Christ, who is the Light of the World (<a href="/john/8-12.htm">John 8:12</a>), dispelling darkness and fear.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/p/psalmist.htm">Psalmist</a></b><br>The author of <a href="/bsb/psalms/121.htm">Psalm 121</a>, traditionally attributed to King David, who expresses trust in God's protection.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The nation to whom the psalm is addressed, representing God's chosen people who look to Him for help.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/m/mountains.htm">Mountains</a></b><br>Mentioned earlier in the psalm, symbolizing challenges or places of divine encounter.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/s/sun_and_moon.htm">Sun and Moon</a></b><br>Celestial bodies representing the totality of time (day and night) and potential sources of harm or distress.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/p/pilgrimage.htm">Pilgrimage</a></b><br>The context of the psalm, often associated with the journey to Jerusalem, symbolizing life's spiritual journey.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_comprehensive_protection.htm">God's Comprehensive Protection</a></b><br>The verse assures believers of God's protection at all times, both day and night. This reflects His omnipresence and omnipotence, providing comfort and security in every situation.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/symbolism_of_sun_and_moon.htm">Symbolism of Sun and Moon</a></b><br>The sun and moon symbolize the entirety of life's circumstances. God's promise to shield us from harm during both day and night signifies His control over all aspects of our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_sovereignty.htm">Trust in God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Believers are encouraged to trust in God's sovereignty over creation. Just as He controls the sun and moon, He governs the events of our lives, ensuring our well-being.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_journey.htm">Spiritual Journey</a></b><br>The psalm can be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual journey. As pilgrims face various trials, they are reminded of God's constant protection and guidance.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_121.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 121</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_were_days_counted_before_the_sun.htm">If Genesis describes the creation of the sun on the fourth day, how were there 'days' before the sun existed?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/psalm_121_5-6__literal_protection.htm">Psalm 121:5-6 - How does God literally protect people from sunstroke or 'moon harm,' and does this contradict modern scientific understanding?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_psalm_74_align_with_science.htm">In Psalm 74:16-17, God is depicted as setting cosmic boundaries--how does this align with established scientific understanding of planetary formation and celestial order?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_can_psalm_72_5_claim_eternal_reign.htm">How can Psalm 72:5 claim a mortal king will endure 'as long as the sun and moon' when that seems scientifically and historically implausible?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/121.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(6) <span class= "bld">Smite thee.</span>--The mention of shade leads to the amplification of the figure. The evil effects of <span class= "ital">sunstroke </span>are too well known to need comment. They are often mentioned in the Bible (<a href="/2_kings/4-18.htm" title="And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.">2Kings 4:18</a>; <a href="/2_kings/4-20.htm" title="And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.">2Kings 4:20</a>; Jonah 4; <a href="//apocrypha.org/judith/8-3.htm" title="For as he stood overseeing them that bound sheaves in the field, the heat came upon his head, and he fell on his bed, and died in the city of Bethulia: and they buried him with his fathers in the field between Dothaim and Balamo.">Judith 8:3</a>).<p><span class= "bld">Nor the moon by night.</span>--Possibly there is allusion to the belief, so common in old times, of the harmful influence of the moon's light--a belief still recalled in the word lunacy. It is a fact that temporary blindness is often caused by moonlight. (See authorities referred to by Ewald and Delitzsch.) Others, again, think that the injurious cold of the night is here placed in antithesis to the heat of the noonday sun (comp. <a href="/genesis/31-40.htm" title="Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from my eyes.">Genesis 31:40</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/36-30.htm" title="Therefore thus said the LORD of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit on the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost.">Jeremiah 36:30</a>), the impression that intense cold <span class= "ital">burns </span>being common in the East, as indeed everywhere. Tennyson speaks of the moon being "keen with frost." But it is also possible that the generally harmful effects of night air are intended. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/121.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 6.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.</span> These were the chief dangers of travelers, whether pilgrims or others. <span class="accented">Coup de soleil</span> was feared by day, and the deleterious influence of the moon's rays by night. This last has sometimes been doubted, but the observation of modern travelers seems to show that bad effects actually fellow on sleeping in the moonlight in hot countries (see Curzon's 'Travels,' p. 36; Leopolt, 'India Missions,' p. 7). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/121-6.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">The sun</span><br /><span class="heb">הַשֶּׁ֥מֶשׁ</span> <span class="translit">(haš·še·meš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8121.htm">Strong's 8121: </a> </span><span class="str2">The sun, the east, a ray, a notched battlement</span><br /><br /><span class="word">will not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹֽא־</span> <span class="translit">(lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">strike</span><br /><span class="heb">יַכֶּ֗כָּה</span> <span class="translit">(yak·kek·kāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5221.htm">Strong's 5221: </a> </span><span class="str2">To strike</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you by day</span><br /><span class="heb">יוֹמָ֗ם</span> <span class="translit">(yō·w·mām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3119.htm">Strong's 3119: </a> </span><span class="str2">Daytime, by day</span><br /><br /><span class="word">nor the moon</span><br /><span class="heb">וְיָרֵ֥חַ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·yā·rê·aḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3394.htm">Strong's 3394: </a> </span><span class="str2">The moon</span><br /><br /><span class="word">by night.</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּלָּֽיְלָה׃</span> <span class="translit">(bal·lā·yə·lāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3915.htm">Strong's 3915: </a> </span><span class="str2">A twist, night, adversity</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/121-6.htm">Psalm 121:6 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/121-6.htm">Psalm 121:6 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/121-6.htm">Psalm 121:6 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/121-6.htm">Psalm 121:6 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/121-6.htm">Psalm 121:6 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/121-6.htm">Psalm 121:6 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/121-6.htm">Psalm 121:6 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/121-6.htm">Psalm 121:6 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/121-6.htm">Psalm 121:6 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/121-6.htm">Psalm 121:6 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/121-6.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 121:6 The sun will not harm you (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/121-5.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 121:5"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 121:5" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/121-7.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 121:7"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 121:7" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>