Psalms 121:8
The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "your going out and your coming in" is a poetic way of saying God watches over every single aspect of your life, from the grandest undertaking to the smallest daily routine. This isn't just about physical safety, but the entire span of your existence, from this moment on, eternally.
This psalm, a song of ascents likely sung by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem, builds on the assurance of God's protection. After affirming that God neither slumbers nor sleeps, and will guard against sunstroke and night terrors, the psalm concludes with a powerful, comprehensive promise. It declares God's perpetual guardianship over all aspects of life, from the very moment of utterance and extending into eternity.
Life isn't just big moments; it's the countless daily comings and goings. How does God promise to cover all of it?
The phrase 'your going out and your coming in' is a beautiful Hebrew idiom that means the entirety of your life. It covers:
We often worry about the immediate future. But what does it mean for God's protection to last 'from this time forth and forevermore'?
This verse doesn't just offer temporary relief; it speaks of an unending, eternal security.
Understand the original words
tset u-vo · Hebrew Noun Phrase
A Hebrew idiom referring to the entirety of a person’s daily life and activities. It signifies God’s oversight of all one's endeavors, journeys, and personal conduct.
olam · Hebrew Noun
A term denoting a period without end; eternity. In a theological context, it emphasizes the permanence and unchanging nature of God’s covenantal protection.
This passage uses the same Hebrew idiom, 'your going out and your coming in,' to describe the totality of life and blessings, directly echoing the promise of divine protection over all aspects of the believer's life.
1 Samuel 29:6Here, the phrase 'your going out and your coming in' is used in a practical, everyday context, highlighting that God's protection extends to all our daily activities and undertakings.
Psalm 91:11This psalm offers a parallel assurance of divine protection, stating 'He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways,' which complements the idea of God preserving 'your going out and your coming in.'
1 Thessalonians 5:23Paul's prayer for the believers to be kept blameless 'in spirit and soul and body' reflects the comprehensive nature of God's keeping, similar to how Psalm 121:8 covers all of life's movements and activities.
Matthew 16:18Jesus' declaration that 'the gates of hell shall not prevail against it' provides a New Testament perspective on God's ultimate, eternal preservation, aligning with the 'forevermore' aspect of Psalm 121:8.
ellicottPsalms 121:8: "The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore."
(8) Thy going out and thy coming in. —A common Hebrew expression to denote the whole of life. (See Deuteronomy 28:6 , &c; comp. St. Paul’s prayer, 1Thessalonians 5:23 .)
clarkePsalms 121:8: "The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore."
Thy going out and thy coming in - Night and day - in all thy business and undertakings; and this through the whole course of thy life: for evermore.
The phrase "your going out and your coming in" is a poetic way of saying God watches over every single aspect of your life, from the grandest undertaking to the smallest daily routine. This isn't just about physical safety, but the entire span of your existence, from this moment on, eternally.
This psalm, a song of ascents likely sung by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem, builds on the assurance of God's protection. After affirming that God neither slumbers nor sleeps, and will guard against sunstroke and night terrors, the psalm concludes with a powerful, comprehensive promise. It declares God's perpetual guardianship over all aspects of life, from the very moment of utterance and extending into eternity.
This psalm, a song of ascents likely sung by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem, builds on the assurance of God's protection. After affirming that God neither slumbers nor sleeps, and will guard against sunstroke and night terrors, the psalm concludes with a powerful, comprehensive promise. It declares God's perpetual guardianship over all aspects of life, from the very moment of utterance and extending into eternity.
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"The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore." — The phrase "your going out and your coming in" is a poetic way of saying God watches over every single aspect of your life, from the grandest undertaking to the smallest daily routine. This isn't j…
