Meaning, commentary and cross references
Psalms 121:1
“I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
NIV · New International Version
I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?
WEB · World English Bible
A Song of Ascents. I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from?
What does Psalms 121:1 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Psalms 121:1
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,.... Not to the hills and mountains in Judea, looking about to see if the inhabitants of them, or any bodies of men, appeared upon them to his help in distress; rather to the hills of Moriah and Zion, where the ark of God, the symbol of his presence, was, and to whom he looked for assistance and deliverance: or to heaven, the holy hill of the Lord, and to him that dwelleth there; see Psalm 3:2. The lifting up of the eyes is a prayer gesture, John 11:41; and is expressive of boldness and confidence in prayer, and of hope and expectation of help and salvation, Job 11:15; when, on the contrary, persons abashed and ashamed, hopeless and helpless, cannot…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Psalms 121:1–8
We must not rely upon creatures, upon men and means, instruments and second causes, nor make flesh our arm: "Shall I lift up my eyes to the hills?" - so some read it. "Does my help come thence? Shall I depend upon the powers of the earth, upon the strength of the hills, upon princes and great men, who, like hills, fill the earth, and hold up their heads towards heaven? No; in vain is salvation hoped for from hills and mountains, Jer 3:23.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on Psalms 121:1–2
1. I will lift up my eyes to the mountains, whence my help will come [62] 2. My help is from Jehovah, who made heaven and earth. l I will lift up my eyes to the mountains. The inspired writer, whoever he was, seems, in the opening of the Psalm, to speak in the person of an unbelieving man.
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Psalms 121:1–4 (WEB)
1A Song of Ascents. I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? 2My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 3He will not allow your foot to be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber. 4Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
Cross references
- Psalms 120:1
- Psalms 123:1
- Jeremiah 3:23
Truly help from the hills, the tumult on the mountains, is in vain. Truly the salvation of Israel is in the LORD our God.
- Isaiah 2:3
Many peoples shall go and say, “Come, let’s go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the law shall go out of Zion, and the LORD’s word from Jerusalem.
- Psalms 2:6
- Psalms 87:1
- Psalms 68:15–16
- Psalms 78:68