Meaning, commentary and cross references
Psalms 121:8
“The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
NIV · New International Version
the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
WEB · World English Bible
The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in, from this time forward, and forever more.
What does Psalms 121:8 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Psalms 121:8
The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in,.... In transacting all the business of life, in going in and out about it; in all ways, works, and conversation; in journeying and travelling; in all affairs, civil and religious; and not only preserve, but prosper in all, Psalm 1:3; the Lord blessing him, coming in and going out, Deuteronomy 28:6; and such, with the poet (x), are said to go with a good or prosperous foot. And such persons, in the Punic language, are called Namphanians, as Austin observes (y); who says the word signifies a man of a good foot: and the word seems to be the contraction of , which signifies "his good" or "pleasant foot" (z); and so one that, wherever he…
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
He will continue his care over us from this time forth and even for evermore. It is a protection for life, never out of date. "He will be thy guide even unto death, and will then hide thee in the grave, hide thee in heaven. He will preserve thee in his heavenly kingdom."
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 121:6–8
8. Jehovah will keep thy going out and thy coming in. The sense is, Whatever thou shalt undertake or engage in during thy life shall come to a happy and successful termination. God no doubt directs by his Holy Spirit the, deliberations of his servants; but it appears to me, that this passage is rather to be referred to prosperous issues.
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Psalms 121:5–8 (WEB)
5The LORD is your keeper. The LORD is your shade on your right hand. 6The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7The LORD will keep you from all evil. He will keep your soul. 8The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in, from this time forward, and forever more.
Cross references
- Deuteronomy 28:6
You shall be blessed when you come in, and you shall be blessed when you go out.
- Proverbs 2:8
that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of his saints.
- Proverbs 3:6
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
- Psalms 113:2
- Ezra 8:31
Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the bandits by the way.
- Psalms 115:18
- Ezra 8:21
Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a straight way for us, for our little ones, and for all our possessions.
- James 4:13–16
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow let’s go into this city and spend a year there, trade, and make a profit.”