Psalms 130:3
Psalms 130:3 in Multiple Translations
If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand?
If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
If thou, Jehovah, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
O Jah, if you took note of every sin, who would go free?
Lord, if you kept a list of sins, who could escape being condemned?
If thou, O Lord, straightly markest iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
If iniquities Thou dost observe, O Lord, who doth stand?
If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?
If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O LORD, who shall stand?
Let Israel hope in the Lord, from henceforth now and for ever.
Yahweh, if you kept a record of the sins that we have committed, not one of us [RHQ] would escape from being condemned and punished
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 130:3
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 130:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אִם
עֲוֺנ֥וֹת
תִּשְׁמָר
יָ֑הּ
אֲ֝דֹנָ֗/י
מִ֣י
יַעֲמֹֽד
אִם
ʼim
H518
if
Conj
עֲוֺנ֥וֹת
ʻâvôn
H5771
iniquity
N-cp
תִּשְׁמָר
shâmar
H8104
to keep
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
יָ֑הּ
Yâhh
H3050
LORD
N-proper
אֲ֝דֹנָ֗/י
ʼĂdônây
H136
Lord
N-mp | Suff
מִ֣י
mîy
H4310
who?
Part
יַעֲמֹֽד
ʻâmad
H5975
to stand
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 130:3
אִם
ʼim
H518
"if"
Conj
This Hebrew word is used to express conditions or questions, like if or whether. It can also be used to make oaths or express wishes, as in Oh that! It appears in various forms in the KJV, including if, though, and when.
Definition: : if/whether_or/though 1) if 1a) conditional clauses 1a1) of possible situations 1a2) of impossible situations 1b) oath contexts 1b1) no, not 1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or 1d) when, whenever 1e) since 1f) interrogative particle 1g) but rather
Usage: Occurs in 931 OT verses. KJV: (and, can-, doubtless, if, that) (not), [phrase] but, either, [phrase] except, [phrase] more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or, [phrase] save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, [phrase] surely (no more, none, not), though, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] unless, [phrase] verily, when, whereas, whether, while, [phrase] yet. See also: Genesis 4:7; Exodus 22:3; Leviticus 27:27.
עֲוֺנ֥וֹת
ʻâvôn
H5771
"iniquity"
N-cp
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means moral evil or sin, like the kind God sees in people's hearts. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Psalms. This concept is key to understanding human nature.
Definition: : crime 1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity 1a) iniquity 1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition) 1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity
Usage: Occurs in 215 OT verses. KJV: fault, iniquity, mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin. See also: Genesis 4:13; Psalms 107:17; Psalms 18:24.
תִּשְׁמָר
shâmar
H8104
"to keep"
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
To keep or obey means to protect, attend to, or guard something, like keeping a promise or watching over someone, as seen in the commands to observe the Sabbath.
Definition: : obey/observe 1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to keep, have charge of 1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life 1a2a) watch, watchman (participle) 1a3) to watch for, wait for 1a4) to watch, observe 1a5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory) 1a6) to keep (within bounds), restrain 1a7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow) 1a8) to keep, preserve, protect 1a9) to keep, reserve 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware 1b2) to keep oneself, refrain, abstain 1b3) to be kept, be guarded 1c) (Piel) to keep, pay heed 1d) (Hithpael) to keep oneself from
Usage: Occurs in 440 OT verses. KJV: beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man). See also: Genesis 2:15; Deuteronomy 11:1; 1 Kings 14:8.
יָ֑הּ
Yâhh
H3050
"LORD"
N-proper
Jah is a shortened form of the name LORD, used in many compounds, such as names ending in -iah or -jah. It appears in the Bible as a way to refer to God.
Definition: A shortened form of the name ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068) used in many compounds as the letters 'Je' or 'jah'
Usage: Occurs in 46 OT verses. KJV: Jah, the Lord, most vehement. Compare names in '-iah,' '-jah.' See also: Exodus 15:2; Psalms 118:17; Psalms 68:5.
אֲ֝דֹנָ֗/י
ʼĂdônây
H136
"Lord"
N-mp | Suff
Adonay is a title used to refer to God, spoken in place of Yahweh as a sign of reverence and respect. It is used throughout the Bible to address God or refer to Him in a formal way. Adonay is a term of worship and devotion.
Definition: Lord - a title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
Usage: Occurs in 430 OT verses. KJV: (my) Lord. See also: Genesis 15:2; Isaiah 3:17; Psalms 2:4.
מִ֣י
mîy
H4310
"who?"
Part
This word is used to ask questions like who, whose, or whom. It can also be used to express a wish, like would that or whoever. It appears in many forms throughout the Bible, often in phrases like O that or what.
Definition: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever
Usage: Occurs in 342 OT verses. KJV: any (man), [idiom] he, [idiom] him, [phrase] O that! what, which, who(-m, -se, -soever), [phrase] would to God. See also: Genesis 3:11; 2 Samuel 15:4; Psalms 4:7.
יַעֲמֹֽד
ʻâmad
H5975
"to stand"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
Means 'to stand' in a strong sense, like in Exodus 17:12 where Moses stood with his arms up to help Israel win a battle.
Definition: : stand/stop/establish 1) to stand, remain, endure, take one's stand 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to stand, take one's stand, be in a standing attitude, stand forth, take a stand, present oneself, attend upon, be or become servant of 1a2) to stand still, stop (moving or doing), cease 1a3) to tarry, delay, remain, continue, abide, endure, persist, be steadfast 1a4) to make a stand, hold one's ground 1a5) to stand upright, remain standing, stand up, rise, be erect, be upright 1a6) to arise, appear, come on the scene, stand forth, appear, rise up or against 1a7) to stand with, take one's stand, be appointed, grow flat, grow insipid 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to station, set 1b2) to cause to stand firm, maintain 1b3) to cause to stand up, cause to set up, erect 1b4) to present (one) before (king) 1b5) to appoint, ordain, establish 1c) (Hophal) to be presented, be caused to stand, be stood before
Usage: Occurs in 497 OT verses. KJV: abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, [phrase] serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-) stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry. See also: Genesis 18:8; Joshua 21:44; 1 Chronicles 6:17.
Study Notes — Psalms 130:3
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 130:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 130:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 130:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 130:3
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 130:3
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 130:3
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 130:3
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 130:3
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 130:3
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 130:3
- Sermons on Psalms 130:3
Context — Out of the Depths
1Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD!
2O Lord, hear my voice; let Your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy.
3If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand?
4But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared. 5I wait for the LORD; my soul does wait, and in His word I put my hope.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 143:2 | Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You. |
| 2 | Psalms 76:7 | You alone are to be feared. When You are angry, who can stand before You? |
| 3 | Romans 3:20–24 | Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin. But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets. And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. |
| 4 | John 8:7–9 | When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” And again He bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard this, they began to go away one by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there. |
| 5 | Revelation 6:17 | For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?” |
| 6 | Nahum 1:6 | Who can withstand His indignation? Who can endure His burning anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; even rocks are shattered before Him. |
| 7 | Job 10:14 | If I sinned, You would take note, and would not acquit me of my iniquity. |
| 8 | Job 15:14 | What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous? |
| 9 | Malachi 3:2 | But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap. |
| 10 | Isaiah 53:6 | We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. |
Psalms 130:3 Summary
This verse means that if God kept a record of all our sins, no one would be able to stand before Him because we have all sinned. But thankfully, as seen in Psalms 130:4, God offers us forgiveness so that we can have a relationship with Him. This reminds us of our need for God's mercy and forgiveness, just like in Romans 3:23, which says that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory. By acknowledging our sin and seeking God's forgiveness, we can stand before Him through faith in Jesus Christ, as seen in Acts 4:12.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for God to 'keep track of iniquities'?
This means that God is aware of every sin we commit, and if He were to punish us for each one, no one would be able to stand before Him, as stated in Psalms 130:3, and also seen in Ecclesiastes 7:20, which says that there is no one righteous on earth.
Why is it important to recognize God's awareness of our sins?
Recognizing God's awareness of our sins helps us understand our need for forgiveness and mercy, as seen in Psalms 130:4, which says that with God there is forgiveness, so that we may fear Him, and also in Romans 3:23, which states that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory.
How does this verse relate to the concept of God's justice?
This verse highlights God's justice, as He is aware of every sin, but it also points to His mercy and forgiveness, as seen in Psalms 130:4, and in Jeremiah 31:34, which says that God will forgive our iniquities and remember our sins no more.
What is the significance of the question 'then who, O Lord, could stand'?
This question emphasizes the fact that if God were to punish us for every sin, no one would be able to stand before Him, emphasizing our need for His mercy and forgiveness, as seen in Psalms 130:4, and also in Acts 4:12, which says that salvation is found in no one else but Jesus Christ.
Reflection Questions
- What are some sins in my life that I need to confess and repent of, and how can I seek God's forgiveness and mercy?
- How does the awareness of God's knowledge of my sins affect my daily life and relationship with Him?
- What does it mean to 'stand' before God, and how can I ensure that I am standing on solid ground through faith in Jesus Christ?
- In what ways can I demonstrate my fear and reverence for God, as mentioned in Psalms 130:4, in my daily life?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 130:3
If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities,.... Or "observe" (f) them.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 130:3
If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? "Mark" - i:e., take strict account of iniquities (Job 10:14; Job 14:16; Psalms 90:8).
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 130:3
Mark iniquities; observe them accurately, and punish them severely, as they deserve. Who shall stand in thy presence, or at thy tribunal? No man can acquit himself, or escape the sentence of condemnation, because all men are sinners, . To stand is a judicial phrase, and notes a man’ s being absolved or justified, upon an equal trial, as , where it is opposed to falling.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 130:3
Psalms 130:3 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?Ver. 3. If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities] This and the next verse contains, saith one, the sum of all the Scriptures. Twice he here nameth the Lord, as desirous to take hold of him with both his hands. Extremity of justice he deprecateth; he would not be dealt with in rigour and rage. Extrema, fateor; commeritus sum, Deus; Quid enim aliud dixero? It is confessed I have deserved the extremity of thy fury; but yet let me talk with thee, or reason the case. O Lord, who shall stand?] Stand in judgment, as Psalms 1:5, and not fall under the weight of thy just wrath, which burneth as low as hell itself? How can any one escape the damnation of hell, which is the just hire of the least sin, Romans 6:23; and the best man’ s life is fuller of sins than the firmament is of stars, or the furnace of sparks? Hence that of an ancient, Vae hominum vitae, quantumvis laudabili, si, remota misericordia, iudicetur, Woe to the best man alive should he be strictly dealt with! surely if his faults were but written in his forehead it would make him pull his hat over his eyes.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 130:3
(3) If thou.—The word rendered “mark” is “watch” in Psalms 130:6. If “Jah” were to watch for men’s lapses, as one watches for the dawn, nothing but signal punishment could follow. So Job (Job 10:14; Job 14:16) actually believed God did watch; while the prophets Jeremiah (Jeremiah 3:5) and Amos (Amos 1:11) use the word of the strict care taken that the consequences should follow the sin. It is a fact worthy of attention, that misfortune provokes at this crisis, in this people so profoundly religious, not murmurings against the Divine dealings, but a sense of deep contrition.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 130:3
Verse 3. If thou - shouldest mark iniquities] If thou shouldst set down every deviation in thought, word, and deed from thy holy law; and if thou shouldst call us into judgment for all our infidelities, both of heart and life; O Lord, who could stand? Who could stand such a trial, and who could stand acquitted in the judgment? This is a most solemn saying; and if we had not the doctrine that is in the next verse, who could be saved?
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 130:3
3. If thou, Jah, shouldest mark iniquities] Shouldest observe them and keep them in remembrance, instead of blotting them out of Thy record. Cp. Psalms 79:8. The same word is used of God’s ‘observing’ the sinner (Job 10:14; cp. Job 14:16-17), and of ‘keeping’ anger (Jeremiah 3:5; cp. Psalms 103:9). The P.B.V., “If thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss,” is one of Coverdale’s boldly beautiful paraphrases. Lord] Adônai, as in Psalms 130:2, implies that the servant is addressing his Master. who would stand] Before Thee in judgement. No one could maintain his innocence: all must inevitably be condemned as guilty at the bar of Divine justice.
Cp. Psalms 1:5; Psalms 76:7; Psalms 143:2; Ezra 9:15. This verse is virtually a confession of sin and a plea for pardon.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 130:3
If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities - If thou shouldst observe, note, attend to, regard all the evil that I have done. The Hebrew word means properly to keep, to watch, to guard.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 130:3
3. Mark iniquities—Literally, Keep iniquities, or, watch iniquities closely; that is, remember them accurately in order to bring them to punishment. The same idea is conveyed in Deuteronomy 32:34; Job 14:17; Hosea 13:12.
Sermons on Psalms 130:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Fear of God - Part 1 by Jerry Bridges | In this sermon, the preacher begins by introducing the topic of the fear of God and the importance of understanding the God whom we are to fear. He reads from Isaiah chapter 6, des |
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You Will Soon Be Released From the Wilderness by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of living a consistent Christian life. He warns against the hypocrisy of attending church on Sundays but living contrary to G |
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The Fear of God - Part 2 by Jerry Bridges | In this sermon, the preacher begins by telling a parable about a young man in basic training who is in awe of his commanding general. The preacher then explains that he is laying t |
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K-023 the Mystery of the German and the Jew by Art Katz | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the importance of discipleship and the need for believers to watch and pray during times of trial. He acknowledges the controversy surroundi |
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The Fear Factor by Alan Martin | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of fearing God and keeping His commandments. He warns against complacency and self-assurance, reminding the audience that eve |
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Fear the Lord by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith teaches from Psalm 128, emphasizing the importance of fearing the Lord. He recounts the story of Jacob and Laban, highlighting how God protected |
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God Requires Honesty and Compassion - Part 3 by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the importance of genuine confession to God rather than merely going through the motions of prayer. It delves into the concept of praying to oneself, highlig |