Psalms 18:11
Psalms 18:11 in Multiple Translations
He made darkness His hiding place, and storm clouds a canopy around Him.
He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
He made darkness his hiding-place, his pavilion round about him, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
He made the dark his secret place; his tent round him was the dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
He hid himself in darkness, covering himself with black thunderclouds.
He made darkenes his secrete place, and his pauilion round about him, euen darkenesse of waters, and cloudes of the ayre.
He maketh darkness His secret place, Round about Him His tabernacle, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
He made darkness his hiding place, his pavilion around him, darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion around him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
More to be desired than gold and many precious stones: and sweeter than honey and the honeycomb.
Darkness was all around him like a blanket [MET]; dark clouds, full of moisture, covered him [MET].
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 18:11
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 18:11 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יִּרְכַּ֣ב
עַל
כְּ֭רוּב
וַ/יָּעֹ֑ף
וַ֝/יֵּ֗דֶא
עַל
כַּנְפֵי
רֽוּחַ
וַ/יִּרְכַּ֣ב
râkab
H7392
to ride
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
עַל
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep
כְּ֭רוּב
kᵉrûwb
H3742
cherub
N-ms
וַ/יָּעֹ֑ף
ʻûwph
H5774
to fly
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
וַ֝/יֵּ֗דֶא
dâʼâh
H1675
to fly
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
עַל
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep
כַּנְפֵי
kânâph
H3671
wing
N-fd
רֽוּחַ
rûwach
H7307
spirit
N-cs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 18:11
וַ/יִּרְכַּ֣ב
râkab
H7392
"to ride"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
This Hebrew verb means to ride an animal or vehicle, and can also mean to place someone or something on a horse or chariot. It is used to describe riding horses or chariots in the Bible.
Definition: 1) to mount and ride, ride 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to mount, mount and sit or ride 1a2) to ride, be riding 1a3) rider (subst) 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to ride, cause to (mount and) ride 1b2) to cause to draw (plough, etc) 1b3) to cause to ride upon (fig)
Usage: Occurs in 75 OT verses. KJV: bring (on (horse-) back), carry, get (oneself) up, on (horse-) back, put, (cause to, make to) ride (in a chariot, on, -r), set. See also: Genesis 24:61; 2 Kings 23:30; Psalms 18:11.
עַל
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
כְּ֭רוּב
kᵉrûwb
H3742
"cherub"
N-ms
A cherub is an angelic being in the Bible, often depicted as guarding important places like Eden or God's throne. They're also shown as images on the Ark of the Covenant. The KJV translates this word as cherub or cherubims.
Definition: 1) cherub, cherubim (pl) 1a) an angelic being 1a1) as guardians of Eden 1a2) as flanking God's throne 1a3) as an image form hovering over the Ark of the Covenant 1a4) as the chariot of Jehovah (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 66 OT verses. KJV: cherub, (plural) cherubims. See also: Genesis 3:24; 2 Chronicles 3:10; Psalms 18:11.
וַ/יָּעֹ֑ף
ʻûwph
H5774
"to fly"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
This word can mean flying or fainting, often due to darkness or gloom. It appears in books like Isaiah and Jeremiah, describing dramatic scenes.
Definition: v 1) to fly, fly about, fly away 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to fly, hover 1a2) to fly away 1b) (Hiphil) to cause to fly, light upon 1c) (Polel) 1c1) to fly about or to and fro 1c2) to cause to fly to and fro, brandish 1d) (Hithpolel) to fly away 2) (Qal) to cover, be dark
Usage: Occurs in 29 OT verses. KJV: brandish, be (wax) faint, flee away, fly (away), [idiom] set, shine forth, weary. See also: Genesis 1:20; Proverbs 23:5; Psalms 18:11.
וַ֝/יֵּ֗דֶא
dâʼâh
H1675
"to fly"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
This verb means to fly swiftly, like darting through the air. It is used in the Bible to describe fast movement. The KJV translates it as fly.
Definition: 1) to fly fast, fly swiftly, dart through the air 1a) (Qal) to fly swiftly, dart
Usage: Occurs in 4 OT verses. KJV: fly. See also: Deuteronomy 28:49; Jeremiah 48:40; Psalms 18:11.
עַל
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
כַּנְפֵי
kânâph
H3671
"wing"
N-fd
The Hebrew word for wing, used to describe the edge or extremity of something, like a bird's wing or the corner of a garment. It appears in the Bible to describe various objects and locations, including the wing of a bird.
Definition: 1) wing, extremity, edge, winged, border, corner, shirt 1a) wing 1b) extremity 1b1) skirt, corner (of garment)
Usage: Occurs in 85 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] bird, border, corner, end, feather(-ed), [idiom] flying, [phrase] (one an-) other, overspreading, [idiom] quarters, skirt, [idiom] sort, uttermost part, wing(-ed). See also: Genesis 1:21; Psalms 139:9; Psalms 17:8.
רֽוּחַ
rûwach
H7307
"spirit"
N-cs
In the Bible, this word for spirit refers to the breath of life, the wind, or a person's mind and emotions, as seen in the book of Ezekiel.
Definition: : spirit 1) wind, breath, mind, spirit 1a) breath 1b) wind 1b1) of heaven 1b2) quarter (of wind), side 1b3) breath of air 1b4) air, gas 1b5) vain, empty thing 1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation) 1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour 1c2) courage 1c3) temper, anger 1c4) impatience, patience 1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented) 1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse 1c7) prophetic spirit 1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals) 1d1) as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being 1e) spirit (as seat of emotion) 1e1) desire 1e2) sorrow, trouble 1f) spirit 1f1) as seat or organ of mental acts 1f2) rarely of the will 1f3) as seat especially of moral character 1g) Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son 1g1) as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy 1g2) as impelling prophet to utter instruction or warning 1g3) imparting warlike energy and executive and administrative power 1g4) as endowing men with various gifts 1g5) as energy of life 1g6) as manifest in the Shekinah glory 1g7) never referred to as a depersonalised force
Usage: Occurs in 348 OT verses. KJV: air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y). See also: Genesis 1:2; Job 6:26; Psalms 1:4.
Study Notes — Psalms 18:11
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 18:11 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 18:11
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 18:11
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 18:11
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 18:11
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 18:11
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 18:11
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 18:11
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 18:11
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 18:11
- Sermons on Psalms 18:11
Context — The LORD Is My Rock
9He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds beneath His feet.
10He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness His hiding place, and storm clouds a canopy around Him.
12From the brightness of His presence His clouds advanced— hailstones and coals of fire. 13The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded— hailstones and coals of fire.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 97:2 | Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation. |
| 2 | Deuteronomy 4:11 | You came near and stood at the base of the mountain, a mountain blazing with fire to the heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness. |
| 3 | Psalms 91:1 | He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. |
| 4 | Joel 2:2 | a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come. |
| 5 | Psalms 81:7 | You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the cloud of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah |
| 6 | Psalms 27:5 | For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will set me high upon a rock. |
Psalms 18:11 Summary
[This verse means that God is a powerful and mysterious God who is often hidden from us, but who is still in control of all things. He can use darkness and storm clouds to accomplish His purposes, just like He used a cloud to guide the Israelites in the wilderness, as seen in Exodus 13:21-22. God's power and majesty are beyond our understanding, and we can trust Him even when we don't see what's happening. By trusting in God's sovereignty, we can find comfort and peace in the midst of uncertainty, just like David did when he wrote this psalm.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that God made darkness His hiding place?
This means that God is often hidden from human understanding, and His ways are not always clear to us, as seen in Isaiah 45:15, which says that God is a God who hides Himself.
Is God saying that He is evil because He is surrounded by darkness?
No, the darkness here is not a symbol of evil, but rather of God's power and majesty, as seen in Psalms 97:2, which says that clouds and darkness surround Him.
How can God be both light and darkness?
God is a God of contrasts, and while He is often associated with light, as in Psalms 27:1, He can also be surrounded by darkness, as in this verse, to emphasize His power and mystery.
What is the significance of the storm clouds being a canopy around God?
The storm clouds represent God's power and protection, and the fact that they are a canopy around Him emphasizes His sovereignty and control over all things, as seen in Psalms 104:3-4, which describes God's control over the winds and the clouds.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that God has been a hiding place for me in times of trouble, and how can I trust Him more in the future?
- How can I balance my desire for understanding and clarity with the fact that God often works in mysterious ways?
- What are some areas of my life where I need to trust God's power and sovereignty, even when I don't understand what's happening?
- How can I use this verse to comfort and encourage others who are going through difficult times?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 18:11
He made darkness his secret place,.... Which, and the dark waters in the next clause, are the same with the thick clouds in the last, in which Jehovah is represented as wrapping himself, and in which
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 18:11
He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. He made darkness his secret place.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 18:11
His secret place; or, his hiding-place; i.e. he covered himself with dark clouds, from hence he secretly shot at his enemies, as it follows. Dark waters, i.e. watery vapours and thick clouds, as the next words expound these.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 18:11
Psalms 18:11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him [were] dark waters [and] thick clouds of the skies.Ver. 11. He made darkness his secret place] As a king, that, being angry, withdraweth himself from his subjects, and will not be seen of them. Vel quia decreta Dei veniunt invisibiliter, said R. David.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 18:11
(11) Secret place.—Better, veil. Comp. Job 22:14; Lamentations 3:44. A better arrangement of the members of this verse is, He made darkness His veil round about Him; His tent He made of dark waters and black clouds. Literally, darkness of waters and blacknesses of clouds. (Comp. Psalms 97:2; Job 36:29.) In Samuel, instead of “blacknesses” of clouds, the expression used is “bendings,” or “collectings,” and the parallelism is marred by the omission of “his veil.” Always present to the Hebrew imagination, God is still invisible, veiled by thick clouds, and far withdrawn in His own ineffable brightness. This verse gives suggestion of that momentary lull so common before the final fury of a storm bursts. In the Hebrew imagery Jehovah stays His winged car, and draws round Him, as if to take up His abode within them, thick curtains of cloud. “We often see, against some storm, A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still, The bold winds speechless, and the orb below As hush as death.”—: Hamlet.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 18:11
Verse 11. He made darkness his secret place] God is represented as dwelling in the thick darkness, Deuteronomy 4:11; Psalms 97:2. This representation in the place before us is peculiarly proper; as thick heavy clouds deeply charged, and with lowering aspects, are always the forerunners and attendants of a tempest, and greatly heighten the horrors of the appearance: and the representation of them, spread about the Almighty as a tent, is truly grand and poetic. Dark waters] The vapours strongly condensed into clouds; which, by the stroke of the lightning, are about to be precipitated in torrents of rain. See the next verse.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 18:11
11. R.V. He made darkness his hiding-place, his pavilion round about him; Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies. The darkness of the rain-charged storm-cloud is the tent in which Jehovah shrouds His Majesty. Cp. Job 36:29; Psalms 97:2. The rhythm gains by the omission of his hiding-place, as in 2 Sam.; and the text there may be right in reading gathering of waters for darkness of waters.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 18:11
He made darkness his secret place - Herder has beautifully rendered this verse, “Now he wrapped himself in darkness; Clouds on clouds enclosed him round.” The word rendered “secret place” - סתר
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 18:11
11. Darkness his secret place—Compare Psalms 18:9 and Psalms 97:2. The allusion is to Deuteronomy 4:11. His pavilion… dark waters and thick clouds—Tempestuous storm clouds were his military tent.
Sermons on Psalms 18:11
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Holy of Holies Part I by Bertha Smith | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the role of a shepherd in guiding and protecting his sheep. He compares the behavior of sheep to that of cats, highlighting how sheep can easi |
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Treasures in the Darkness by Charles E. Cowman | Charles E. Cowman preaches about the significance of embracing the darkness and trials in life, emphasizing that God's hidden secrets are often revealed in the midst of challenges. |
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Attributes of God (Series 1): The Justice of God by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the concept of a judge being caught between mercy and justice. He uses the example of a man torn between his love for a woman and his sense o |
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Attributes of God #4 "God's Justice" by A.W. Tozer | A.W. Tozer emphasizes the essential nature of God's justice, asserting that it is not merely an attribute but the very essence of God Himself. He explains that God's justice is per |
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Darkness That Brings True Light by Oswald Chambers | Oswald Chambers preaches about the importance of heeding God's messages in times of darkness and sharing them in the light, emphasizing the valuable lessons learned during challeng |
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The First Adam and Last Adam by T. Austin-Sparks | T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes the significance of the contrast between the first Adam and the last Adam, Jesus Christ, in God's redemptive plan. He explains that while the first Adam |
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He Will Be Seen by Frederick W. Robertson | Frederick W. Robertson preaches about the importance of trusting in the Lord even when faced with darkness and challenges. Just like the sun is still shining behind the clouds, God |