Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
Parallel translations
- WEB Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
- BSB Behold, the Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
- NKJV Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
- NASB Behold, He who watches over Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.
- NLT Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Keeper of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. God's watch over His people is constant and untiring.
Overview
Reinforcing the previous verse, the psalmist declares emphatically that Israel's Keeper never slumbers nor sleeps. God's protective attention is ceaseless, day and night. The believer rests secure knowing the God who keeps His covenant people is ever awake on their behalf, a care sealed in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Ps 127:1Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
- Isa 27:3I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.
- Ps 32:7–8Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
- Eccl 8:16When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)
- 1 Kgs 18:27And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
- Rev 7:15Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
- Ps 27:1The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 121:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.