New International Version He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. New Living Translation He opened the heavens and came down; dark storm clouds were beneath his feet. English Standard Version He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. Berean Standard Bible He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds beneath His feet. Berean Literal Bible And He stretched apart the heavens and came down, and a dark cloud was under His feet. King James Bible He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. New King James Version He bowed the heavens also, and came down With darkness under His feet. New American Standard Bible He also bowed the heavens down low, and came down With thick darkness under His feet. NASB 1995 He bowed the heavens also, and came down With thick darkness under His feet. NASB 1977 He bowed the heavens also, and came down With thick darkness under His feet. Legacy Standard Bible He bowed the heavens and came down With thick darkness under His feet. Amplified Bible He bowed the heavens also and came down; And thick darkness was under His feet. Berean Annotated Bible He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds beneath His feet. Christian Standard Bible He bent the heavens and came down, total darkness beneath his feet. Holman Christian Standard Bible He parted the heavens and came down, a dark cloud beneath His feet. American Standard Version He bowed the heavens also, and came down; And thick darkness was under his feet. Contemporary English Version You opened the heavens like curtains, and you came down with storm clouds under your feet. English Revised Version He bowed the heavens also, and came down, and thick darkness was under his feet. GOD'S WORD® Translation He spread apart the heavens and came down with a dark cloud under his feet. Good News Translation He tore the sky open and came down with a dark cloud under his feet. International Standard Version He bent the sky and descended, and darkness was under his feet. NET Bible He made the sky sink as he descended; a thick cloud was under his feet. New Heart English Bible He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet. Webster's Bible Translation He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleHe parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds beneath His feet. World English Bible He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd He inclines the heavens, and comes down, "" And thick darkness [is] under His feet. Berean Literal Bible And He stretched apart the heavens and came down, and a dark cloud was under His feet. Young's Literal Translation And He inclineth the heavens, and cometh down, And thick darkness is under His feet. Smith's Literal Translation And he will incline the heavens and come down: and gloom under his feet. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHe bowed the heavens, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible He parted the heavens and came down, a dark cloud under his feet. New Revised Standard Version He bowed the heavens, and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleHe bowed the heavens and came down; and thick darkness was under his feet. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated He bent Heaven and came down, and thick darkness was under his feet. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917He bowed the heavens also, and came down; And thick darkness was under His feet. Brenton Septuagint Translation And he bowed the heaven, and came down: and thick darkness was under his feet. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The LORD is My Rock…8Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; glowing coals blazed forth. 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.… Cross References He parted the heavens Isaiah 64:1 If only You would rend the heavens and come down, so that mountains would quake at Your presence, Mark 1:10 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. Matthew 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him. and came down Exodus 19:20 The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the summit. So Moses went up, Exodus 34:5 And the LORD descended in a cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed His name, the LORD. Genesis 11:5 Then the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men were building. with dark clouds beneath His feet. 2 Samuel 22:10-12 He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds beneath His feet. / He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind. / He made darkness a canopy around Him, a gathering of water and thick clouds. Nahum 1:3 The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet. Psalm 97:2 Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation. Exodus 19:18 Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. And the smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. Nahum 1:5 The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence—the world and all its dwellers. Habakkuk 3:6 He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations; the ancient mountains crumbled; the perpetual hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting. Psalm 144:5 Part Your heavens, O LORD, and come down; touch the mountains, that they may smoke. Isaiah 63:19 We have become like those You never ruled, like those not called by Your name. Revelation 11:19 Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple. And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm. Revelation 6:14 The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. Treasury of Scripture He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. He bowed. Psalm 68:4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him. Psalm 144:5 Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. Deuteronomy 33:26 There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. darkness Deuteronomy 5:22,23 These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me… Mark 15:33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. John 13:7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Jump to Previous Bent Bowed Clouds Dark Darkness Feet Heavens Inclineth Parted ThickJump to Next Bent Bowed Clouds Dark Darkness Feet Heavens Inclineth Parted ThickPsalm 18 1. David praises God for his manifold and marvelous blessingsHe parted the heavens God’s intervention is portrayed as a visible breaking into human history. The Creator who rules heaven and earth acts in response to David’s distress, showing that no earthly threat lies beyond His authority. Isa 64:1 If only You would rend the heavens and come down,… and came down God draws near in judgment and deliverance. His descent reflects the awe of His appearance at Sinai, yet here it emphasizes His personal action on behalf of His servant. Exo 19:20 The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai… with dark clouds beneath His feet. The storm clouds display God’s majesty, power, and righteous judgment. Though His glory remains partly veiled from human sight, His presence is unmistakable as He moves against David’s enemies. 2Sa 22:10-12 He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds… Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe author of Psalm 18, David is expressing his gratitude and praise to God for delivering him from his enemies, including King Saul. 2. God The central figure in this verse, God is depicted as a powerful and sovereign being who intervenes in the affairs of men. 3. Heavens The realm above the earth, often seen as the dwelling place of God, which He parts to come down to earth. 4. Dark Clouds Symbolic of God's majesty and mystery, these clouds are beneath His feet, indicating His authority over creation. 5. Deliverance The event of God rescuing David from his enemies, which is the broader context of the entire Psalm. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty and PowerGod is not distant; He actively intervenes in the world and in the lives of His people. His power is unmatched, and He can part the heavens to come to our aid. The Majesty of God's Presence The imagery of dark clouds beneath His feet reminds us of the awe-inspiring nature of God's presence. We should approach Him with reverence and humility. God's Faithfulness in Deliverance Just as God delivered David, He is faithful to deliver us from our trials and enemies. We can trust in His timing and methods. The Importance of Prayer and Praise David's response to God's deliverance is one of praise. We should cultivate a heart of gratitude and worship, acknowledging God's work in our lives. Anticipation of Christ's Return The imagery of God coming down points us to the future return of Christ. We should live in anticipation and readiness for His coming. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Psalm 18:9?2. How does Psalm 18:9 illustrate God's power and majesty in our lives? 3. What does "He parted the heavens" reveal about God's intervention in human affairs? 4. How can we apply the imagery of Psalm 18:9 during personal trials? 5. Which other scriptures depict God descending to aid His people? 6. How can recognizing God's presence in Psalm 18:9 strengthen our faith daily? 7. How does Psalm 18:9 reflect God's power and presence in times of distress? 8. What historical context influenced the imagery used in Psalm 18:9? 9. How does Psalm 18:9 align with the overall theme of divine intervention in the Psalms? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 18? (9) Darkness.--Better, black cloud. The dark masses of rain-cloud are now gathered, and bend to the earth under the majestic tread of God. (Comp. Nahum 1:3, "and the clouds are the dust of his feet." (Comp. Psalm 144:5.)Verse 9. - He bowed the heavens also, and came down (comp. Psalm 145:5). In a storm the clouds do actually descend, and the whole heaven seems to be bowed down to earth. God is said to "come down" to earth whenever he delivers the oppressed, and takes vengeance on their oppressors (see Exodus 3:8; 2 Samuel 22:10; Psalm 144:5; Isaiah 64. I, 3, etc.). And darkness was under his feet. A deep darkness commonly accompanies both earthquake and storm. When God actually descended on Mount Sinai, it was amid thunders and lightnings, and "a thick cloud" (Exodus 19:16), elsewhere called "thick darkness" (Deuteronomy 5:22). Psalm 18:9 assures us that God personally intervenes for His people, tearing open the heavens, descending in power, and riding upon the very storms that terrify humanity. Every barrier yields to His sovereign rescue, guaranteeing that no circumstance is beyond His reach. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew He partedוַיֵּ֣ט (way·yêṭ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5186: To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend the heavens שָׁ֭מַיִם (ma·yim) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky and came down וַיֵּרַ֑ד (way·yê·raḏ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend with dark clouds וַ֝עֲרָפֶ֗ל (wa·‘ă·rā·p̄el) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6205: Cloud, heavy cloud was under תַּ֣חַת (ta·ḥaṯ) Preposition Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of His feet. רַגְלָֽיו׃ (raḡ·lāw) Noun - fdc | third person masculine singular Strong's 7272: A foot, a step, the pudenda Additonal Resources Psalm 18:9 Blue Letter BiblePsalm 18:9 Bible Gateway Psalm 18:9 Bible.com Psalm 18:9 NIV |
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