Psalm 18:9

Translations

Modern

He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds beneath His feet.

Traditional

He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.

Literal

And He stretched apart the heavens and came down, and a dark cloud was under His feet.

Latin

Inclinavit cælos, et descendit, et caligo sub pedibus ejus.

Original

Hebrew

English

He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds beneath His feet.

Notes

Psalms 18:9–11

The Lord rules over all of nature (see Psalm 104:2–4; 148:5–6).

Psalms 18:7–15

The psalmist describes the Lord coming down from heaven to earth. This moment includes powerful signs such as earthquakes, fire, smoke, darkness, and rain. All creation trembles when God appears.

The psalm shows God as the Divine Warrior (a title that describes God fighting for his people, see Psalm 97:2–5) and as the Judge who rules with justice (see 50:1–6).

Psalms 18:1–50

This psalm describes a royal story of God rescuing his king. A similar version of this psalm appears in 2 Samuel 22:1–51. The psalm encourages those who hear the earlier prayers for help in Psalms 16 and 17.

The psalmist describes the dramatic nature of God’s rescue in three different ways (Psalm 18:7–15, 16–19, 30–36). The psalm also offers hope that a future Son of David will completely defeat evil (Psalm 18:43–50; compare Psalm 2).

Psalms 15:1–19:14

The psalms in this section emphasize integrity and purity (Psalms 17:15; 18:20–26; 19:13–14). They describe people as living in God’s presence (Psalms 16:9–11; 17:15) and remaining steadfast (15:5; 16:8).

Theme notes and profiles

David Darkness and Light God Works through Prayer Praise Psalms Royal Psalms Salvation in the Psalms The Cloud and Fire The Poor and Needy in the Psalms Wisdom Psalms

Related verses

Psalm 144:5–15
Part Your heavens, O LORD, and come down; touch the mountains, that they may smoke.
2 Peter 3:10
But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.
2 Samuel 22:10
He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds beneath His feet.
Deuteronomy 33:26
“There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to your aid, and the clouds in His majesty.
Mark 15:33
From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.
Joel 3:16
The LORD will roar from Zion and raise His voice from Jerusalem; heaven and earth will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for His people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.
Matthew 24:29
Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’
John 13:7
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
Revelation 20:11
Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.
Deuteronomy 5:22–23
The LORD spoke these commandments in a loud voice to your whole assembly out of the fire, the cloud, and the deep darkness on the mountain; He added nothing more. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.
Hebrews 12:26
At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.”
Psalm 68:4
Sing to God! Sing praises to His name. Exalt Him who rides on the clouds—His name is the LORD—and rejoice before Him.

Psalm 18:9

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Related verses?

Parallels?

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Original

Notes

Related verses

Parallels

Glossary

Topics