The Meaning of Psalms 130:3 Explained

Psalms 130:3

KJV: If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

YLT: If iniquities Thou dost observe, O Lord, who doth stand?

Darby: If thou, Jah, shouldest mark iniquities, Lord, who shall stand?

ASV: If thou, Jehovah, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If thou, LORD,  shouldest mark  iniquities,  O Lord,  who shall stand? 

What does Psalms 130:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 130:1-8 - "out Of The Depths"
The cry, Psalms 130:1-2. The word Lord occurs as often as there are verses. The soul in trouble repeats again and again that precious Name, in which comfort and help are summed up. The chief cause of anguish, Psalms 130:3-4, is the memory of our sins. But our iniquities are not marked save by the jewels of forgiveness, like the pearls of an oyster that are set in the place where it was wounded. The soul's attitude, Psalms 130:5-6. It waits! He will surely come though He seems to tarry. Plenteous redemption, Psalms 130:7. It is not enough for God to forgive. He will abundantly pardon.
Psalms 131:1-3
The cry of the child-heart. The psalmist said this in all simplicity. He did not exercise himself (literally "walk to and fro") in things beyond his powers, but left God to reveal them to him, as he was able to receive them. We are reminded of Matthew 11:25. Clearly he had not reached this position without effort. He had found it necessary to still and quiet himself, as a nurse quiets a fretful babe. There had been a time when he was fed at the breast of the world's consolations. The weaning had been hard, but he had learned to get all from God and to draw on His sustaining grace. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 130

1  The psalmist professes his hope in prayer
5  And his patience in hope
7  He exhorts Israel to trust in God

What do the individual words in Psalms 130:3 mean?

If iniquities You should mark YAH Lord who could stand
אִם־ עֲוֺנ֥וֹת תִּשְׁמָר־ יָ֑הּ אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י מִ֣י ؟ יַעֲמֹֽד

עֲוֺנ֥וֹת  iniquities 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: עָוֹן  
Sense: perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity.
תִּשְׁמָר־  You  should  mark 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
יָ֑הּ  YAH 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָהּ  
Sense: Jah (Jehovah in the shortened form).
אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י  Lord 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲדֹנָי  
Sense: my lord, lord.
؟ יַעֲמֹֽד  could  stand 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.