The Meaning of Psalms 56:8 Explained

Psalms 56:8

KJV: Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

YLT: My wandering Thou hast counted, Thou -- place Thou my tear in Thy bottle, Are they not in Thy book?

Darby: Thou countest my wanderings; put my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

ASV: Thou numberest my wanderings: Put thou my tears into thy bottle; Are they not in thy book?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou tellest  my wanderings:  put  thou my tears  into thy bottle:  [are they] not in thy book? 

What does Psalms 56:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 56:1-13 - "what Can Man Do Unto Me?"
This psalm was composed under the same circumstances as Psalms 34:1-22. See 1 Samuel 21:1-15. What a strange medley is here shown-David feigning madness and composing psalms! Commenting on Psalms 56:3, one says that Isaiah's resolve is still better: "I will trust and not be afraid," Isaiah 12:2. Note, the magnificent refrain at the close of each of the first two strophes, Psalms 56:4; Psalms 56:10. The psalmist asks: "What can flesh do?" "Nothing," is the Apostle Paul's emphatic answer. Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers can hurt a man who makes God his stronghold, Romans 8:31.
Let us use the last verse for our life-prayer. Live as one on whom God's vows rest. Thank Him that by His Cross and Passion He has delivered thy soul from death. Could He have done so much at such cost, and then fail? Surely He must deliver our feet from falling, Psalms 116:8, or all the past will have been in vain. Whenever the shadows gather, and past sins threaten, and the enemies of your soul seek to overthrow, plead this prayer: Thou hast"¦ wilt not Thou? [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 56

1  David, praying to God in confidence of his word, complains of his enemies,
9  He professes his confidence in God's word, and promises to praise him

What do the individual words in Psalms 56:8 mean?

My wanderings number You Put my tears into Your bottle [Are they] not in Your book
נֹדִי֮ סָפַ֪רְתָּ֫ה אָ֥תָּה שִׂ֣ימָה דִמְעָתִ֣י בְנֹאדֶ֑ךָ הֲ֝לֹ֗א ؟ בְּסִפְרָתֶֽךָ

נֹדִי֮  My  wanderings 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: נׄדִי 
Sense: wandering (of aimless fugitive).
סָפַ֪רְתָּ֫ה  number 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: סָפַר 
Sense: to count, recount, relate.
שִׂ֣ימָה  Put 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
דִמְעָתִ֣י  my  tears 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: דִּמְעָה  
Sense: tears.
בְנֹאדֶ֑ךָ  into  Your  bottle 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: נׄאד  
Sense: skin, bottle, skin-bottle.
הֲ֝לֹ֗א  [Are  they]  not 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
؟ בְּסִפְרָתֶֽךָ  in  Your  book 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: סֵפֶר 
Sense: book.