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Psalms 18:11

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 18:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “He made darkness his hiding-place, his pavilion round about him, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

He made darkness his hiding-place, his pavilion round about him, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
Psalms 18:11 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 18

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, And fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it.
9He bowed the heavens also, and came down; And thick darkness was under his feet.
10And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; Yea, he soared upon the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness his hiding-place, his pavilion round about him, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
12At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, Hailstones and coals of fire.
13Jehovah also thundered in the heavens, And the Most High uttered his voice, Hailstones and coals of fire.
14And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yea, lightnings manifold, and discomfited them.
← Psalms 18:10Psalms 18:12 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“dark waters--or, clouds heavy with vapor.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“He made darkness his secret place - Herder has beautifully rendered this verse, “Now he wrapped himself in darkness; Clouds on clouds enclosed him round.” The word rendered “secret place” - סתר sêther - means properly a hiding; then something hidden, private, secret. Hence, it means a covering, a veil. Compare Job 22:14; Job 24:15. In Psalms 81:7 it is applied to thunder: “I answered thee in the secret place of thunder;” that is, in the secret place or retreat - the deep, dark cloud, from where the thunder seems to come. Here the meaning seems to be, that God was encompassed with darkness. He had, as it were, wrapped himself in night, and made his abode in the gloom of the storm. His…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Darkness - He covered himself with dark clouds. Waters - Watery vapours. Psalms 18:12”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“secret: Psa 27:5, Psa 81:7, Psa 91:1 thick: Psa 97:2; Deu 4:11; Joe 2:2 Psalms 18:12”
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Related study paths

Read Psalms 18 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification