Psalm 132:4
New International Version
I will allow no sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,

New Living Translation
I will not let my eyes sleep nor close my eyelids in slumber

English Standard Version
I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,

Berean Standard Bible
I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,

King James Bible
I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids,

New King James Version
I will not give sleep to my eyes Or slumber to my eyelids,

New American Standard Bible
I will not give sleep to my eyes Or slumber to my eyelids,

NASB 1995
I will not give sleep to my eyes Or slumber to my eyelids,

NASB 1977
I will not give sleep to my eyes, Or slumber to my eyelids;

Legacy Standard Bible
I will not give sleep to my eyes Or slumber to my eyelids,

Amplified Bible
I certainly will not permit my eyes to sleep Nor my eyelids to slumber,

Christian Standard Bible
I will not allow my eyes to sleep or my eyelids to slumber

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I will not allow my eyes to sleep or my eyelids to slumber

American Standard Version
I will not give sleep to mine eyes, Or slumber to mine eyelids;

Contemporary English Version
or close my eyelids,

English Revised Version
I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
get into my bed, shut my eyes, or close my eyelids

Good News Translation
I will not rest or sleep,

International Standard Version
or let myself go to sleep or even take a nap,

Majority Standard Bible
I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,

NET Bible
I will not allow my eyes to sleep, or my eyelids to slumber,

New Heart English Bible
I will not give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids;

Webster's Bible Translation
I will not give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids,

World English Bible
I will not give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
If I give sleep to my eyes, "" To my eyelids—slumber,

Young's Literal Translation
If I give sleep to mine eyes, To mine eyelids -- slumber,

Smith's Literal Translation
If I shall give sleep to mine eyes, slumber to mine eye-lashes,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If I shall give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids,

Catholic Public Domain Version
I shall not give sleep to my eyes, nor slumber to my eyelids

New American Bible
I will give my eyes no sleep, my eyelids no rest,

New Revised Standard Version
I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Nor will I give sleep to mine eyes or slumber to mine eyelids

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
I shall not give sleep to my eyes, neither slumber to my eyebrows
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I will not give sleep to mine eyes, Nor slumber to mine eyelids;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I will not give sleep to mine eyes, nor slumber to mine eyelids, nor rest to my temples,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Remember David's Affliction
3“I will not enter my house or get into my bed, 4I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, 5until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”…

Cross References
2 Samuel 7:1-2
After the king had settled into his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, / he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”

1 Chronicles 22:7-8
“My son,” said David to Solomon, “it was in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God, / but this word of the LORD came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and waged great wars. You are not to build a house for My Name because you have shed so much blood on the ground before Me.

1 Kings 8:17-18
Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. / But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Since it was in your heart to build a house for My Name, you have done well to have this in your heart.

2 Chronicles 6:7-8
Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. / But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Since it was in your heart to build a house for My Name, you have done well to have this in your heart.

Nehemiah 1:4
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Isaiah 62:1
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep still, until her righteousness shines like a bright light, her salvation like a blazing torch.

2 Samuel 6:16
As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart.

1 Kings 5:3-5
“As you are well aware, due to the wars waged on all sides against my father David, he could not build a house for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD had put his enemies under his feet. / But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or crisis. / So behold, I plan to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God, according to what the LORD said to my father David: ‘I will put your son on your throne in your place, and he will build the house for My Name.’

1 Chronicles 28:2
Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. It was in my heart to build a house as a resting place for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and as a footstool for our God. I had made preparations to build it,

2 Samuel 12:20
Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate.

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. / Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. / For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Luke 9:58
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”

Acts 7:46
who found favor in the sight of God and asked to provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.

Hebrews 4:9-11
There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. / For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. / Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.

Matthew 8:20
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”


Treasury of Scripture

I will not give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids,

give sleep

Genesis 24:33
And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.

Ruth 3:18
Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.

Proverbs 6:4
Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

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Psalm 132
1. David in his prayer commends unto God the reverent care he had for the ark
8. His prayer at the removing of the ark
11. With a repetition of God's promises














I will not give sleep to my eyes
This phrase reflects a deep commitment and urgency in the speaker's heart. The Hebrew word for "sleep" here is "שֵׁנָה" (shenah), which signifies a state of rest or slumber. In the context of ancient Israel, sleep was not only a physical necessity but also a metaphor for spiritual complacency. The psalmist's declaration indicates a refusal to succumb to spiritual lethargy or distraction until a significant task is accomplished. Historically, this reflects King David's fervent desire to find a dwelling place for the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's presence among His people. The phrase challenges believers to prioritize spiritual pursuits over personal comfort, echoing the New Testament call to "seek first the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33).

or slumber to my eyelids
The word "slumber" in Hebrew is "תְּנוּמָה" (tenumah), which implies a lighter form of sleep, akin to drowsiness or dozing. This reinforces the intensity of the psalmist's vow, emphasizing that even the slightest hint of rest is to be avoided until his mission is fulfilled. The eyelids, often seen as the gateway to rest, symbolize the threshold between action and inaction. In a broader scriptural context, this phrase can be seen as a call to vigilance and perseverance in one's spiritual journey. The historical backdrop of David's relentless pursuit to honor God with a permanent dwelling place serves as an inspiration for believers to remain steadfast and alert in their faith, resisting the temptation to become spiritually indifferent or distracted.

(4) I will not.--For this proverbial expression see Proverbs 6:4.

Verse 4. - I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to my eyelids. Exegetical of the last clause of ver. 3.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I will not
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

give
אֶתֵּ֣ן (’et·tên)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

sleep
שְׁנַ֣ת (šə·naṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8153: Sleep

to my eyes
לְעֵינָ֑י (lə·‘ê·nāy)
Preposition-l | Noun - cdc | first person common singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

[or] slumber
תְּנוּמָֽה׃ (tə·nū·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8572: Drowsiness, sleep

to my eyelids,
לְֽעַפְעַפַּ֥י (lə·‘ap̄·‘ap·pay)
Preposition-l | Noun - mdc | first person common singular
Strong's 6079: An eyelash, morning ray


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OT Poetry: Psalm 132:4 I will not give sleep to my (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 132:3
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