The Meaning of Psalms 63:6 Explained

Psalms 63:6

KJV: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

YLT: If I have remembered Thee on my couch, In the watches -- I meditate on Thee.

Darby: When I remember thee upon my bed, I meditate on thee in the night-watches:

ASV: When I remember thee upon my bed, And meditate on thee in the night-watches.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

When I remember  thee upon my bed,  [and] meditate  on thee in the [night] watches. 

What does Psalms 63:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 63:1-11 - The Longing Soul Abundantly Satisfied
Ever since the third century this has been the morning song of the Church. The superscription tells us that it was written in the wilderness of Judah, probably during the events recorded in 2 Samuel 15:23-28; 2 Samuel 16:2; 2 Samuel 17:16. Notice the many references to the life of the soul. These are the many considerations of our mortal pilgrimage! My soul thirsteth; my soul longeth; my soul shall be satisfied; my soul followeth hard after thee.
The soul thirsting, Psalms 63:1-4
Let us be on the alert to see God's power and glory, not only in the sanctuary, but in dry and thirsty lands. How sad and weary, r.v., is life without God!
The soul satisfied, Psalms 63:5-7
To desire God is to have Him. To long for Him is to be at the well-head. To remember Him on the bed rests us. To meditate on Him in the night is to have the dawn. The shadow of His wings is absolute safety.
The soul in hot pursuit, Psalms 63:8-11
God is always in front of us. The Savior went before; we must follow in His steps, but there ought to be as little space as possible between us. Another turn of the road, and you will see Him! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 63

1  David's thirst for God
4  His manner of blessing God
9  His confidence of his enemies' destruction, and his own safety

What do the individual words in Psalms 63:6 mean?

When I remember You on my bed in the [night] watches I meditate on You
אִם־ זְכַרְתִּ֥יךָ עַל־ יְצוּעָ֑י בְּ֝אַשְׁמֻר֗וֹת אֶהְגֶּה־ בָּֽךְ

זְכַרְתִּ֥יךָ  I  remember  You 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: זָכַר 
Sense: to remember, recall, call to mind.
יְצוּעָ֑י  my  bed 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: יָצוּעַ 
Sense: couch, bed.
בְּ֝אַשְׁמֻר֗וֹת  in  the  [night]  watches 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural
Root: אַשְׁמוּרָה  
Sense: watch (a period of time), night-watch.
אֶהְגֶּה־  I  meditate 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: הָגָה  
Sense: to moan, growl, utter, muse, mutter, meditate, devise, plot, speak.
בָּֽךְ  on  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular