The Meaning of Psalms 105:39 Explained

Psalms 105:39

KJV: He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.

YLT: He hath spread a cloud for a covering, And fire to enlighten the night.

Darby: He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light in the night.

ASV: He spread a cloud for a covering, And fire to give light in the night.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He spread  a cloud  for a covering;  and fire  to give light  in the night. 

What does Psalms 105:39 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 105:31-45 - Led By A Mighty Hand
Notice in this enumeration of the plagues that the emphasis in each is laid on God's direct act. He is the great agent of his own purposes. The tenth plague, Psalms 105:36, is followed by the triumphant exodus, when Israel went forth, enriched with treasure and strong for the march. However sad and weary our life may be, it will one day be rich and strong as it goes forth to serve under new and loftier conditions. How good it is to realize that God hath prepared for us things that surpass human thought, and which are proportioned not according to intellect but according to heart; not according to deeds but according to character!
God is all-sufficient for us. He was everything that Israel needed. Can He not suffice for us? We have good hope, not because of our deserts, but because of the covenant into which He has entered with our Savior, who is our Representative and Federal Head. Not for our sakes, but for His holy Name's sake, God has pledged Himself to make us His heirs, joint-heirs with His Son, and sharers in all that joy and bliss which await us on the other side. Ought we not, then, to love Him and to keep His statutes and laws? Hallelujah! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 105

1  An exhortation to praise God, and to seek out his works
7  The story of God's providence over Abraham
16  Over Joseph
23  Over Jacob in Egypt
26  Over Moses delivering the Israelites
37  Over the Israelites brought out of Egypt, fed in the desert, and planted in Canaan

What do the individual words in Psalms 105:39 mean?

He spread a cloud for a covering and fire to give light in the night
פָּרַ֣שׂ עָנָ֣ן לְמָסָ֑ךְ וְ֝אֵ֗שׁ לְהָאִ֥יר לָֽיְלָה

פָּרַ֣שׂ  He  spread 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּרַשׂ  
Sense: to spread, spread out, stretch, break in pieces.
עָנָ֣ן  a  cloud 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָנָן  
Sense: cloud, cloudy, cloud-mass.
לְמָסָ֑ךְ  for  a  covering 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָסָךְ  
Sense: covering, rag, screen.
וְ֝אֵ֗שׁ  and  fire 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
לְהָאִ֥יר  to  give  light  in 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: אֹור  
Sense: to be or become light, shine.
לָֽיְלָה  the  night 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לַיִל 
Sense: night.