Psalm 8:3
ESV
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
NIV
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
NASB
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have set in place;
CSB
When I observe your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you set in place,
NLT
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers — the moon and the stars you set in place —
KJV
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
NKJV
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
What does Psalm 8:3 mean?
It takes many millions of dollars to send astronauts into space and to place satellites into orbit around planets to photograph those distant marvels. However, scientists have only scratched the surface of outer space. Millions of stars, planets, and galaxies lie beyond man's present reach. However, as David noted in this verse, God created all the heavens as the work of His fingers, and He has put into orbit the moon and the stars.When Abraham was alive, the Lord instructed Abraham to look at the heavens and number the stars, "if you are able to number them" (Genesis 15:5). He promised to give Abraham descendants as numerous as the stars. Our appreciation of God's majesty, wisdom, and power grows deeper if we take time during a clear, starry night to look up and scan the heavens. Pagans may worship the sun, moon, and stars, but their focus is poorly placed. It should be on the One who created all these heavenly bodies to give us further evidence that we ought to worship Him.
Psalm 8:3–9 parallels Genesis 2:8–15 in which God had provided abundantly for mankind and had given them dominion over all living creatures on the earth. Hebrews 2:5–9 applies this part of Psalm 8 to Jesus. He became a real human being on our behalf, and after His death for our sins, He arose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of God. Someday, He will sit upon the throne of David and hold dominion over the whole earth. What Adam lost by sinning, Jesus has restored by suffering (1 Corinthians 15:20–28).
In this psalm David reflects upon God's majesty that is displayed in the creation. The heavens declare God's glory. Against the backdrop of such glory, man seems insignificant, yet God chose man to rule the earth and all its creatures. By giving man this awesome responsibility, God has crowned him with glory and honor. The psalm has a messianic tone, because Jesus Christ became a little lower than the angels by becoming a human being. Someday, when Jesus rules the world, he will restore the dominion Adam lost. All nature, including all mankind, will submit to Jesus' rule. The psalm ends as it began with a declaration of the Lord's majestic name in all the earth.
