Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 139:1-6

David here lays down this great doctrine, That the God with whom we have to do has a perfect knowledge of us, and that all the motions and actions both of our inward and of our outward man are naked and open before him. I. He lays down this doctrine in the way of an address to God; he says it to him, acknowledging it to him, and giving him the glory of it. Divine truths look fully as well when they are prayed over as when they are preached over, and much better than when they are disputed... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:1

O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me . The omniscience of God reaches to all persons and things; but the psalmist only takes notice of it as respecting himself. God knows all men in general, and whatever belongs to them; he knows his own people in a special manner; and he knows their particular persons, as David and others: and this knowledge of God is considered after the manner of men, as if it was the fruit of search, to denote the exquisiteness of it; as a judge searches out a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:2

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising ,.... Here the psalmist proceeds to observe the particular circumstances and actions of his life, which were known to God; as his "downsitting", either to take rest, as weary persons do. Schultens F1 Animadv. Philol. p. 181. explains it of the quiet rest in sleep; this the Lord knew when he betook himself to it, and to whose care he committed himself and family; under whose protection he laid himself down, and on whom he depended for... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:1

O Lord, thou hast searched me - חקרתני chakartani ; thou hast investigated me; thou hast thoroughly acquainted thyself with my whole soul and conduct. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:2

My downsitting and mine uprising - Even these inconsiderable and casual things are under thy continual notice. I cannot so much as take a seat, or leave it, without being marked by thee. Thou understandest my thought - לרעי lerei , "my cogitation." This word is Chaldee, see Daniel 2:29 , Daniel 2:30 . Afar off - While the figment is forming that shall produce them. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:1

Verse 1 1.O Jehovah! thou hast searched me David declares, in the outset of this Psalm, that he does not come before God with any idea of its being possible to succeed by dissimulation, as hypocrites will take advantage of secret refuges to prosecute sinful indulgences, but that he voluntarily lays bare his innermost heart for inspection, as one convinced of the impossibility of deceiving God. It is thine, he says, O God! to discover every secret thought, nor is there anything which can escape... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 139:1

O Lord, thou hast searched me ; rather, hast searched me out ; i . e . examined into all my thoughts and feelings (comp. Psalms 17:3 ). And known me ; i . e . arrived at a full knowledge of my spiritual condition. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 139:1

The Divine inspection. "Searched;" the figure is "winnowed" or "sifted." "Before men we stand as opaque bee-hives. They can see the thoughts go in and out of us, but what work they do inside of a man they cannot tell. Before God we are as glass bee-hives, and all that our thoughts are doing within us he perfectly sees and understands" (Beecher). How near the ancient poets of India could get to the thought and feeling of this psalm is indicated in the following hymn taken from the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 139:1-6

God's knowledge of us. 1. We sometimes say that "we know" a certain man who is a neighbor. By this we may mean nothing more than that we can distinguish him from his fellows, and give him his proper name. That is a slight acquaintance indeed. 2. Sometimes when we make such an affirmation we mean that we have a general knowledge of his occupation and his more outward and formal habits. That goes a very little way. 3. Sometimes we mean more than this—we intimate that we know what a... read more

Group of Brands