Psalm 139:1-6

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:3

Thou compassest my path and my lying down ,.... The Targum adds, "to study in the law.' His walk in the daytime, and every step he took, and his lying down at night. It denotes his perfect knowledge of all his actions, day and night; he surrounds every path of man, that they cannot escape his knowledge. Or, "thou winnowest", as some render the word F3 זרית "ventilasti", Pagninus, Montanus; so Tigurine version and Ainsworth. ; he distinguishes actions; he discerns and separates... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:4

For there is not a word in my tongue ,.... Expressed by it or upon it, just ready to be spoken; or, as the Targum, "when there is no word in my tongue:' so Aben Ezra, "before it was perfect in my tongue:' before it is formed there; while it is in the mind, and not expressed, and even before that; but , lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether ; the whole of it, from whence it springs; the reason of it, what is designed, or the ends to be answered by it. The Lord knows the good... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:5

Thou hast beset me behind and before ,.... Art on every side of me, all around me, like one besieged in a strait place; so that there is nothing I can think, say, or do, but what is known unto thee. The two Kimchis, father and son, render the word, "thou hast formed me": and interpret it of the formation of his body, of which, in Psalm 139:14 ; see Job 10:8 but it denotes how God compasses men with his presence and providence, so that nothing escapes his knowledge; and laid thine hand... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:6

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me ,.... Meaning either the knowledge of himself, such as God had of him, which was vastly superior to what he had of himself; and especially the knowledge of other persons and things, whether visible or invisible, in heaven, earth, or hell; things past, present, and to come; or else the manner in which God knew all this was amazing to him, and quite impenetrable by him; that he did know him, his thoughts, his words and actions, and so those of all... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:3

Thou compassest my path - זרית zeritha thou dost winnow, ventilate, or sift my path; and my lying down, רבעי ribi , my lair, my bed. And art acquainted - Thou treasurest up. This is the import of סכן sachan . Thou hast the whole number of my ways, and the steps I took in them. read more

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