Psalm 139:13-24 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:21

Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee ?.... Wicked men are haters of God; of his word, both law and Gospel; of his ordinances, ways, and worship; of his people, cause, and interest; and therefore good men hate them: not as men, as the creatures of God, and as their fellow creatures, whom they are taught by the Gospel to love, to do good unto, and pray for; but as haters of God, and because they are so; not their persons, but their works; and for the truth of this the omniscient God is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:22

I hate them with perfect hatred ,.... Heartily and really; not in word only, but in deed and in truth; "odio vatiniano", with consummate hatred: this is an answer to his own question; I count them mine enemies ; being the enemies of God: the friends of God were David's friends, as angels and good men, and God's enemies were his; their friends and enemies, were common; so closely allied and attached were they to each other, as God and all good men are. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:23

Search me, O God, and know my heart ,.... He had searched him, and knew his heart thoroughly; try me, and know my thoughts ; he had tried him, and knew every thought in him, Psalm 139:1 . This therefore is not said for the sake of God; who, though he is the trier of hearts, and the searcher of the reins, is indeed a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart at once, and knows immediately what is in man; and needs no testimony of him, nor to make use of any means in order to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:24

And see if there be any wicked way in me ,.... Not that David thought himself free from wickedness, or that there was none to be found in his heart and life; and therefore said this in a boasting way, he knew otherwise; see Psalm 19:12 ; but he is desirous it might be thoroughly looked into and seen whether there was any such wicked way in him he was charged with; as that he had a design upon the life of Saul, and to seize his throne and kingdom, which never entered into his mind, 1... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:13

Thou hast possessed my reins - As the Hebrews believed that the reins were the first part of the human fetus that is formed, it may here mean, thou hast laid the foundation of my being. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:14

I am fearfully and wonderfully made - The texture of the human body is the most complicated and curious that can be conceived. It is, indeed, wonderfully made; and it is withal so exquisitely nice and delicate, that the slightest accident may impair or destroy in a moment some of those parts essentially necessary to the continuance of life; therefore, we are fearfully made. And God has done so to show us our frailty, that we should walk with death, keeping life in view; and feel the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:15

My substance was not hid from thee - עצמי atsmi , my bones or skeleton. Curiously wrought - רקמתי rukkamti , embroidered, made of needlework. These two words, says Bishop Horsley, describe the two principal parts of which the human body is composed; the bony skeleton, the foundation of the whole; and the external covering of muscular flesh, tendons, veins, arteries, nerves, and skin; a curious web of fibres. On this passage Bishop Lowth has some excellent observations: "In that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:16

Thine eyes did see my substance - גלמי golmi , my embryo state - my yet indistinct mass, when all was wrapped up together, before it was gradually unfolded into the lineaments of man. "Some think," says Dr. Dodd, "that the allusion to embroidery is still carried on. As the embroiderer has still his work, pattern, or carton, before him, to which he always recurs; so, by a method as exact, revere all my members in continuance fashioned, i.e., from the rude embryo or mass they daily... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:17

How precious also are thy thoughts - רעיך reeycha , thy cogitations; a Chaldaism, as before. How great is the sum of them! - ראשיהם עצמו מה mah atsemu rasheyhem ; How strongly rational are the heads or principal subjects of them! But the word may apply to the bones, עצמות atsamoth , the structure and uses of which are most curious and important. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:18

If I should count them - I should be glad to enumerate so many interesting particulars: but they are beyond calculation. When I awake - Thou art my Governor and Protector night and day. I am still with thee - All my steps in life are ordered by thee: I cannot go out of thy presence; I am ever under the influence of thy Spirit. The subject, from the Psalm 139:14 ; to the Psalm 139:16 ; inclusive, might have been much more particularly illustrated, but we are taught, by the... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:24

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:18

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