Psalm 139:17 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 139:17-24

Here the psalmist makes application of the doctrine of God's omniscience, divers ways. I. He acknowledges, with wonder and thankfulness, the care God had taken of him all his days, Ps. 139:17, 18. God, who knew him, thought of him, and his thoughts towards him were thoughts of love, thought of good, and not of evil, Jer. 29:11. God's omniscience, which might justly have watched over us to do us hurt, has been employed for us, and has watched over us to do us good, Jer. 31:28. God's counsels... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:17

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God !.... The word F18 יקרו "difficiles", Cocceius; "quam rarae"; so some in Vatablus. signifies that which is scarce and rare, and not to be attained and enjoyed; see 1 Samuel 3:1 ; the thoughts and counsels of God are impenetrable and unsearchable; he knows our thoughts, as Aben Ezra observes, but we do not know his, Psalm 139:2 ; as well as it likewise signifies the worth and value of them; God's thoughts are infinitely beyond... 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:17

Verse 17 17.How precious also are thy thoughts unto me It is the same Hebrew word, רעה, reah, which is used here as in the second verse, and means thought, not companion or friend, as many have rendered it, after the Chaldee translator, under the idea that the Psalmist is already condescending upon the distinction between the righteous and the wicked. The context requires that he should still be considered as speaking of the matchless excellence of divine providence. He therefore repeats — and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 139:1-24

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 139:1-24

Lord, thou knowest altogether. This psalm, one of the most sublime of them all, is of unknown authorship. It seems to be the composition of some saint of God who lived after the Captivity. If so , what proof it gives of the blessing of sanctified sorrow (cf. the probably companion psalm, Psalms 119:1-176 ; Psalms 119:67 , Psalms 119:71 , Psalms 119:75 )! The furnace of the Exile, the husks of the far country, did bring prodigal Israel to himself; and this psalm is one clear... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 139:17

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God ! If God's works are admirable, and, therefore, precious, so still more are his thoughts—those deep counsels of his, which must have preceded all manifestation of himself in act or work. How great is the sum of them! Were they all added together, how immeasurable would be the amount! What a treasure of wisdom and knowledge; read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 139:17-24

Thoughts, Divine and human. With some apparent abruptness, the psalmist calls our attention I. THE THOUGHTS OF GOD . 1. Their manifoldness . 2. Their preciousness . Everything we see and hear and touch is a manifested thought of God; it must have existed in his mind before it took shape, color, substance. It adds deep interest to all natural scenery to think of sea and sky, of flower and tree, of the wooded glen and the snow-clad mountain, as thoughts of God. So... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 139:17

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! - On the word “thoughts,” see the notes at Psalms 139:2. Compare Psalms 139:23. The remark is made here doubtless in view of the numberless “thoughts” involved in planning and forming a frame so wondrous, and in the care necessary to bring it to perfection; to develop it; to provide for it; to guard and defend it. How many “thoughts” of a parent are employed in behalf of his children, in providing for them; teaching them; counseling them;... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 139:17-18

Psalms 139:17-18. How precious also, &c. “From the wonders of God’s forming hand, the psalmist proceeds to those of his all-directing providence, which afford additional proofs of the divine omniscience and omnipresence.” Are thy thoughts unto me Thy counsels, or contrivances, in my behalf, which are admirable and amiable in my eyes, and replete with kindness. Thou didst not only form me at first, but ever since my conception and birth thy thoughts have been employed for my good,... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 139:17-24

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:17

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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:17

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 139:1-24

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 139:1-24

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 139:17

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 139:17-24

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 139:17

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 139:17-18

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