Psalm 139:3

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 139:3

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

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

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

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 139:3

Thou compassest (rather, siftest ) my path and my lying down ; literally, my path and my couch—the time of my activity and the time of my rest. And art acquainted with all my ways (comp. Psalms 119:168 , "All my ways are before thee"). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 139:3

Thou compassest my path ... - Margin, “winnowest.” The Hebrew word - זרה zârâh - means properly “to scatter,” to cast loosely about - as the wind does dust; and then, to winnow - to wit, by throwing grain, when it is thrashed, up to the wind: Isaiah 30:24; Jeremiah 4:11; Ruth 3:2. Then it means “to winnow out;” that is, to winnow out all the chaff, and to leave all the grain - to save all that is valuable. So here it means that God, as it were, “sifted” him. Compare Isaiah 30:28; Amos 9:9;... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 139:1-3

Psalms 139:1-3. O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me That is, known me exactly, as men know those things which they diligently search out. Thou knowest my down-sitting, &c. All my postures and motions; my actions, and my cessation from action. Thou understandest my thoughts All my secret counsels, designs, and imaginations; afar off Before they are perfectly formed in my own mind. Thou knowest what my thoughts will be in such and such circumstances, long before I know it,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:1-24

Psalms 139:0 The all-knowing, ever-present GodGod knows all about the psalmist - what he does, what he thinks, where he goes and what he says (139:1-4). Because of the realization that God is all around him, the psalmist sometimes feels helpless (5-6). A person may be tempted to look for some escape from such an overpowering presence, but no escape is possible. This may bring fear to rebels but it brings comfort to believers (7-8). Wherever they travel, God is with them (9-10). In darkness or... read more

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