psalm-139:3-14-niv

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 139:7-16

It is of great use to us to know the certainty of the things wherein we have been instructed, that we may not only believe them, but be able to tell why we believe them, and to give a reason of the hope that is in us. David is sure that God perfectly knows him and all his ways, I. Because he is always under his eye. If God is omnipresent, he must needs be omniscient; but he is omnipresent; this supposes the infinite and immensity of his being, from which follows the ubiquity of his presence;... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:7

Whither shall I go from thy spirit ?.... Or, "from thy wind?" which some interpret literally, the wind being God's creature; which he brings out of his treasures, and holds in his fists, and disposes of as he pleases; this takes its circuit through all the points of the heavens, and blows everywhere, more or less. Rather God himself is meant, who is a Spirit, John 4:24 not a body, or consisting of corporeal parts, which are only ascribed to him in a figurative sense; and who has something... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:8

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there ,.... No man hath ascended or can ascend to heaven of himself; it is an hyperbolical expression, as are those that follow; none but Christ has ascended to heaven by his own power, who descended from it; saints hope to go there at death, and, when they do, they find God there; that is his habitation, his throne is there, yea, that is his throne; here he keeps court and has his attendants, and here he will be seen and enjoyed by his people to all... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:9

If I take the wings of the morning ,.... And fly as swift as the morning light to the east, to the extremity of it, as Ben Melech; as far as he could go that way, as swiftly as the wings of the morning could carry him thither; so the morning is represented by the Heathens as having wings F6 Vid. Cuperi Apotheos. Homeri, p. 177. ; or as the rays of the rising sun, called wings for the swiftness of them, Malachi 4:2 ; and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea ; in the most... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:10

Even there shall thy hand lead me ,.... For he could not get there with all the assistance of the wings of the morning, could they be had, without the leadings of divine Providence; and when there, being a good man, should experience the leadings of divine grace; let the people of God be where they will, he heads them as a parent his child, teaching him to go; and as a shepherd his flock, into green pastures, and to fountains of living water; he leads to himself, and to his Son by his... read more

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 139:7-16

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

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:10

Group of Brands