TRV
Translation
King James Version
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
KJV (with Strong's)
Thou knowest H3045 my downsitting H3427 and mine uprising H6965, thou understandest H995 my thought H7454 afar off H7350.
Complete Jewish Bible
You know when I sit and when I stand up, you discern my inclinations from afar,
Berean Standard Bible
You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.
American Standard Version
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; Thou understandest my thought afar off.
World English Bible Messianic
You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Thou knowest my sitting and my rising: thou vnderstandest my thought afarre off.
Young's Literal Translation
Thou--Thou hast known my sitting down, And my rising up, Thou hast attended to my thoughts from afar.
In the KJVVerse 16,242 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Psalms 139 verses 1–6
1 ¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
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 over. When we speak of God to him himself we shall find ourselves concerned to speak with the utmost degree both of sincerity and reverence, which will be likely to make the impressions the deeper.
II. He lays it down in a way of application to himself, not, "Thou hast known all," but, "Thou hast known me; that is it which I am most concerned to believe and which it will be most profitable for me to consider." Then we know these things for our good when we know them for ourselves, Job 5:27. When we acknowledge, "Lord, all souls are thine," we must add, "My soul is thine; thou that hatest all sin hatest my sin; thou that art good to all, good to Israel, art good to me." So here, "Thou hast searched me, and known me; known me as thoroughly as we know that which we have most diligently and exactly searched into." David was a king, and the hearts of kings are unsearchable to their subjects (Pro 25:3), but they are not so to their Sovereign.
III. He descends to particulars: "Thou knowest me wherever I am and whatever I am doing, me and all that belongs to me." 1. "Thou knowest me and all my motions, my down-sitting to rest, my up-rising to work, with what temper of mind I compose myself when I sit down and stir up myself when I rise up, what my soul reposes itself in as its stay and support, what it aims at and reaches towards as its felicity and end. Thou knowest me when I come home, how I walk before my house, and when I go abroad, on what errands I go." 2. "Thou knowest all my imaginations. Nothing is more close and quick than thought; it is always unknown to others; it is often unobserved by ourselves, and yet thou understandest my thought afar off. Though my thoughts be ever so foreign and distant from one another, thou understandest the chain of them, and canst make out their connexion, when so many of them slip my notice that I myself cannot." Or, "Thou understandest them afar off, even before I think them, and long after I have thought them and have myself forgotten them." Or, "Thou understandest them from afar; from the height of heaven thou seest into the depths of the heart," Psa 33:14. 3. "Thou knowest me and all my designs and undertakings; thou compassest every particular path; thou siftest (or winnowest) my path" (so some), "so as thoroughly to distinguish between the good and evil of what I do," as by sifting we separate between the corn and the chaff. All our actions are ventilated by the judgment of God, Psa 17:3. God takes notice of every step we take, every right step and every by-step. He is acquainted with all our ways, intimately acquainted with them; he knows what rule we walk by, what end we walk towards, what company we walk with. 4. "Thou knowest me in all my retirements; thou knowest my lying down; when I am withdrawn from all company, and am reflecting upon what has passed all day and composing myself to rest, thou knowest what I have in my heart and with what thought I go to bed." 5. "Thou knowest me, and all I say (Psa 139:4): There is not a word in my tongue, not a vain word, nor a good word, but thou knowest it altogether, knowest what it meant, from what thought it came, and with what design it was uttered. There is not a word at my tongue's end, ready to be spoken, yet checked and kept in, but thou knowest it." When there is not a word in my tongue, O Lord! thou knowest all (so some read it); for thoughts are words to God. 6. "Thou knowest me in every part of me: Thou hast beset me behind and before, so that, go which way I will, I am under thy eye and cannot possibly escape it. Thou hast laid thy hand upon me, and I cannot run away from thee." Wherever we are we are under the eye and hand of God. perhaps it is an allusion to the physician's laying his hand upon his patient to feel how his pulse beats or what temper he is in. God knows us as we know not only what we see, but what we feel and have our hands upon. All his saints are in his hand.
IV. He speaks of it with admiration (Psa 139:6): It is too wonderful for me; it is high. 1. "Thou hast such a knowledge of me as I have not of myself, nor can have. I cannot take notice of all my own thoughts, nor make such a judgment of myself as thou makest of me."? 2. "It is such a knowledge as I cannot comprehend, much less describe. That thou knowest all things I am sure, but how I cannot tell." We cannot by searching find out how God searches and finds out us; nor do we know how we are known.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–6. Public domain.
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Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 139
"You have known My down-sitting and Mine up-rising" [Psalm 139:2]. What here is "down-sitting," what "up-rising"? He who sits, humbles himself. The Lord then "sat" in His Passion, "up-rose" in His Resurrection. "You," he says, hast known this; that is, You have willed, You have approved; according to Your will was it done. But if you choose to take the words of the Head in the person of the Body: man sits when he humbles himself in penitence, he rises up when his sins are forgiven, and he is lifted up to the hope of everlasting life. Lift not up yourselves, unless you have first been humbled. For many wish to rise before they have sat down, they wish to appear righteous, before they have confessed that they are sinners....
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Psalm 139:2 beautifully encapsulates the Psalmist's profound realization of God's exhaustive and intimate knowledge of humanity. Following the declaration that God has "searched" and "known" him, this verse elaborates on the depth of divine understanding, asserting that God is aware of every physical action, from rest to movement, and comprehends every thought, even before it fully forms or from a distance. It presents a breathtaking picture of a God who is not merely observant but deeply, personally acquainted with the entirety of an individual's existence, both outward and inward.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalm 139:2 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound theological truth. The most prominent is Merism, seen in the phrase "my downsitting and mine uprising." By mentioning these two opposite activities, the Psalmist encompasses the totality of human experience – every action, every state of being, from rest to movement, from the beginning of the day to its end. This device effectively communicates the comprehensiveness of God's knowledge. Furthermore, the phrase "thou understandest my thought afar off" utilizes Hyperbole and Anthropomorphism. While God does not literally perceive thoughts "from a distance" in a spatial sense like humans do, the imagery exaggerates the immediacy and completeness of His knowledge, making it relatable to human experience. It emphasizes that no thought, however nascent or hidden, escapes God's awareness. The verse also exhibits Parallelism in its structure, with the two clauses reinforcing the central idea of God's all-encompassing knowledge, first of external actions and then of internal thoughts, building a complete picture of divine intimacy and omniscience.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 139:2 serves as a foundational declaration of God's omniscience and His profound, personal engagement with His creation. It underscores the biblical truth that God is not a distant, impersonal deity but one who is intimately acquainted with every detail of our lives, from our physical movements to our most private thoughts. This knowledge is not merely observational but deeply understanding, reflecting His character as a God who truly "knows" us in a relational sense. This comprehensive divine awareness forms the basis for both comfort and accountability, assuring believers of God's constant presence and care, while also reminding them that all aspects of their being are exposed before Him, encouraging a life of integrity and sincerity.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The profound truth of Psalms 139:2 offers both immense comfort and a sobering challenge to the believer. To know that the Almighty God, the Creator of the universe, is intimately aware of every single moment of our lives—our rest, our activity, our deepest thoughts and intentions—is a source of unparalleled security. We are never truly alone, never misunderstood, and never beyond His watchful care. This knowledge can foster a deeper sense of trust and intimacy in our relationship with God, encouraging us to bring our whole selves, without pretense, before Him. Conversely, this verse also calls us to a higher standard of living. Since our every thought and action is known by God, it encourages us to cultivate purity of heart, integrity in our conduct, and alignment of our inner motivations with His divine will. There is no hiding from God, which can be a convicting truth, yet it ultimately liberates us from the burden of secrecy and invites us into genuine, transparent faith.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "downsitting and uprising" truly mean in this verse?
Answer: The phrase "downsitting and uprising" is a Hebrew merism, a literary device where two contrasting parts are used to represent the whole. "Downsitting" refers to moments of rest, quietude, or settling down, while "uprising" refers to moments of activity, movement, and beginning. Together, they comprehensively encompass the entirety of human existence, every action, every state of being, and every transition throughout a day or a lifetime. It means God is aware of everything you do, from the moment you wake up and get out of bed to the moment you sit down to rest or sleep, and every activity in between. It signifies God's complete and continuous knowledge of your outward life.
How can God understand my "thought afar off"? Does this mean He knows what I'm thinking before I do?
Answer: The phrase "thou understandest my thought afar off" highlights the transcendent and immediate nature of God's omniscience regarding our inner world. "Afar off" can be interpreted in several ways, all pointing to the profound depth of God's knowledge. It can mean that God knows your thoughts even before they are fully formed in your mind, or from a perspective that transcends time and space, requiring no proximity or verbalization. It underscores that no thought, no intention, no hidden motive, however nascent or seemingly private, is beyond God's immediate and perfect comprehension. This divine understanding is not limited by human constraints and is a testament to God's infinite wisdom and insight into the human heart, as seen in 1 Chronicles 28:9.
Is God's intimate knowledge of me a source of comfort or fear?
Answer: For the believer, God's intimate knowledge, as described in Psalms 139:2, is primarily a profound source of comfort and security. It assures us that we are fully known, understood, and cared for by our Creator, even in our deepest struggles and unexpressed desires. This knowledge fosters a deep sense of intimacy and trust, as we realize we can bring our whole selves before Him without pretense or fear of misunderstanding. However, it also carries a sobering aspect that can lead to a healthy fear of the Lord. Knowing that God sees and understands our every thought and action encourages us to live with integrity, to strive for purity of heart, and to align our intentions with His will. It reminds us of our accountability before a holy God, which, for the one who desires to please Him, ultimately leads to greater freedom and liberation from hidden sin, as Hebrews 4:13 reminds us that "all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do."
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The profound omniscience of God revealed in Psalms 139:2 finds its ultimate and most tangible fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. As the incarnate Son of God, Jesus perfectly embodies the divine attributes, including the all-encompassing knowledge of the Father. Throughout the Gospels, we see Christ demonstrating this very knowledge: He knew the thoughts of the scribes and Pharisees (e.g., Matthew 9:4), He discerned the true character and past of individuals like the Samaritan woman at the well (e.g., John 4:17-19), and He knew Nathanael's heart and location even before meeting him (e.g., John 1:48). John's Gospel explicitly states that Jesus "knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man" (John 2:24-25). This intimate knowledge of humanity, encompassing both our "downsitting and uprising" and our "thoughts afar off," is not merely for judgment but is foundational to His redemptive work. Because Christ fully knows our brokenness, our struggles, and our deepest needs, He is perfectly positioned to offer the grace, forgiveness, and transformation we desperately require. His omniscience is thus a comforting truth, assuring us that the One who died for us fully understands every facet of our being and every sin we commit, yet loves us unconditionally and offers complete salvation.