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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers 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 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.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
One surviving comment on this verse from the historical church.
"Behold Thou, Lord, hast known all my last doings, and the ancient ones" [Psalm 139:5]. You have known my latest doings, when I fed swine; You have known my ancient doings, when I asked of You my portion of goods. Ancient doings were the beginnings to me of latest ills: ancient sin, when we fell; latest punishment, when we came into this toilsome and dangerous mortality. And would that this may be "latest" to us; it will be, if now we will to return. For there is another "latest" for certain wicked ones, to whom it shall be said, "Go ye into everlasting fire." [Matthew 25:41] ..."You have fashioned me, and hast laid Your hand upon me." "Fashioned me," where? In this mortality; now, to the toils whereunto we all are born. For none is born, but God has fashioned him in his mother's womb; nor is there any creature, whereof God is not the Fashioner. But "You have fashioned me" in this toil, "and laid Your hand upon me," Your avenging hand, putting down the proud. For thus healthfully has He cast down the proud, that He may lift him up humble.
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Summary
Psalm 139:5 articulates a profound truth about God's omnipresent and sovereign care, declaring that the Almighty God intimately surrounds and actively upholds the psalmist from every conceivable direction. This verse encapsulates the awe-inspiring reality of a personal Creator who is neither distant nor detached, but rather deeply and continuously engaged in every dimension of human existence, knowing, embracing, and sustaining us through all of life's journey.
Context
Literary Context
Psalm 139 is a masterpiece of Hebrew poetry, a deeply personal prayer and hymn of praise that extols God's magnificent attributes, particularly His omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence, as they relate to the individual. The preceding verses, Psalm 139:1-4, meticulously establish God's exhaustive knowledge of the psalmist's innermost thoughts, spoken words, and every action, even before they fully materialize. This foundational understanding of divine cognition sets the stage for Psalm 139:5, which transitions from God's knowing what the psalmist does to God's surrounding where the psalmist is. This shift emphasizes the inescapable and active nature of divine awareness and presence, moving from internal comprehension to external encirclement. The verse thus serves as a powerful bridge, connecting God's intellectual grasp of humanity to His physical and protective presence, culminating in the psalmist's reflection on the impossibility of escaping God's Spirit or presence in Psalm 139:7-12.
Historical & Cultural Context
While traditionally attributed to David, the theological insights of Psalm 139 transcend any specific historical moment, reflecting a timeless and profound understanding of God's nature deeply rooted in Israelite monotheism. The vivid imagery of being "beset behind and before" evokes the protective posture of a guardian, whether a warrior encompassing a camp or a shepherd diligently watching over his flock, signifying complete and vigilant enclosure. The "laying on of hands" was a multifaceted and culturally significant gesture in ancient Israel. It could signify blessing (as seen in Genesis 48:14), commissioning or ordination (e.g., Numbers 27:18), healing, or even the transfer of ownership and authority. In this specific context, God's "hand" speaks to His direct, personal, and authoritative involvement in the psalmist's life, implying both tender care and sovereign control. This comprehensive emphasis on God's presence in all directions (behind and before) also subtly counters pagan notions of localized deities, affirming the God of Israel as truly omnipresent, filling heaven and earth, as powerfully articulated in Jeremiah 23:24.
Key Themes
This pivotal verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Psalm 139 and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, the theme of Divine Omnipresence and Enclosure is paramount, illustrating that God completely surrounds the psalmist, leaving no direction or dimension untouched by His presence. This is not merely passive observation but active enclosure, suggesting both protective embrace and intimate involvement. Secondly, the theme of God's Active Hand and Sovereignty is vividly highlighted by the phrase "laid thine hand upon me," signifying God's direct, personal, and authoritative engagement. This divine touch speaks to God's benevolent control and tender care over the psalmist's life, echoing promises of divine upholding found in passages like Isaiah 41:10. Thirdly, the verse profoundly underscores Intimacy and Security for the believer. This complete encirclement and personal touch from God offers immense comfort, assuring the psalmist that God is not just aware but actively present and involved in every moment, providing both guidance and protection against all adversaries, a theme often celebrated in the Psalms, such as the profound assurances found in Psalm 91.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This verb signifies "to cramp, i.e., confine (in many applications, literally and figuratively, formative or hostile); adversary, assault, besiege, bind (up), fortify, inclose." In the context of Psalm 139:5, while tsûwr can imply hostile encirclement, its use here, coupled with the surrounding verses of divine intimacy and care, conveys the sense of being completely surrounded, hemmed in, or encompassed by God's protective and inescapable presence. It suggests a deliberate, active enclosure that provides security rather than restriction.
This term refers to "the hinder part; hence (adverb) behind, backward; also (as facing north) the West; after(-ward), back (part, -side, -ward), hereafter, (be-) hind(-er part), time to come, without." In this verse, "behind" denotes what has already transpired—the past, the history, and the origins of the psalmist's life. It indicates that God's encompassing presence extends over all that has been.
This word means "the front, of place (absolutely, the fore part, relatively the East) or time (antiquity); often used adverbially (before, anciently, eastward); aforetime, ancient (time), before, east (end, part, side, -ward), eternal, [idiom] ever(-lasting), forward, old, past." "Before" refers to what lies ahead—the future, destiny, and all that is yet to unfold. Together with "behind," it forms a comprehensive statement about God's eternal and all-encompassing presence across the entire temporal spectrum of existence.
This noun denotes "the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree); figuratively, power." The term emphasizes the personal, active, and powerful involvement of God. The "laying on of hands" signifies direct contact, authority, protection, and a personal touch of sovereignty, conveying God's intimate and benevolent control.
Verse Breakdown
"Thou hast beset me behind and before"
This initial clause powerfully portrays God's omnipresent and encompassing nature. The psalmist declares that God has completely surrounded him, not merely in a spatial sense, but profoundly in a temporal one. "Behind" refers to the entire scope of the psalmist's past—every experience, every memory, every moment of his history. "Before" refers to the entirety of his future—all that is yet to come, all plans, and his ultimate destiny. Thus, God's presence is not confined to the present moment but extends over the entirety of one's existence—past, present, and future. The verb "beset" (tsûwr) implies a deliberate, active encirclement, suggesting both comprehensive protection and an inescapable, intimate awareness.
"and laid thine hand upon me"
This second clause personalizes and intensifies the declaration of God's omnipresence. The "laying of hands" is a profound Anthropomorphism, attributing a human action to God to convey a deep theological truth. It signifies God's direct, personal, and authoritative touch. This divine touch can denote ownership, blessing, guidance, protection, or even sovereign control. In the context of the preceding declaration of omnipresence, it suggests that God's pervasive presence is not abstract or passive but is intimately involved, actively shaping, upholding, and caring for the psalmist. It conveys a powerful sense of divine embrace, personal guardianship, and benevolent authority.
Literary Devices
Psalm 139:5 employs several potent Literary Devices to convey its profound theological message. The phrase "behind and before" is a classic example of Merism, a rhetorical device where two contrasting or extreme parts are mentioned to represent a complete whole. By specifying the two temporal extremes (past and future), the psalmist implies God's presence in every aspect and every moment of existence, creating a vivid sense of comprehensive encirclement and inescapable divine awareness. The concept of God "laying His hand" upon the psalmist is a powerful Anthropomorphism, attributing a human body part and action (a hand and the act of laying it) to God. This device makes the abstract concept of God's sovereignty and intimacy tangible and relatable, emphasizing His personal, active involvement rather than a distant, detached oversight. Furthermore, the entire verse functions as a rich Metaphor for God's pervasive care and sovereign control. The imagery of being "beset" and "laid hands upon" is not literal in a physical sense but serves as a profound symbolic representation of God's protective, guiding, and sovereign presence that surrounds and upholds the individual from all sides, offering both security and accountability.
Theological and Thematic Connections
This verse stands as a cornerstone for understanding the biblical doctrine of God's omnipresence and His deeply personal sovereignty over human lives. It teaches that God is not merely present everywhere in a general sense, but He is intimately and actively involved in the minutiae of our existence, encompassing our past, present, and future. This divine encirclement provides profound security for the believer, fostering an unshakeable confidence that no circumstance, no thought, and no moment is outside of God's knowledge or His protective hand. It transforms the concept of an all-knowing God from a potentially intimidating truth into a source of immense comfort and assurance, inspiring deep trust, reverence, and worship.
Reflection and Application
Understanding that God has "beset" us "behind and before" and "laid His hand upon" us is a truth that should profoundly shape our daily lives and spiritual perspective. It means we are never truly alone, never outside of His watchful eye, and never beyond His reach. This pervasive reality offers immense comfort in times of fear, uncertainty, or loneliness, reminding us that our God is our ultimate shield and faithful guide, actively involved in every step of our journey. It also serves as a gentle, yet firm, reminder of our accountability, for nothing is hidden from Him, and His presence calls us to live in integrity. This verse encourages a life of complete reliance on God's omnipresent care and sovereign plan, fostering deep trust and reverence for the Creator who knows us more intimately than we know ourselves. It calls us to live with a constant awareness of His presence, influencing our choices, words, and attitudes, and inspiring us to live in a manner pleasing to Him, knowing that His hand is always upon us for good, for guidance, and for ultimate purpose.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does "beset" imply God is trapping or restricting me?
While the Hebrew word tsûwr (H6696) can indeed carry connotations of hostile confinement or siege in other biblical contexts, in Psalm 139:5, within the broader context of God's intimate knowledge and benevolent care for the psalmist, "beset" is overwhelmingly understood as a protective and encompassing presence. It implies that God surrounds the psalmist completely, leaving no vulnerability or unguarded space. It is akin to being guarded, held securely, or embraced, rather than being trapped or oppressed. The subsequent phrase, "and laid thine hand upon me," further reinforces this benevolent interpretation, suggesting a touch of care, authority, and blessing, not a gesture of control or harm. The psalmist expresses awe and comfort in this inescapable divine presence, not fear, as further evidenced by his reflections in Psalm 139:7-10, where he acknowledges the futility of escaping God's Spirit and finds solace in His guiding hand even in the darkest places.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Psalm 139:5, with its profound declaration of God's encompassing presence and sovereign hand, finds its ultimate and most tangible fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The abstract omnipresence of God becomes profoundly concrete in the Incarnation, where God literally "beset" humanity by taking on human flesh, dwelling among us, and making His presence known in a unique way (as beautifully articulated in John 1:14). Jesus, being God incarnate, perfectly embodied the divine presence that surrounds and upholds all creation. His entire life, from His miraculous conception to His triumphant resurrection, was lived entirely under the sovereign hand of the Father, fulfilling the "laid thine hand upon me" aspect in its most perfect form, as He consistently declared, "I can do nothing on my own" (John 5:30). Furthermore, Christ's victory on the cross and His glorious resurrection demonstrate God's ultimate control over sin, death, and the future, truly "besetting" the powers of darkness "behind and before" and securing the destiny of all who believe. Through Christ, believers are not merely observed but are actively held in God's unbreakable grip, as Jesus Himself promises in John 10:28-29, assuring that no one can snatch them out of His hand or the Father's hand. The indwelling Holy Spirit, sent by Christ, continues this intimate, indwelling presence, ensuring that God's "hand" is perpetually upon us, guiding, comforting, and empowering us until the day of Christ's return, when all things will be fully brought under His sovereign and benevolent rule (Ephesians 1:22).