Psalms 139:9

[If] I take the wings of the morning, [and] dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

If I take {H5375} the wings {H3671} of the morning {H7837}, and dwell {H7931} in the uttermost parts {H319} of the sea {H3220};

If I fly away with the wings of the dawn and land beyond the sea,

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea,

If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

Commentary

Psalm 139:9 is a poetic expression of the psalmist's profound understanding of God's omnipresence. It sets up a hypothetical scenario of extreme distance and speed, emphasizing the ultimate futility of attempting to escape or go beyond the reach of the Almighty.

Context

This verse is part of one of the most personal and intimate psalms in the Bible, attributed to King David. Psalm 139 is a deep meditation on God's attributes, particularly His omniscience (knowing all things, as seen in Psalm 139:1-6) and omnipresence (being everywhere). Following the rhetorical question in Psalm 139:7, "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?", verse 9 offers vivid, poetic examples of the most remote and extreme locations imaginable in the ancient world, leading to the triumphant conclusion in verse 10 that even there, God's hand will guide.

Key Themes

  • God's Omnipresence: The central message is that God's presence is not confined by any earthly boundary or speed. No matter how far or fast one might travel, God is already there. This highlights the inescapable nature of the divine presence, echoing the declaration in Jeremiah 23:24, "Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD."
  • Vastness of Creation: The imagery conveys the immense scale of the world, even as understood in ancient times, yet affirms that God's reach extends beyond even the farthest human conception of space.
  • Human Limitation vs. Divine Boundlessness: It underscores the finite nature of human ability to escape or comprehend God's infinite nature, emphasizing His sovereignty and ultimate control over all things.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Wings of the morning": This beautiful and evocative poetic phrase refers to the rapid spread of dawn from the eastern horizon. It symbolizes immense speed and the farthest eastern reaches of the known world, where the sun appears to rise. It suggests traveling with the swiftness of light itself.
  • "Uttermost parts of the sea": This phrase points to the most distant western horizon, specifically the far limits of the Mediterranean Sea, which was considered the edge of the world to the ancient Israelites. Together, "wings of the morning" (east) and "uttermost parts of the sea" (west) represent the two extremes of the compass, symbolizing the entirety of creation and every possible direction one could travel.

Significance and Application

For believers, Psalm 139:9 offers profound comfort and reassurance. It means that no matter where life takes us, how isolated we may feel, or how deep our struggles, we are never outside of God's loving, watchful, and guiding presence. This provides immense peace in times of loneliness, uncertainty, or spiritual wandering.

Conversely, it also serves as a solemn reminder of God's inescapable knowledge and accountability. One cannot hide from God's awareness or judgment (Hebrews 4:13). This truth encourages integrity, sincerity, and a life lived in conscious awareness of His constant presence. The poetic language invites us to marvel at the boundless nature of God, who is both intimately near and infinitely vast, leading us to worship Him for His incomprehensible greatness and ever-present care.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 19:6

    His going forth [is] from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

  • Psalms 74:16

    The day [is] thine, the night also [is] thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.

  • Psalms 74:17

    Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.

  • Malachi 4:2

    But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

  • Psalms 18:10

    And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

  • Isaiah 24:14

    They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the sea.

  • Isaiah 24:16

    ¶ From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, [even] glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.
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