Psalms 19:6

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

His going forth {H4161} is from the end {H7097} of the heaven {H8064}, and his circuit {H8622} unto the ends {H7098} of it: and there is nothing hid {H5641} from the heat {H2535} thereof.

Complete Jewish Bible

It rises at one side of the sky, circles around to the other side, and nothing escapes its heat.

Berean Standard Bible

it rises at one end of the heavens and runs its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.

American Standard Version

His going forth is from the end of the heavens, And his circuit unto the ends of it; And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 19:6 powerfully concludes the psalmist's profound meditation on God's general revelation through the cosmos, specifically highlighting the sun as a magnificent and tireless testament to divine glory and pervasive influence. This verse vividly portrays the sun's universal journey across the heavens and the inescapable reach of its warmth and light, serving as a profound metaphor for the Creator's omnipresent nature and His all-encompassing knowledge, from which nothing can be concealed.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 19:6 serves as the climactic conclusion to the first major section of Psalm 19 (verses 1-6), which extols God's general revelation through the natural world. The preceding verses establish the heavens as silent yet eloquent proclaimers of God's glory and handiwork, communicating divine truth without spoken words. The psalmist declares that [the heavens declare the glory of God](/psalms/19-1 "Psalm 19:1 - The Heavens Declare God's Glory"), and their message goes out [through all the earth](/psalms/19-4 "Psalm 19:4 - Their Voice Goes Out Through All the Earth"). Verse 5 introduces the sun as a central figure in this cosmic display, likening it to a joyous bridegroom emerging from his chamber or a mighty hero eager to run his course. Verse 6 then expands on this imagery, emphasizing the sun's boundless journey "from the end of the heaven" to its "circuit unto the ends of it," underscoring its exhaustive reach and the universal impact of its "heat." This section beautifully sets the stage for the psalm's second part (verses 7-14), which shifts focus to God's special revelation through His perfect and life-giving law, demonstrating a seamless transition from the grandeur of creation to the perfection of divine instruction.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, celestial bodies, particularly the sun, were frequently deified and worshipped as powerful gods (e.g., Ra in Egypt, Shamash in Mesopotamia). Against this pervasive polytheistic backdrop, Psalm 19 offers a radical theological corrective. It presents the sun not as a deity to be worshipped, but as a created entity, a magnificent servant of the one true God, meticulously fulfilling its Creator's command. The imagery of a "bridegroom" and "strong man" (verse 5) draws from common cultural archetypes of strength, beauty, and vitality, applying them to the sun's daily emergence and tireless journey. The understanding of the sun's "going forth" and "circuit" reflects the geocentric worldview prevalent at the time, where the sun was observed to travel across the sky from horizon to horizon. This is a poetic description of its apparent daily path rather than a scientific statement about its astronomical motion. The pervasive "heat" was crucial for life, agriculture, and daily existence in an agrarian society, making its universal presence a powerful and relatable symbol.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within the psalm and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights **Universal Revelation**, asserting that God's power, glory, and existence are broadcast to all humanity through the consistent and magnificent operations of creation, making His existence undeniable. As Paul later articulates, God's [invisible attributes are clearly perceived](/romans/1-20 "Romans 1:20 - God's Invisible Attributes Seen in Creation") through what has been made. Secondly, the phrase "there is nothing hid from the heat thereof" serves as a profound metaphor for **Divine Omnipresence and Omniscience**. Just as no part of the earth can escape the sun's warmth and light, so too nothing is concealed from God's all-seeing eye and all-knowing mind. This concept resonates with the biblical truth that [all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him](/hebrews/4-13 "Hebrews 4:13 - God's All-Seeing Knowledge") with whom we must deal. Finally, the sheer scale, consistency, and tireless operation of the sun, from its "going forth" to its "circuit," powerfully reflect the immense **Power, Order, and Faithfulness** of its divine Creator, demonstrating His meticulous design and unwavering sovereignty over all things, a theme echoed in passages like [Job 38](/job/38 "Job 38 - God's Challenge to Job").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Going forth (Hebrew, _môwtsâʼ'_):** From H4161, this term refers to a place of emergence or a point of origin, specifically used here for the sunrise or the place where the sun "comes out." It emphasizes the sun's beginning its daily journey from a specific, distant point, underscoring the vastness of its intended path and its reliable, consistent appearance.
* **Circuit (Hebrew, _tᵉqûwphâh'_):** From H8622, this word denotes a revolution, a circuit, or the completion of a cycle. It conveys the idea of the sun's comprehensive and regular journey across the entire expanse of the heavens, returning to its starting point. It speaks to the sun's reliability, its exhaustive path, and the cyclical nature of its movement, signifying completeness and divine order.
* **Heat (Hebrew, _chammâh'_):** From H2535, this word directly means "heat" and, by implication, refers to the sun itself. In this verse, it signifies the sun's intense, pervasive, and inescapable warmth or light. It emphasizes the penetrating and all-encompassing nature of the sun's influence, leaving no place untouched by its radiant power, serving as a powerful metaphor for divine omnipresence.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"His going forth [is] from the end of the heaven":** This clause describes the sun's majestic emergence, its starting point appearing to be at the furthest edge of the visible sky. It conveys the idea of a grand, cosmic journey initiated from a distant, unseen origin, emphasizing the vastness of the celestial dome it traverses and the divine orchestration of its daily appearance.
* **"and his circuit unto the ends of it":** This builds upon the first clause, detailing the sun's complete and exhaustive path. The "circuit" implies a full revolution, indicating that the sun's journey covers the entire expanse of the heavens, reaching every conceivable boundary or "end." This highlights the sun's pervasive and universal reach, demonstrating the thoroughness of its divinely appointed task.
* **"and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof":** This final clause draws a powerful conclusion from the sun's universal journey. Its pervasive "heat" (representing its light and warmth) leaves no part of the earth untouched or concealed. This is the central metaphorical statement, signifying that just as no earthly place can escape the sun's influence, so too nothing is hidden from the all-seeing, all-knowing presence of God, the Creator of the sun. It speaks to God's omniscience and omnipresence, leaving no aspect of creation or human life outside His perfect awareness.

#### Literary Devices
The psalmist employs several potent literary devices in Psalms 19:6 to magnify God's glory through creation. **Personification** is evident as the sun, an inanimate object, is imbued with the actions of a living being—it has a "going forth" and a "circuit," and its "heat" is so pervasive that "nothing is hid" from it, extending the imagery of the sun as a "bridegroom" and "strong man" from the preceding verse. The entire verse functions as a powerful **Metaphor**, where the sun's universal reach and inescapable influence serve as a tangible representation of God's omnipresence and omniscience. The sun's light and warmth, which penetrate every corner, symbolize God's truth and knowledge, which leave no aspect of creation or human existence unobserved. Furthermore, the phrase "nothing hid from the heat thereof" can be seen as a form of **Hyperbole**, an exaggeration used to emphasize the absolute and total pervasiveness of the sun's (and by extension, God's) influence. Finally, the structure of the first two clauses, "His going forth [is] from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it," demonstrates **Synonymous Parallelism**, where the second line reiterates and expands upon the idea of the first, reinforcing the concept of the sun's complete and far-reaching journey.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 19:6 profoundly articulates the concept of God's general revelation, asserting that the Creator's attributes are undeniably manifest in the created order. The sun, in its majestic and tireless journey, serves as a perpetual, universal witness to God's glory, power, and meticulous design. This verse underscores God's absolute sovereignty, demonstrating that even the most powerful celestial body is merely a servant, faithfully executing its divinely ordained role. The inescapable "heat" of the sun becomes a powerful theological statement about God's omnipresence and omniscience; just as no corner of the earth can escape the sun's light and warmth, so too no aspect of human life, thought, or deed can escape the all-seeing gaze of the Almighty. This truth simultaneously offers comfort in God's pervasive care and conviction in His perfect knowledge of all things, calling humanity to acknowledge and worship the Creator rather than the creation.

* [Romans 1:20](/romans/1-20 "Romans 1:20 - God's Invisible Attributes Clearly Seen")
* [Acts 14:17](/acts/14-17 "Acts 14:17 - God's Witness in Providing Rain and Fruitful Seasons")
* [Jeremiah 23:24](/jeremiah/23-24 "Jeremiah 23:24 - God Fills Heaven and Earth")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 19:6 invites us to pause and truly perceive the divine hand at work in the everyday miracle of the sun. It challenges us to move beyond mere observation to profound contemplation, recognizing that the sun's consistent and all-encompassing journey is a constant, silent sermon about God's character. For the believer, this verse provides immense comfort, reminding us that no matter how hidden our struggles, how silent our prayers, or how deep our pain, we are never outside the purview of God's watchful eye and His pervasive care. Just as the sun's heat reaches every corner, God's knowledge and love extend to every aspect of our lives. Conversely, this verse serves as a powerful reminder of accountability. "Nothing hid from the heat thereof" implies that our secret thoughts, hidden motives, and private actions are fully known to God. This truth should inspire us to live lives of integrity, transparency, and holy reverence, knowing that we walk in the light of His perfect knowledge and pervasive glory. It calls us to worship the Creator of the sun, not the created sun itself, and to live in awe of His boundless power and unwavering presence.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does observing the natural world, particularly the sun's daily journey, deepen your understanding and appreciation of God's character and attributes?**
* **In what specific ways does the concept of "nothing hid from the heat thereof" (metaphorically, from God's knowledge) bring you comfort, and in what ways does it bring conviction?**
* **How might acknowledging God's omnipresence and omniscience more consistently shape your daily decisions, interactions, and private thoughts?**

### FAQ
**Does this verse imply a geocentric view of the universe?**

Answer: While the language "His going forth [is] from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it" describes the sun's apparent motion from an earthly observer's perspective, it does not necessarily imply a scientifically geocentric cosmology. Biblical poetry often uses phenomenological language, describing things as they appear to the human eye, rather than offering scientific treatises. The psalmist's intent is theological, not astronomical; he is using the observable, universal journey of the sun to illustrate the pervasive glory and inescapable knowledge of God, not to provide a scientific model of the solar system. The enduring truth is about God's omnipresence, regardless of the Earth's position relative to the sun. The Bible consistently speaks of God's creative power and the order He established, as seen in passages like [Genesis 1](/genesis/1 "Genesis 1 - The Creation Account") and [Job 38](/job/38 "Job 38 - God's Questions to Job").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Psalms 19:6 speaks of God's general revelation through the sun, the ultimate and most profound fulfillment of this pervasive light and inescapable influence is found in Jesus Christ. He is not merely a created light but the [true Light, which enlightens everyone](/john/1-9 "John 1:9 - The True Light Enlightens Everyone") who comes into the world. Just as the sun's "going forth" is from the "end of the heaven" and its "circuit" reaches "unto the ends of it," so Christ, the [radiance of God's glory and the exact imprint of His nature](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ, the Radiance of God's Glory"), came forth from the Father to accomplish His redemptive "circuit" on earth, from His incarnation to His ascension. He is the [Light of the World](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World"), whose truth and grace penetrate every dark corner of human existence, leaving "nothing hid" from His transformative power and saving knowledge. Through Him, the invisible God is made visible ([Colossians 1:15](/colossians/1-15 "Colossians 1:15 - Christ, the Image of the Invisible God")), and His pervasive "heat" is manifest in the warmth of His love, the purifying fire of His Spirit, and the inescapable truth of His gospel, which calls all people to Himself ([Matthew 11:28](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Come to Me, All Who Are Weary")). In Christ, God's revelation is not just general but personal, redemptive, and eternally illuminating, revealing the Father fully ([John 14:9](/john/14-9 "John 14:9 - Whoever Has Seen Me Has Seen the Father")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ecclesiastes 1:5

The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

Job 22:14

Thick clouds [are] a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.

Colossians 1:23

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Psalms 113:3

From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name [is] to be praised.

Job 25:3

Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise?

Psalms 139:9

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