Psalms 139:3

3 You see me, whether I am working or resting; you know all my actions.

Psalms 139:3 Meaning and 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; he distinguishes actions; he discerns and separates the good from the bad, or the goodness of an action from the evil and imperfection of it, as in winnowing the wheat is separated from the chaff. Or, "thou measurest my squaring" F4; all his dimensions, his length and breadth, as he lay down in his bed;

and art acquainted [with] all my ways;
the whole of his life and conversation, all his works and doings: God knows all the evil ways and works of his people; he takes notice of them, and chastises for them; and all their good works, and approves and accepts of them; he knows from what principles of faith and love they spring, in what manner they are performed, and with what views, aims, and ends; see ( Revelation 2:2 Revelation 2:19 ) ( Psalms 1:6 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F3 (tyrz) "ventilasti", Pagninus, Montanus; so Tigurine version and Ainsworth.
F4 (yebr) "quadraturam meam spithama mensurasti", Gussetius, p. 775. "spithama metiris", Cocceius.

Psalms 139:3 In-Context

1 Lord, you have examined me and you know me.
2 You know everything I do; from far away you understand all my thoughts.
3 You see me, whether I am working or resting; you know all my actions.
4 Even before I speak, you already know what I will say.
5 You are all around me on every side; you protect me with your power.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.