Psalms 139:5

5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, And laid thy hand upon me.

Psalms 139:5 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 139:5

Thou hast beset me behind and before
Art on every side of me, all around me, like one besieged in a strait place; so that there is nothing I can think, say, or do, but what is known unto thee. The two Kimchis, father and son, render the word, "thou hast formed me": and interpret it of the formation of his body, of which, in ( Psalms 139:14-16 ) ; see ( Job 10:8 Job 10:10 Job 10:11 ) but it denotes how God compasses men with his presence and providence, so that nothing escapes his knowledge;

and laid thine hand upon me;
not his afflicting hand, which sometimes presses hard; though the Targum thus paraphrases it,

``and stirred against me the stroke of thine hand:''

but rather his hand of power and providence, to preserve, protect, and defend him. Or it signifies that he was so near to him that his hand was upon him, and he was perfectly known; as anything is that is before a man, and he has his hand upon.

Psalms 139:5 In-Context

3 Thou searchest out 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 Jehovah, thou knowest it altogether.

5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, And laid thy hand upon me.

6 [Such] knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain unto it.

7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?