Psalms 139:4

4 Even before a word is on my tongue, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

Psalms 139:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 139:4

For [there is] not a word in my tongue
Expressed by it or upon it, just ready to be spoken; or, as the Targum,

``when there is no word in my tongue:''

so Aben Ezra,

``before it was perfect in my tongue:''

before it is formed there; while it is in the mind, and not expressed, and even before that;

[but], lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether;
the whole of it, from whence it springs; the reason of it, what is designed, or the ends to be answered by it. The Lord knows the good words of his people, which they speak to him in prayer, even before and while they are speaking them; and what they say to one another in private conversation, ( Isaiah 65:24 ) ( Malachi 3:16 ) . See an instance of words known by Christ before spoken, in ( Luke 19:31 Luke 19:33 ) .

Psalms 139:4 In-Context

2 Thou knowest when I sit down and when I rise up; thou discernest my thoughts from afar.

3 Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

4 Even before a word is on my tongue, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

5 Thou dost beset me behind and before, and layest thy hand upon me.

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