Psalms 139:5

139:4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

KJV

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You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me.

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

You have beset me behind and before, and laid your hand on me.

139:6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

What does Psalms 139:5 mean?

Psalms 139:5 is a verse in the book of Psalms, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include צוּר (tsûwr), אָחוֹר (ʼâchôwr), קֶדֶם (qedem).

Hebrew interlinear

Thou

hast

besetצוּרtsûwr/tsoor/H6696to cramp, i.e. confine (in many applications, literally and figuratively, formative or hostile)

behindאָחוֹרʼâchôwr/aw-khore'/H268the hinder part; hence (adverb) behind, backward; also (as facing north) the West

and

before,קֶדֶםqedem/keh'-dem/H6924the front, of place (absolutely, the fore part, relatively the East) or time (antiquity); often used adverbially (before, anciently, eastward)

and

laidשִׁיתshîyth/sheeth/H7896to place (in a very wide application)

thine

handכַּףkaph/kaf/H3709the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree); figuratively, power

upon

me.

Topics

God Heart Providence of God, the Sieges

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Psalms 139:5.

Exodus 33:23

And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

Frequently asked questions

What does Psalms 139:5 say?

Psalms 139:5 (King James Version) reads: "Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me."

Is Psalms 139:5 in the Old or New Testament?

Psalms 139:5 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Psalms.

Reflect

As you read Psalms 139:5, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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