Devine Scripture

Psalms 139:3

What does Psalms 139:3 mean?

A plain-English look at Psalms 139:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Psalms 139:3 means

David continues to marvel at God's detailed knowledge, noting that God meticulously examines his entire life's journey ("my path") and even his rest periods ("my lying down"). God is not merely acquainted with some aspects of David's life but with "all my ways" – every decision, every movement, every habit. This indicates that nothing in David's existence is hidden or unknown to the Lord. His life is an open book before the divine gaze.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

You keep watch over my steps and my sleep, and have knowledge of all my ways.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

My path and my couch Thou hast fanned, And <FI>with<Fi> all my ways hast been acquainted.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Who have devised iniquities in their hearts: all the day long they designed battles.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

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

Context

Following the previous verses that established God's knowledge of David's actions and thoughts, this verse further emphasizes the comprehensive nature of God's awareness. It reinforces the idea that every aspect of David's existence, both active and passive, is under God's watchful eye, leading directly into the next statement about God's foreknowledge of words.

v.2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; Thou understandest my thought afar off.

v.3This passage

v.4For there is not a word in my tongue, But, lo, O Jehovah, thou knowest it altogether.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Acts 5:3

    But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

  • John 13:21

    When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in the spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

  • Isaiah 29:15

    Woe unto them that hide deep their counsel from Jehovah, and whose works are in the dark, and that say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?

  • John 13:2

    And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,

  • 2 Samuel 12:9

    Wherefore hast thou despised the word of Jehovah, to do that which is evil in his sight? thou hast smitten Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

  • Psalms 139:18

    If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: When I awake, I am still with thee.

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