Psalms 139:6
What does Psalms 139:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Psalms 139:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Psalms 139:6 means
Overwhelmed by the depth of God's knowledge and presence, David expresses his profound awe and humility. He declares that this divine understanding is "too wonderful for me," surpassing his comprehension and intellectual grasp. It is "high," meaning far above his limited human capacity, and he cannot "attain unto it." This verse is a sincere confession of human limitation in the face of God's infinite attributes, a natural response to the truths previously articulated.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Suchknowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain unto it.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Suchknowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain unto it.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Such knowledge is a wonder greater than my powers; it is so high that I may not come near it.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Knowledge too wonderful for me, It hath been set on high, I am not able for it.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The proud have hidden a net for me. And they have stretched out cords for a snare: they have laid for me a stumblingblock by the wayside.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890O knowledge too wonderful for me! it is high, I cannot [attain] unto it.
Context
This verse serves as an emotional and theological pivot. After detailing God's intimate knowledge and pervasive presence, David pauses to reflect on the overwhelming nature of these divine attributes. It's a personal exclamation of wonder, which then propels him into a deeper exploration of God's omnipresence in the following verses, questioning where one could possibly go to escape such a mighty God.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Proverbs 30:2
Surely I am more brutish than any man, And have not the understanding of a man;
- Psalms 13:1
How long, O Jehovah? wilt thou forget me for ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
- Job 26:14
Lo, these are but the outskirts of his ways: And how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?
- Job 11:7
Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
- Psalms 40:5
Many, O Jehovah my God, are the wonderful works which thou hast done, And thy thoughts which are to us-ward: They cannot be set in order unto thee; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.
- Job 42:3
Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that which I understood not, Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
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