John Gill's Exposition on Psalms 139:5

A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.

Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.

Thou hast beset me behind and before, etc.] 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 (<19D914>Psalm 139:1416); (see <181008>Job 10:8,10,11) 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.

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