Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 139

Searched ... —Compare Psalms 44:21, “shall not God search this out.” The word is used of mining operations, Job 28:3; of exploring a country, Judges 18:2.

Down-sitting and uprising —as in Deuteronomy 6:7, to denote the whole daily life—business and rest.

Thought. —An Aramaic form found nowhere else, but from one possible derivation (“companion”), meaning the thoughts which are inseparable companions, most intimate thoughts.

Compare Macbeth 3:2:

“How now, my lord? Why do you keep alone,
Of sorriest fancies your companions making?”

Afar off. —Exactly as in Psalm 138:6. Jehovah notes and recognises the proud from afar off, so here, though He has His home in heaven, He knows the thoughts and feelings amid which a man habitually lives . The Hebrew expression literally means, you have intelligence as to my thought from afar, an Aramaic expression.

Compassest. — There is some obscurity about this word. The Hebrew verb primarily means to scatter, and is used for throwing grain about to winnow it (Isaiah 30:24; Jeremiah 4:11; Ruth 3:2). Therefore, by an easy metaphor, it may mean to sift or search out. The Septuagint and Theodotion, followed by the Vulgate, have traced, investigated. Jerome has winnowed. The Authorised Version rendering appears to come from a mistaken etymology.

A most plausible suggestion connects the verb with zûr, to lodge, which makes a perfect parallelism with the verb to dwell, in the next clause. Literally:

About my path and bed you are a guest,
In all my ways you dwell;

i.e., you are as familiar with all my life as one inhabiting the same house could be.

My path. — Literally, my going.

For there is not ... —This has been understood in two ways:

• My tongue cannot utter a word which you do not altogether know.

• Before my tongue can utter a word you know it altogether.

Beset — as a beleaguered city from which there is no escape.