Psalms 139:3
Psalms 139:3 in Multiple Translations
You search out my path and my lying down; You are aware of all my ways.
Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, And art acquainted with all my ways.
You keep watch over my steps and my sleep, and have knowledge of all my ways.
You observe where I go and when I rest. You're familiar with everything I do.
Thou compassest my pathes, and my lying downe, and art accustomed to all my wayes.
My path and my couch Thou hast fanned, And [with] all my ways hast been acquainted.
You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
Who have devised iniquities in their hearts: all the day long they designed battles.
When I travel and when I lie down, you know everything that I do.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 139:3
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 139:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אָרְחִ֣/י
וְ/רִבְעִ֣/י
זֵרִ֑יתָ
וְֽ/כָל
דְּרָכַ֥/י
הִסְכַּֽנְתָּה
אָרְחִ֣/י
ʼôrach
H734
way
V-Qal-Inf-a | Suff
וְ/רִבְעִ֣/י
rebaʻ
H7252
to lie down
Conj | V-Qal-Inf-a | Suff
זֵרִ֑יתָ
zârâh
H2219
to scatter
V-Piel-Perf-2ms
וְֽ/כָל
kôl
H3605
all
Conj | N-ms
דְּרָכַ֥/י
derek
H1870
way
N-cp | Suff
הִסְכַּֽנְתָּה
çâkan
H5532
be useful
V-Hiphil-Perf-2ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 139:3
אָרְחִ֣/י
ʼôrach
H734
"way"
V-Qal-Inf-a | Suff
A way or path, describing a road or journey, whether physical or metaphorical. This term is used to talk about travel, direction, and life's journey, often in wisdom literature and prophetic writings. It is found in books like Proverbs and Isaiah.
Definition: 1) way, path 1a) path, road 1b) the path, way, passing of life (fig.) 1c) way of living (fig.) 1d) traveller, wayfarer (meton) Aramaic equivalent: o.rach (אֹ֫רַח "way" H0735)
Usage: Occurs in 58 OT verses. KJV: manner, path, race, rank, traveller, troop, (by-, high-) way. See also: Genesis 18:11; Proverbs 1:19; Psalms 8:9.
וְ/רִבְעִ֣/י
rebaʻ
H7252
"to lie down"
Conj | V-Qal-Inf-a | Suff
This word means to lie down or stretch out, often for sleep or rest. It describes a person reclining or prostrate, like David when he was tired or sick.
Definition: 1) to lie down, lie stretched out 1a) (Qal) lying down (infinitive)
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: lying down. See also: Psalms 139:3.
זֵרִ֑יתָ
zârâh
H2219
"to scatter"
V-Piel-Perf-2ms
This Hebrew verb means to scatter or toss something about, and can also imply diffusing or winnowing. It is used in various forms throughout the Bible, including the books of Psalms and Isaiah. The word has different meanings based on context, such as casting away or spreading out.
Definition: 1) to scatter, fan, cast away, winnow, disperse, compass, spread, be scattered, be dispersed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to scatter 1a2) to fan, winnow 1b) (Niphal) to be scattered, be dispersed 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to scatter, disperse (intensive of Qal) 1c2) to winnow, sift 1d) (Pual) to be scattered, be spread out
Usage: Occurs in 38 OT verses. KJV: cast away, compass, disperse, fan, scatter (away), spread, strew, winnow. See also: Exodus 32:20; Jeremiah 49:32; Psalms 44:12.
וְֽ/כָל
kôl
H3605
"all"
Conj | N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
דְּרָכַ֥/י
derek
H1870
"way"
N-cp | Suff
Derek refers to a road or path, and can also mean a way of life or manner of action. It is often used to describe a journey or direction, and can be used figuratively to describe a person's character or moral path.
Definition: : road/route 1) way, road, distance, journey, manner 1a) road, way, path 1b) journey 1c) direction 1d) manner, habit, way 1e) of course of life (fig.) 1f) of moral character (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 626 OT verses. KJV: along, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever). See also: Genesis 3:24; Deuteronomy 28:29; 1 Kings 15:34.
הִסְכַּֽנְתָּה
çâkan
H5532
"be useful"
V-Hiphil-Perf-2ms
This Hebrew word means to be useful or serve someone, like a steward helping their master. It appears in various forms, including being profitable or customary. In the Bible, it is used to describe being of benefit to others.
Definition: 1) to be of use or service or profit or benefit 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be of use or service 1a2) servitor, steward (participle) 1a3) to benefit, profit 1b) (Hiphil) to be used, be wont, exhibit use or habit, show harmony with, be familiar with, know intimately
Usage: Occurs in 10 OT verses. KJV: acquaint (self), be advantage, [idiom] ever, (be, (un-)) profit(-able), treasurer, be wont. See also: Numbers 22:30; Job 22:21; Psalms 139:3.
Study Notes — Psalms 139:3
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 139:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 139:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 139:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 139:3
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 139:3
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 139:3
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 139:3
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 139:3
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 139:3
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 139:3
- Sermons on Psalms 139:3
Context — You Have Searched Me and Known Me
1O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.
3You search out my path and my lying down; You are aware of all my ways.
4Even before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, O LORD. 5You hem me in behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 23:24 | “Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD. |
| 2 | Job 31:4 | Does He not see my ways and count my every step? |
| 3 | Genesis 28:10–17 | Meanwhile Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. On reaching a certain place, he spent the night there because the sun had set. And taking one of the stones from that place, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. And Jacob had a dream about a ladder that rested on the earth with its top reaching up to heaven, and God’s angels were going up and down the ladder. And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. Look, I am with you, and I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” When Jacob woke up, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was unaware of it.” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!” |
| 4 | Psalms 121:3–8 | He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. Behold, the Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is the shade on your right hand. The sun will not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul. The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore. |
| 5 | Ecclesiastes 12:14 | For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil. |
| 6 | 2 Samuel 12:9–12 | Why then have you despised the command of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You put Uriah the Hittite to the sword and took his wife as your own, for you have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’ This is what the LORD says: ‘I will raise up adversity against you from your own house. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to another, and he will lie with them in broad daylight. You have acted in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’” |
| 7 | Proverbs 5:20–21 | Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress, or embrace the bosom of a stranger? For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and the LORD examines all his paths. |
| 8 | Psalms 139:18 | If I were to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; and when I awake, I am still with You. |
| 9 | John 6:70–71 | Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” He was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. For although Judas was one of the Twelve, he was later to betray Jesus. |
| 10 | Isaiah 29:15 | Woe to those who dig deep to hide their plans from the LORD. In darkness they do their works and say, “Who sees us, and who will know?” |
Psalms 139:3 Summary
Psalms 139:3 tells us that God knows everything about us, including where we go and what we do, which can be both comforting and challenging. It's comforting because it means God cares about every detail of our lives (as seen in Matthew 10:30 where it says God knows the number of hairs on our head). It's challenging because it means we can't hide anything from God, and we are accountable to Him for our actions (Romans 14:12). This verse reminds us to trust in God's love and guidance, knowing He wants the best for us and will direct our paths if we let Him.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for God to 'search out my path' in Psalms 139:3?
This means that God is intimately aware of our daily lives, knowing every step we take and every decision we make, as also seen in Proverbs 3:6 which says to trust in the Lord with all our heart and He will direct our paths.
How can God be aware of all my ways if I try to hide them?
According to Psalms 139:3 and Hebrews 4:13, nothing is hidden from God's sight, and He knows our thoughts and actions even when we try to conceal them, reminding us that we are always accountable to Him.
Is God's awareness of my ways a reason to fear or to find comfort?
It should be a reason to find comfort, as seen in Psalms 139:3 and Jeremiah 29:11, because God's knowledge of us is rooted in His love and desire to guide us towards a future filled with hope and purpose.
How does God's awareness of our paths relate to our responsibility to make choices?
While God knows our paths, we are still responsible for the choices we make, as emphasized in Deuteronomy 30:19, where we are told to choose life, indicating that our decisions have consequences, but God's awareness can guide us towards making wise choices.
Reflection Questions
- What areas of my life do I try to hide from God, and how can I open them up to His guidance and redemption?
- How does the knowledge that God is aware of all my ways impact my daily decisions and actions?
- In what ways can I trust God to direct my paths, even when the future seems uncertain?
- What are some specific ways I can surrender my ways to God, allowing Him to search out my path and lead me in His righteousness?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 139:3
Thou compassest my path and my lying down,.... The Targum adds, "to study in the law.'' His walk in the daytime, and every step he took, and his lying down at night.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 139:3
Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted (art familiar) with all my ways.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 139:3
Thou compassest my path; thou watchest me on every side, and therefore discernest every step which I take. It is a metaphor either from huntsmen watching all the motions and lurking-places of wild beasts, that they may catch them; or from soldiers besieging their enemies in a city, and setting watches round about them. My lying down; me, when I lie down in my bed, where men oft contrive what they execute in the day time.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 139:3
Psalms 139:3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted [with] all my ways.Ver. 3. Thou compassest my path] Or, Thou winnowest; if there be any chaff or trash, thou wilt make it fly; thou art at both ends of all my works and enterprises, both by day and by night, Perdius et pernox. Neither art thou only at my fingers’ ends, but at my tongue’ s end too.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 139:3
(3) Compassest.—There is some obscurity about this word. The Hebrew verb means first to scatter, and is used of throwing corn about to winnow it (Isaiah 30:24; Jeremiah 4:11; Rth 3:2). Hence by an easy metaphor it may mean to sift or search out. The LXX. and Theodotion, followed by the Vulg., 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 thou art a guest, In all my ways thou dwellest; i.e., art as familiar with all my life as one inhabiting the same house could be. My path.—Literally, my going.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 139:3
Verse 3. Thou compassest my path] זרית zeritha thou dost winnow, ventilate, or sift my path; and my lying down, רבעי ribi, my lair, my bed. And art acquainted] Thou treasurest up. This is the import of sachan. Thou hast the whole number of my ways, and the steps I took in them.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 139:3
3. Thou compassest] Rather, Thou hast examined, lit. thou hast winnowed, or sifted, subjecting my life to the closest and most discriminating investigation. my path] Rather, my walking, contrasted with my lying down. Cp. Proverbs 6:22.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 139:3
Thou compassest my path ... - Margin, “winnowest.” The Hebrew word - זרה zârâh - means properly “to scatter,” to cast loosely about - as the wind does dust; and then, to winnow - to wit, by
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 139:3
3. Compassest—That is, to watch and guard. The word sometimes means to scatter by winnowing, as Jeremiah 51:2.
Sermons on Psalms 139:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Epistle 340 by George Fox | George Fox addresses the community in New Jersey, urging them to remain in the fear of God and to keep the Lord at the forefront of their lives and actions. He emphasizes the impor |
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The Jesus Family in Communist China - Part 3 by Dr. D. Vaughan Rees | Dr. D. Vaughan Rees preaches about how the Ye-su Chia-ting Christians were prepared for the Communist rule, showcasing Divine guidance in their lives and how they unknowingly antic |
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When Jesus Lays His Hands on You by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher expresses his desire for God to raise up young men and women in the congregation to become missionaries, pastors, and evangelists. He emphasizes the im |
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Attributes of God - Wrath, Eternity, Infiity and Foreknowledge by William MacDonald | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the finite nature of human life and the infinite nature of God. They emphasize the privilege of serving God and encourage young people to de |
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The Omnipresence of God by Roy Daniel | In this sermon, the preacher discusses three attributes of God that are interconnected and have the power to radically transform lives. The sermon begins with a personal anecdote a |
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Psalms 139:1 by Chuck Smith | Chuck Smith emphasizes the omnipresence of God, illustrating that He is present in every corner of the universe and in our personal lives. He discusses how we often forget God's pr |
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Manifest Presence of God - Part 8 by Walter Beuttler | Walter Beuttler shares a powerful testimony of experiencing the manifest presence of God through active waiting upon the Lord during the night hours. He emphasizes the importance o |