Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Calvin Complete Commentary - Psalms 139:5 - 139:5
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
In verse fifth some read —behind and before thou hast fashioned me; (203) but צור, tsur, often signifies to shut up, and David, there can be no doubt, means that he was surrounded on every side, and so kept in sight by God, that he could not escape in any quarter. One who finds the way blocked up turns back; but David found himself hedged in behind as well as before. The other clause of the verse has the same meaning; for those put a very forced interpretation upon it who think that it refers to God’ fashioning us, and applying his hand in the sense of an artizan to his work; nor does this suit with the context. And it is much better to understand it as asserting that God by his hand, laid as it were upon men, holds them strictly under his inspection, so that they cannot move a hair’ breadth without his knowledge. (204)
(203) Thus the Septuagint have ἔπλασάς με, Thou hast formed me. Similar is the rendering of the Syriac. Those who embrace this view take the verb, as if the root were יצר, yatsar. “” says Phillips, “ is certain that the root of צרתני must be צור, to afflict, press, besiege. Hence the meaning of the verse is, ‘ hast so pressed upon, or besieged me, both behind and before, that I find there is no escaping from thee; Thou hast placed thy hand upon me, so that I am quite in thy power.’ The whole passage is a figure, representing God’ thorough knowledge of man.” —Phillips. “Thou besettest me behind and before, i.e. thou knowest all my doings as perfectly as if I were begirt by thee on every side. ” —Cresswell.
(204) “Comme mettant la main sur eux pour los arrester par le collet, ainsi qu’ dit, tellement qu’ ne peuvent bouger le moins du monde qu’ ne le scache.” — Fr.