Psalm 139:5
New International Version
You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.

New Living Translation
You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.

English Standard Version
You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.

Berean Standard Bible
You hem me in behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me.

King James Bible
Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

New King James Version
You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.

New American Standard Bible
You have encircled me behind and in front, And placed Your hand upon me.

NASB 1995
You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.

NASB 1977
Thou hast enclosed me behind and before, And laid Thy hand upon me.

Legacy Standard Bible
You have enclosed me behind and before, And You have put Your hand upon me.

Amplified Bible
You have enclosed me behind and before, And [You have] placed Your hand upon me.

Christian Standard Bible
You have encircled me; you have placed your hand on me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me.

American Standard Version
Thou hast beset me behind and before, And laid thy hand upon me.

Contemporary English Version
and with your powerful arm you protect me from every side.

English Revised Version
Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You are all around me-in front of me and in back of me. You lay your hand on me.

Good News Translation
You are all around me on every side; you protect me with your power.

International Standard Version
You encircle me from back to front, placing your hand upon me.

Majority Standard Bible
You hem me in behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me.

NET Bible
You squeeze me in from behind and in front; you place your hand on me.

New Heart English Bible
You encircle me behind and in front, and you place your hand upon me.

Webster's Bible Translation
Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thy hand upon me.

World English Bible
You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
You have besieged me behind and before, "" And You place Your hand on me.

Young's Literal Translation
Behind and before Thou hast besieged me, And Thou dost place on me Thy hand.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou didst press me behind and before, and thou wilt place thine hand upon me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Behold, O Lord, thou hast known all things, the last and those of old: thou hast formed me, and hast laid thy hand upon me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Behold, O Lord, you have known all things: the newest and the very old. You have formed me, and you have placed your hand over me.

New American Bible
Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me.

New Revised Standard Version
You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
From the beginning to the end, thou knowest me, O LORD, for thou hast formed and laid thy hand upon me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
For from the beginning to the end you have formed me, and you have set your hand upon me.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thou hast hemmed me in behind and before, And laid Thy hand upon me.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
the last and the first: thou hast fashioned me, and laid thine hand upon me.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
You Have Searched Me and Known Me
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. 6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.…

Cross References
Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Job 23:8-9
If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot find Him. / When He is at work in the north, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him.

Deuteronomy 31:8
The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

Exodus 13:21-22
And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel by day or night. / Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place before the people.

2 Kings 6:16-17
“Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” / Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Jeremiah 23:23-24
“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away?” / “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.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; / in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Genesis 28:15
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.”

Isaiah 52:12
For you will not leave in a hurry nor flee in haste, for the LORD goes before you, and the God of Israel is your rear guard.

Matthew 28:20
and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

John 10:28-29
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. / My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”

2 Corinthians 12:9
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.


Treasury of Scripture

You have beset me behind and before, and laid your hand on me.

beset me

Deuteronomy 33:27
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

Job 23:8,9
Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: …

and laid

Exodus 24:11
And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.

Revelation 1:17
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

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Beset Besieged Enclosed Hand Hem Hemmed Laid Shut Side
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Beset Besieged Enclosed Hand Hem Hemmed Laid Shut Side
Psalm 139
1. David praises God for his all-seeing providence
17. And for this infinite mercies
19. He defies the wicked
23. He prays for sincerity














You hem me in
The phrase "You hem me in" suggests a sense of divine enclosure or protection. The Hebrew root word used here is "tsur," which can mean to bind, besiege, or enclose. This imagery conveys God's encompassing presence, suggesting that He surrounds us on all sides, providing both protection and guidance. Historically, the idea of being "hemmed in" could evoke the image of a shepherd enclosing his flock, ensuring their safety from predators. In a spiritual sense, this phrase reassures believers of God's constant vigilance and care, emphasizing that His presence is both a safeguard and a guide.

behind and before
The words "behind and before" illustrate the completeness of God's presence in our lives. The Hebrew words "achor" (behind) and "qedem" (before) indicate not just spatial orientation but also temporal. God is present in our past, present, and future, suggesting His omnipresence and omniscience. This duality of time and space reflects the eternal nature of God, who is not bound by human limitations. For believers, this is a comforting reminder that God is aware of our history, our current struggles, and our future paths, orchestrating all things for our good.

and You have laid Your hand upon me
The phrase "and You have laid Your hand upon me" signifies a personal touch from God, indicating His intimate involvement in our lives. The Hebrew word "shith" (laid) implies a deliberate action, suggesting God's intentional care and blessing. In biblical times, the laying on of hands was a significant act, often associated with blessing, healing, or commissioning. This imagery conveys a sense of divine favor and empowerment, reassuring believers that God is actively working in their lives, guiding and supporting them through His sovereign will.

(5) Beset--as a beleagured city from which there is no escape.

Verse 5. - Thou hast beset me behind and before; i.e. "thou art ever close to me, and therefore hast complete knowledge of me. Thine omniscience arises out of thy omnipresence." And laid thine hand upon me. To uphold me, and at the same time to restrain me (comp. ver. 10).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You hem me in
צַרְתָּ֑נִי (ṣar·tā·nî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 6696: To confine, bind, besiege

behind
אָח֣וֹר (’ā·ḥō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 268: The hinder part, behind, backward, the West

and before;
וָקֶ֣דֶם (wā·qe·ḏem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6924: The front, of place, time

You have laid
וַתָּ֖שֶׁת (wat·tā·šeṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7896: To put, set

Your hand
כַּפֶּֽכָה׃ (kap·pe·ḵāh)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3709: Hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot), a pan

upon me.
עָלַ֣י (‘ā·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


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OT Poetry: Psalm 139:5 You hem me in behind and before (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 139:4
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