Psalm 139 4

Psalm 139:4 kjv

For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

Psalm 139:4 nkjv

For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.

Psalm 139:4 niv

Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely.

Psalm 139:4 esv

Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.

Psalm 139:4 nlt

You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, LORD.

Psalm 139 verses

Psalm 139 4 Meaning

Psalm 139:4 proclaims God's profound omniscience concerning human speech. It reveals that before a word is even fully formed or uttered on a person's tongue, God already knows it completely. This indicates not merely general foresight, but an intimate, precise, and total understanding of every intended utterance. The verse highlights God's pre-knowledge of all communication, whether whispered, spoken, or forming in the mind.

Psalm 139 4 Context

Psalm 139 is a magnificent hymn (Mizmor L'David) celebrating the incomparable attributes of God: His omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence, particularly as they relate to His intimate knowledge and formation of the psalmist (likely David).Verse 4 follows closely from verses 1-3, which declare that God knows the psalmist's sitting down, rising up, thoughts from afar, paths, and resting places. This establishes God's absolute and detailed knowledge of every aspect of life, even hidden actions and thoughts. Verse 4 then zeroes in specifically on human speech, indicating that God's knowledge is so comprehensive that it extends even to words that are merely conceived in the mind and are in the process of being formed on the tongue, yet unspoken. This immediate proximity emphasizes the totality and precision of divine insight, affirming that nothing escapes God's notice. Historically, this truth served as a powerful declaration against the limited and often human-like gods of surrounding pagan cultures, demonstrating Yahweh's unique, absolute sovereignty and knowledge.

Psalm 139 4 Word analysis

• For (כִּי - ki): This particle often introduces an explanation or a reason. Here, it connects back to the previous statements about God knowing the psalmist's movements and thoughts, further explaining how God knows so intimately by extending that knowledge to the very point of speech formation. It affirms the truth.
• not a word (אֵין מִלָּה - ein millah):
  • Ein (אֵין): Signifies "there is no" or "not existing." It emphasizes the absolute absence of something.
  • Millah (מִלָּה): Refers to a "word," "utterance," or "speech." It denotes articulate sounds and declarations, but in this context, the combination with "in my tongue" suggests the nascent, yet-to-be-spoken word. It covers anything expressible through language.
• in my tongue (בִּלְשׁוֹנִי - bilshoni):
  • B- (בִּ): A preposition meaning "in" or "on."
  • L'shoni (לְשׁוֹנִי): "My tongue." The tongue is the primary organ of speech. This phrase refers to words that are "on the tip of the tongue" – words formed in the mind and prepared for utterance, even if not yet fully spoken aloud. It implies a moment just prior to audible expression, demonstrating God's knowledge preceding the action.
• but, lo, (הֵן - hen): This is an emphatic particle, an interjection often translated as "behold!", "surely!", or "lo!". It introduces a striking and undeniable truth, drawing the listener's immediate attention to the revelation that follows. It adds a sense of wonder or astonishment at the scope of God's knowledge.
• O Lord, (יהוה - YHWH): The tetragrammaton, God's personal, covenantal name (Yahweh). The use of YHWH rather than Elohim signifies a relational and intimate knowledge, implying that this profound awareness stems from God's personal connection with humanity, particularly His covenant people. It is the holy, self-existent God who possesses this knowledge.
• thou knowest (יָדַעְתָּ - yada'ta):
  • Yada' (יָדַע): The Hebrew verb for "to know." It denotes a deep, intimate, experiential, and complete knowledge, not merely intellectual apprehension. It can mean to know fully, intimately, and personally, as opposed to simply having information. God's knowledge is total comprehension, inside and out.
• it altogether (כֻּלָּהּ - kullah):
  • Kullah (כֻּלָּהּ): "It all," "wholly," "completely," "entirely." This suffix emphasizes the totality and exhaustiveness of God's knowledge concerning the word. He doesn't just have a general idea; He knows every aspect of it perfectly, entirely, and precisely.

Words-group analysis

• For there is not a word in my tongue: This phrase focuses on the absence of any hidden speech from God. It's about what doesn't exist in terms of secrets, specifically regarding human utterance. It speaks to pre-verbal knowledge, highlighting God's perception of thoughts, intentions, and potential expressions even before they manifest outwardly.
• but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether: This powerfully affirms the active, comprehensive, and personal nature of God's knowledge. The interjection "lo" emphasizes the wonder of this truth, while "O Lord" stresses His unique, divine personhood. "Thou knowest it altogether" ensures that God's knowledge is absolute, lacking nothing. This stands in stark contrast to human knowledge, which is always limited.

Psalm 139 4 Bonus section

The intimacy described in Psalm 139:4 underscores God's deep engagement with human experience. This is not the knowledge of a distant observer, but of a God who is intricately involved in the details of His creation and the lives of His children. The idea that God knows words before they are spoken implies a prior knowledge of thoughts and intentions, making human beings utterly transparent before their Maker. This should evoke both reverence and a deep sense of security, knowing that we are perfectly understood, even our silent struggles. The divine knowledge expressed here means that no verbal prayer is too ill-formed to be comprehended by God, and no spoken lie too clever to be detected. This concept reinforces the sanctity and power of speech, knowing its true origin and final destination of accountability lie before the Most High God.

Psalm 139 4 Commentary

Psalm 139:4 presents a breathtaking declaration of God's perfect omniscience. It builds on the prior verses describing God's intimate knowledge of human actions and thoughts by narrowing in on spoken language. The psalmist confesses that before any word takes shape on his tongue, before he even utters a sound, God already perceives it in its entirety. This is not mere foresight but absolute, comprehensive, and intimate knowledge of every intention and potential utterance.

This truth has profound implications. For the believer, it offers immense comfort: God knows our deepest needs and desires before we express them in prayer; He understands our heart even when we struggle to articulate our feelings. It also brings solemn accountability: every careless word, every deceptive phrase, every grumbling thought that nearly escaped the tongue, is transparent to Him. This should lead to careful consideration of our speech, prompting us to align our words with His truth and righteousness.

This divine knowledge is a polemic against the limitations of false gods. No pagan deity could possess such granular, pre-emptive knowledge of every human utterance. Only Yahweh, the omnipresent and omniscient God, can perceive the heart's inclinations and the tongue's formations simultaneously. This encourages reverential awe, recognizing God's matchless understanding of creation and His intimate connection to each individual life. It implies that true relationship with God requires an awareness of this constant divine scrutiny, inspiring sincerity in worship and conduct.

Examples:

• Comfort: A person struggling with unspoken anxieties finds comfort knowing God perfectly understands their unformed thoughts and pleas.
• Conviction: One about to utter a deceitful word might be checked by the profound reality that God already knows the lie before it leaves their lips.
• Inspiration: In prayer, the knowledge that God already understands the desire of our heart, even before a perfectly phrased petition, encourages humility and authenticity.