Psalms 139:2 Meaning and Explanation
“Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God knows both the psalmist's actions and thoughts from a distance.
The Context of Psalms 139:2
God's knowledge extends to both physical actions and private thoughts.
What Does Psalms 139:2 Mean?
'Downsitting and uprising' represents the whole arc of life—rest and activity, stillness and motion. The phrase conveys the ordinariness and totality of divine knowledge: God knows not just the dramatic moments but also the mundane sitting and standing of daily existence. Every transition, every state of the body is known.
'Understandest my thought afar off' is even more striking—God comprehends the psalmist's thoughts even before they are spoken, and He does this from a distance, not through human proximity. This expresses the supernatural quality of divine knowledge, transcending the limitations of space and time that bind human understanding.
Psalms 139:2 in the Original Language
בִּנְתִּי (binti), 'my thoughts' — inner reflections and intentions, known to God before expression.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 139:2
What does Psalms 139:2 mean?
God knows both the psalmist's actions and thoughts from a distance.
What is the context of Psalms 139:2?
God's knowledge extends to both physical actions and private thoughts.