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Psalm 139:4
For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, LORD, you know it altogether.
2You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.
3You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
4For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, LORD, you know it altogether.
5You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me.
6This knowledge is beyond me. It’s lofty. I can’t attain it.
Notice
A word on the tongue may seem small, yet YHWH’s complete knowledge of it makes even ordinary speech a matter of being known.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What response do you have to the claim that God knows each word on your tongue?
Write on thisWhich words from a recent conversation would you want to consider in light of God’s complete knowledge?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Hebrews 4:12–13For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, …The LORD knows every word in the psalm, and Hebrews describes God’s word discerning the heart’s thoughts and intentions.
Psalm 19:14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, LORD, my rock, and my redeemer.Both name human speech before the LORD: one acknowledges his knowledge, and the other asks that words please him.
Psalm 50:19–21“You give your mouth to evil. Your tongue frames deceit.Both name the tongue; Psalm 139 speaks of God’s knowledge, while Psalm 50 names speech used for evil and deceit.
Job 42:3You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ therefore I have uttered that which I didn’t understand, things too wonderful for me, which I …Job admits speaking beyond his understanding; the psalm describes the LORD’s knowledge, which its surrounding lines call beyond human reach.
Matthew 12:35–37The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things.Both concern what comes from a person: the psalm names words, while Matthew distinguishes what comes from good and evil treasure.
Job 42:6–8Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”The connection is indirect: Job speaks words of repentance; the psalm says no word escapes the LORD’s knowledge.
Jeremiah 29:23because they have done foolish things in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and have spoken words in my name falsely, which I …Both connect spoken words with the LORD’s knowledge; Jeremiah names false claims made in God’s name, with God himself as witness.
James 1:26If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn’t bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is worthless.Both attend to the tongue: the psalm declares God’s knowledge of its words, while James warns against leaving it unbridled.
Malachi 3:13–16“Your words have been harsh against me,” says the LORD. “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against you?’The LORD knows speech in both passages; Malachi records his charge against people who question his account of their words.
James 3:2–10For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also.Both single out spoken words: the psalm speaks of God knowing them, while James connects restraint in speech with restraining the whole body.
Job 8:2“How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?Both attend to spoken words; Job 8 challenges them as wind, while the psalm declares the LORD’s knowledge of them.
Exodus 14:3Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, ‘They are entangled in the land. The wilderness has shut them in.’God knows every word in the psalm; Exodus records in advance what Pharaoh will say about Israel’s predicament.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
Even a word on your tongue falls within YHWH’s knowledge. You do not have to explain yourself into being known; he knows it altogether.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).