PSALM 139

 

     This psalm has been given the title, “Jehovah the Omniscient”.  This is indeed a marvelous song.  The first twelve verses, in wonderful ways, reveal two attributes of God.  In fact it has well been said that the conception of intimate personal relation between God and man is perhaps more remarkably and forcefully dealt with in this psalm than in any other in the collection.  The deep mysteries of being are not involved to Jehovah.  They are simply not problems to Him.  He presided in wisdom over all mystic processes of the beginnings of human life.  None of these things frighten the singer for he knows the love of Jehovah and exclaims in glad praise for the preciousness of the unnumbered thoughts of God concerning him.

     In view of all these facts it is hopeless for the wicked to attempt to escape from God, and the singer’s desire for separation from all such is the final word of the psalm.  The way of separation is that of personal choice.  He must and will separate himself.  Yet he is also dependent upon God in this matter, and prays for His examination and leading.  In such cases we should stop and sing:

 

“Thy way, not mine, O Lord, However dark it be;

Oh, lead me by Thine Own right hand; Choose Thou the path for me!

 

Smooth let it be, or rough, It still will be the best;

Winding or straight, it matters not; It leads me to Thy rest.

 

I dare not choose my lot; I would not if I might;

But choose Thou for me, O my Lord!  So shall I walk aright.

 

The kingdom that I seek is Thine; so let the way

That leads to it, O Lord, be Thine!  Else I must surely stray.”

Elder Len Dalton, Psalms in Reflection

 

These notes were compiled as follows:

1.  Underlined words in the verse indicate that the Greek or Hebrew word(s) require more than one English word in its or their translation.  Most of the phrases are from The Englishman’s Hebrew Concordance of the Old Testament or The Englishman’s Greek Concordance of the New Testament by George V. Wigram.  In some cases words were combined for convenience.

2.  The superscript number (¹) appearing beside the word(s) in the verse indicates Strong’s number for his Greek [G] or Hebrew [H] Dictionary.

3.  The bracketed acronyms [S] at the end of the definition are from the following references used in this study:

· [ASB] – THE ANNOTATED STUDY BIBLE

· [B] – The Companion Bible by E. W. Bullinger

· [C] – Cruden’s Unabridged Concordance by Alexander Cruden

· [CW] – Crosswalk.com [OT Hebrew Lexicon is Brown, Driver, Briggs, Gesenius Lexicon]

· [ED] – EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY OF BIBLE WORDS – Stephen D. Renn, Editor

· [JFB] – Jameison-Faussett-Brown Commentary and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

· [JG] – Gill’s Commentary by John Gill

· [KWSB] – Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible by AMG

·  [JW] – John Wesley’s Notes on the Bible

· [N] – Nave’s Study Bible

· [S] – Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible by James Strong

· [SS] – The Strongest Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible by James Strong Fully Revised and Corrected by John R. Kohlenberger III and James A. Swanson

· [TSK] – The Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge

· [TW] – Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament by R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer, Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke

·  [W] – American Dictionary of the English Language – Noah Webster 1828

· [WSD] –The Complete Word Study Dictionary – Old Testament by Warren G. Baker and Eugene Carpenter [and with occasional input from Strong’s Complete Word Study Concordance Expanded Edition also by AMG]

· [WW] – Old Testament Word Studies by William Wilson

[ZSB] – ZONDERMAN KJV STUDY BIBLE

PSALM 139

  1  To the chief Musician,⁵³²⁹ A Psalm⁴²¹⁰ of David.¹⁷³² O LORD,³⁰⁶⁸ Thou hast searched me, ²⁷¹³ and known³⁰⁴⁵ me.

To the chief Musician:  A primitive root; properly to glitter from afar, that is, to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); also (as denominative from H5331), to be permanent.[S]  to be placed over, to have the oversight of; used in reference to music, probably, to preside over the singing, to lead the singing.[WW]  A Psalm:  From H2167; properly instrumental music; by implication a poem set to notes.[S]  of [by] David:  From the same as H1730; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse.[S]  O LORD:  From H1961; (the) self Existent or eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.[S]  Thou hast searched me:  A primitive root; properly to penetrate; hence to examine intimately.[S]  To search out as for treasures or secrets.[B]  To search out, to examine; properly, the mind or heart of any one.[WW]  A diligent, difficult probing.[TW]  To examine, to try.[W]  and known me:  A primitive root; to know (properly to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively instruction, designation, punishment, etc.).[S]  Seen, so as to understand.[B]

  2  Thou⁸⁵⁹ knowest³⁰⁴⁵ my downsitting³⁴²⁷ and mine uprising,⁶⁹⁶⁵ Thou understandest⁹⁹⁵ my thought⁷⁴⁵⁴ afar off.^{4480, 7350}

my downsitting:  A primitive root; properly to sit down (specifically as judge, in ambush, in quiet); by implication to dwell, to remain; causatively to settle, to marry.[S]  To rest after work.[JFB]  The act of sitting down; repose; a resting.[W]  and mine uprising:  A primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literally, figuratively, intensively and causatively).[S]  To go to work (Psalm 127:2).[JFB]  The act of rising.[W]  my downsitting and mine uprising:  Figure of Speech Synedoche (of Species), put for all movements.[B]  To sit down and rise up, put for the general course of life and conduct; the common actions of life.[WW]  Even these inconsiderable and casual things are under Thy continual notice.  I cannot so much as take a seat, or leave it, without being marked by Thee.[Adam Clarke]  Thou understandest:  A primitive root; to separate mentally (or distinguish), that is, (generally) understand.[S]  my thought:  From H7462; a thought (as association of ideas).[S]  Inward thought.[B]  Thoughts or agitations of the mind devising or contriving for the best, which may admit the notion of care and solicitude.—Schult. Gesenius, will, desire.[WW]  It indicates what persons have in mind, what their intents or purposes are.[WSD]  afar off:  For H4482; properly a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses.[H4480]  From H7368; remote, literally of figuratively, of place or time; specifically precious; often used adverbially (with preposition).[H7350][S]  Thou knowest what my thoughts will be in such and such circumstances, long before I know it, yea from all eternity.[JW]   While the figment is forming that shall produce them.[Adam Clarke]  At (from) a distance.[W]

     Thou understandest my thought afar off.  "My thought": that is, every thought, though innumerable thoughts pass through me in a day.  The divine knowledge reaches to their source and fountain, before they are our thoughts.  If the Lord knows them before their existence, before they can be properly called ours, much more doth he know them when they actually spring up in us; he knows the tendency of them, where the bird will alight when it is in flight; he knows them exactly; he is therefore called a "discerner" or criticizer of the heart: Hebrews 4:2. –Stephen Charnock.

     Thou understandest my thought afar off; God knows not only His own thoughts, but the thoughts of men, which none but themselves know; by this Christ appears to be truly God, the omniscient God, being a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, Matthew 9:3, 4; Hebrews 4:12.  God knows what thoughts His people have of Him, and of His lovingkindness in Christ; what thoughts they have of Christ Himself, His person, offices, and grace; what thoughts they have of themselves, their state, and condition: he knows all their vain thoughts, and complains of them, and which also they hate; and all their good thoughts, for they come from him.  And he knows them "afar off", or "of old", even before they are; so Aben Ezra interprets it, a long time past, and compares it with Jeremiah 31:3; where the same word is rendered "of old":  God knows the thoughts of His people, as well as His own, from all eternity; see Isaiah 25:1; as He knew what they would say and do, so what they would think; He knows thoughts that are past long ago, and forgotten by men, or were unobserved when thought; how else should He bring them into judgment? or though He is afar off in the highest heavens, yet He sees into the hearts of men, and is privy to all their thoughts.[JG]

  3  Thou compassest²²¹⁹ my path⁷³⁴ and my lying down,⁷²⁵² and art acquainted⁵⁵³² with all³⁶⁰⁵ my ways.¹⁸⁷⁰

Thou compassest:  A primitive root (compare H2114); to toss about; by implication to diffuse, winnow.[S]  To sift or search; or to gird round, as God compasseth all things by His omniscience.[WW]  A verb meaning to compass about, measure off, scrutinize, discern.  It indicates keeping a careful watch on people, watching their paths closely.[WSD]  Scrutinisest.[B]  The Hebrew usually means to ventilate, or sift thoroughly, as corn is winnowed.  God can separate the chaff from the wheat in men’s innermost characters.[JFB]  Thou discernest every step I take. It is a metaphor from soldiers besieging their enemies, and setting watches round about them.[JW]  Comprehendeth.[ASB]  my path:  From H732; a well trodden road (literally or figuratively); also a caravan.[S]  Way of life, manner of conduct.[SS]  and my lying down:  From H7250; prostration (for sleep).[S]  Bed.[B]  Literally, my couch.  Thou siftest all that I feel or do, whether on my couch or on the way (compare verse 1).[JFB]  art acquainted with:  A primitive root; to be familiar with; by implication to minister to, be serviceable to, be customary.[S]  To attend upon a person in a large sense; to become familiar with.[WW]  It has the sense of knowing someone intimately, closely.[WSD]  Well-knowest, or hast inspected.[B]  Thou treasurest up.  This is the import of ks sachan.  Thou hast the whole number of my ways, and the steps I took in them.[Adam Clarke]  all my ways:  From H1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively a course of life or mode of action, often adverbially.[S]

     Thou compassest my path and my lying down.  My path and my pallet, my running and my resting, are alike within the circle of Thine observation. Thou dost surround me even as the air continually surrounds all creatures that live.  I am shut up within the wall of Thy being; I am encircled within the bounds of Thy knowledge.  Waking or sleeping I am still observed of Thee.  I may leave Thy path, but you never leave mine.  I may sleep and forget Thee, but Thou dost never slumber, nor fall into oblivion concerning Thy creature.  The original signifies not only surrounding, but winnowing and sifting.  The Lord judges our active life and our quiet life; He discriminates our action and our repose, and marks that in them which is good and also that which is evil.  There is chaff in all our wheat, and the Lord divides them with unerring precision.—C. H. Spurgeon.

     and art acquainted [with] all my ways; the whole of his life and conversation, all his works and doings: God knows all the evil ways and works of His people; He takes notice of them, and chastises for them; and all their good works, and approves and accepts of them; He knows from what principles of faith and love they spring, in what manner they are performed, and with what views, aims, and ends; see Revelation 2:2, 19; Psalm 1:6.[JG]

  4  For³⁵⁸⁸ there is not³⁶⁹ a word⁴⁴⁰⁵ in my tongue,³⁹⁵⁶ but, lo,²⁰⁰⁵ O LORD,³⁰⁶⁸ Thou knowest³⁰⁴⁵ it altogether.³⁶⁰⁵

a word:  From H4448 (plural masculine as if from the second form); a word; collectively a discourse; figuratively a topic.[S]  The words which one has in his mouth ready to be uttered are said to be upon the tongue.[WW]  in [i.e., that rises to] my tongue:  From H3960; the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water).[S]  altogether:  From H3634; properly the whole; hence all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense).[S]  On every side, or, the whole of it.[B]  All, the whole of; totality, everything.[CW]  Thou knowest it altogether:  “Without God none can speak out his thoughts (Proverbs 16:1), therefore God knows them before they are uttered”(Cocceius).[JFB]

     For there is not a word in my tongue, etc. How needful it is to set a watch before the doors of our mouth, to hold that unruly member of ours, the tongue, as with bit and bridle.  Some of you feel at times that you can scarcely say a word, and the less you say the better.  Well, it way be as well; for great talkers are almost sure to make slips with their tongue.  It may be a good thing that you cannot speak much; for in the multitude of words there lacketh not sin.  Wherever you go, what light, vain, and foolish conversations you hear!  I am glad not to be thrown into circumstances where I can hear it.  But with you it may be different.  You may often repent of speaking, you will rarely repent of silence.  How soon angry words are spoken!  How soon foolish expressions drop from the mouth!  The Lord knows it all, marks it all, and did you carry about with you a more solemn recollection of it you would be more watchful than you are.—Joseph C. Philpot.

     [but], lo, O Lord, Thou knowest it altogether; the whole of it, from whence it springs; the reason of it, what is designed, or the ends to be answered by it.  The Lord knows the good words of His people, which they speak to Him in prayer, even before and while they are speaking them; and what they say to one another in private conversation, Isaiah 65:24; Malachi 3:16.  See an instance of words known by Christ before spoken, in Luke 19:31, 33.[JG]

  5  Thou hast beset me⁶⁶⁹⁶ behind²⁶⁸ and before,⁶⁹²⁴ and laid⁷⁸⁹⁶ Thine hand³⁷⁰⁹ upon me. ⁵⁹²¹

Thou has beset me:  A primitive root; to cramp, that is, confine (in many applications, literally and figuratively, formative or hostile).[S]  To bind up; to besiege.[WW]  Enclosed or hedged.[ASB]  With Thy all-seeing providence.[JW] Metaphorically this verb expresses God’s full effort to confront the Psalmist on every side, leaving no place for escape from His presence.[TW]  behind:  From H299; the hinder part; hence (adverbially) behind, backward; also (as facing north) the West.[S]  and before:  From H6923; the front, of place (absolutely the fore part, relatively the East) or time (antiquity); often used adverbially (before, anciently, eastward).[S]  behind and before:  Figure of Speech Synedoche (of Species), put for all movements.[B]  The Lord knows His people before and behind—thus altogether.[WSD]  and laid:  A primitive root; to place (in a very wide application).[S]  To lay the hand upon anyone in protection.[WW]  Thou keepest me, as it were with a strong hand, in Thy sight and under Thy power.[JW]  Thou hast beset me … Thine hand upon me—Thou art omnipresent as well as omniscient.  Behind, before, and from above—from every side I am in Thine hand, whether for punishment or for help.[JFB]

     Thou hast beset me behind and before, etc. There is here an insensible transition from God's omniscience to His omnipresence, out of which the Scriptures represent it as arising.  "Behind and before", i.e., on all sides.  The idea of above and below is suggested by the last clause.  "Beset", besiege, hem in, or closely surround.  "Thy hand", or the palm of Thy hand, as the Hebrew word strictly denotes.—Joseph Addison Alexander.

     And laid Thine hand upon me. To make of me one acceptable to Thyself.  To rule me, to lead me, to uphold me, to protect me; to restore me; in my growth, in my walk, in my failures, in my affliction, in my despair.—Thomas Le Blanc.

  6  Such knowledge¹⁸⁴⁷ is too wonderful⁶³⁸³ for me;⁴⁴⁸⁰ it is high,⁷⁶⁸² I cannot attain unto it.^{3808, 3201}

Such knowledge:  From H3045 [to know (properly to ascertain by seeing)]; knowledge [i.e., a clear and certain perception of that which exists, or of truth and fact].[S]  Knowing, intelligence.[WW]  Discernment, understanding, wisdom.[CW[  is too wonderful:  From H6381 [to separate, that is, distinguish (literally or figuratively)]; remarkable [i.e., extraordinary, unusual; that deserves particular notice, or that may excite admiration or wonder].[S]  Beyond understanding.[SS]  Incomprehensible.[WSD]  To make distinguished, extraordinary.[WW]  it is high:  A primitive root; to be (causatively make) lofty, especially inaccessible; by implication safe, strong; used literally and figuratively.[S]  To be high, inaccessibly high; to be too high (for capture).[CW]  Be inaccessibly high; associated with the notion of “height” it frequently has the connotation of security.  This connotation is also present when David says of God’s knowledge it is lofty, I am no match for it.[TW]  I cannot attain unto it:  lo; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abstract negation); by implication no; often used with other particles.[H3808]  A primitive root; to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might).[H3201][S]  To be able to effect, to accomplish, to prevail.[WW]  To grasp or understand something, to attain a mastery of it.[WSD]  Apprehend in what manner Thou dost so presently know all things.[JW]  [I am not able] To reach; to come to or arrive at, by an effort of mind.[W]

  7  Whither⁵⁷⁵ shall I go¹⁹⁸⁰ from Thy spirit?^{4480, 7307} or whither⁵⁷⁵ shall I flee¹²⁷² from Thy presence?^{4480, 6440}

Whither:  Contracted from H370; where?; hence whither?, when?; also hither and thither.[S]  Thy spirit:  From H7306; wind; by resemblance breath, that is, a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions).[S]  Thee; GOD, as being invisible.  “The Spirit of Jehovah” is Jehovah Himself, in His manifestation of invisible power.[B]  shall I flee:  A primitive root; to bolt, that is, figuratively to flee suddenly.[S]  To escape or get out of the way, implying swiftness and fear.[WW]  Thy presence:  The face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively).[H6440][S]  Thy faces.[Adam Clarke]

     Thy presence.  The presence of God's glory is in heaven; the presence of His power on earth; the presence of His justice in hell; and the presence of His grace with His people.  If He deny us His powerful presence, we fall into nothing; if He deny us His gracious presence, we fall into sin; if He deny us His merciful presence, we fall into hell.—John Mason.

  8  If⁵¹⁸ I ascend up⁵²⁶⁶ into heaven,⁸⁰⁶⁴ Thou⁸⁵⁹ art there:⁸⁰³³ if I make my bed³³³¹ in hell,⁷⁵⁸⁵ behold,²⁰⁰⁹ Thou art there.

I ascend up:  A primitive root; to go up.[S] To climb.[WW]  into heaven:  The second form being dual of an unused singular; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve).[S]  if I make my bed:  A primitive root; to strew as a surface.[S]  Spread clothes or anything to lie down and rest upon, to make a bed.[WW]  in hell:  From H7592; hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates.[S]  The state and abode of the dead; hence the grave in which the body rests, and the invisible world, to which the souls of men depart in death.[WW]  If I could hide myself in the lowest parts of the earth.[JW]   into heaven … in hell—expresses the greatest height and the greatest depth.[JFB]

     Thou art there. Or, more emphatically and impressively in the original, "Thou!"  That is, the Psalmist imagines himself in the highest heaven, or in the deepest abodes of the dead;—and lo! God is there also; He has not gone from him!  He is still in the presence of the same God!—Albert Barnes.

     Thou art there. This is not meant of His knowledge, for that the Psalmist had spoken of before: Psalm 139:2-3, "Thou understandest my thought afar off: Thou art acquainted with all my ways." Besides, "Thou art there"; not Thy wisdom or knowledge, but Thou, Thy essence, not only Thy virtue. For having before spoken of His omniscience, he proves that such knowledge could not be in God unless He were present in His essence in all places, so as to be excluded from none.  He fills the depths of hell, the extension of the earth, and the heights of the heavens.  When the Scripture mentions the power of God only, it expresses it by hand or arm; but when it mentions the spirit of God, and doth not intend the third Person of the Trinity, it signifies the nature and essence of God; and so here, when he saith, "Whither shall I go from Thy spirit?" he adds exegetically, "whither shall I flee from Thy presence?" or Hebrew, "face"; and the face of God in Scripture signifies the essence of God: Ex 33:20,23, "Thou canst not see My face", and "My face shall not be seen"; the effects of His power, wisdom, providence, are seen, which are His back parts, but not His face.  The effects of His power and wisdom are seen in the world, but His essence is invisible, and this the Psalmist elegantly expresses.—Stephen Charnock.

  9  If I take⁵³⁷⁵ the wings of³⁶⁷¹ the morning,⁷⁸³⁷ and dwell⁷⁹³¹ in the uttermost parts³¹⁹ of the sea;³²²⁰

If I take:  A primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, absolutely and relatively.[S]  To be borne, carried; to be taken away, carried off, swept away.[CW]  Ride.[TW]  the wings of:  From H3670; an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or bed clothing) a flap, (of the earth) a quarter, (of a building) a pinnacle.[S]  The wings, the light, the expanded rays of the sun, or the spreading beams of the morning.[WW]  If I should flee from east to west: for the sea being the western border of Canaan, is often put for the west in scripture.  And wings are poetically ascribed to the morning here, as they are elsewhere to the sun, and to the winds.[JW]  the morning:  From H7836; dawn (literally, figuratively or adverbially).[S]  Aurora, dawn.[WW]  “Wings of the morning” denote a rapid flight; there being no motion we know of so rapid as the diffusion of the beams of the sun at the breaking of the day.[C]  dwell:  A primitive root (apparently akin (by transmutation) to H7901 through the idea of lodging; compare H5531 and H7925); to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively).[S]  To abide in, to inhabit, to have a fixed residence in a place.[C]  in the uttermost parts:  From H310; the last or end, hence the future; also posterity.[S]  The last or extreme part.[WW]  the sea:  From an unused root meaning to roar; a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article) the Mediterranean; sometimes a large river, or an artificial basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the south.[S] 

     If I take the wings of the morning … parts of the sea—a poetic phrase to express the instantaneous rapidity with which the rays of the morning dawn dart from east to west of the horizon:  “If in a moment I were borne from the east to the extreme maritime regions of the west.”  Psalm 55:6-8 shows hat the reason for flight would be, not a desire to be far from God, but to escape from enemies. Expresses the furthermost point in breadth.[JFB]

     If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea.  If I could fly with all swiftness, and find a habitation where the mariner has not yet ploughed the deep, yet I could not reach the boundaries of the divine presence.  Light flies with inconceivable rapidity, and it flashes far afield beyond all human ken; it illuminates the great and wide sea, and sets its waves gleaming afar; but its speed would utterly fail if employed in flying from the Lord.  Were we to speed on the wings of the morning breeze, and break into oceans unknown to chart and map, yet there we should find the Lord already present.  He who saves to the uttermost would be with us in the uttermost parts of the sea.—C. H. Spurgeon.

  10  Even¹⁵⁷¹ there⁸⁰³³ shall Thy hand³⁰²⁷ lead me, ⁵¹⁴⁸ and Thy right hand³²²⁵ shall hold me. ²⁷⁰

shall … lead me:  A primitive root; to guide; by implication to transport (into exile, or as colonists).[S]  To guide or conduct.[C]  Thy right hand:  From H3231; the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south.[S]  and … shall hold me:  A primitive root; to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession).[S]  To take hold; to hold, to hold fast that which one has taken hold of.[WW]  To sustain; to support.[W]

     Even there shall Thy hand lead me…For He could not get there with all the assistance of the wings of the morning, could they be had, without the leadings of divine Providence; and when there, being a good man, should experience the leadings of divine grace; let the people of God be where they will, He heads them as a parent his child, teaching him to go; and as a shepherd his flock, into green pastures, and to fountains of living water; He leads to Himself, and to His Son by His Spirit; into communion and fellowship with them, and to a participation of all blessings grace; guides them with His counsel, and directs all their ways and going; and Thy right hand shall hold me; the Lord lays hold on His people, and apprehends them for Himself, and claims His interest in them; He holds them in His ways, that they slip and fall not; He upholds them with the right hand of His righteousness, and they are safe; and He holds them from going into or on in wrong ways to their hurt.[JG]

  11  If I say,⁵⁵⁹ Surely³⁸⁹ the darkness²⁸²² shall cover me;⁷⁷⁷⁹ even the night³⁹¹⁵ shall be light²¹⁶ about me. ¹¹⁵⁷

Surely:  kin to H403; a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by limitation) only.[S]  the darkness:  From H2821; the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness.[H2822][S]  shall cover me:  A primitive root; properly to gape, that is, snap at; figuratively to overwhelm.[S]  To lie in wait for; to fall upon suddenly.[WW]  Literally, bruise, or, overwhelm, as in Genesis 3:15; Job 9:17.[JFB]  Crushing caused by darkness.[TW]  To hide; to conceal by something overspread.[W]  shall be light:  From H215; illumination or (concretely) luminary (in every sense, including lightning