Psalms 139:5

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

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

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

אָח֣וֹר וָקֶ֣דֶם צַרְתָּ֑נִי וַתָּ֖שֶׁת עָלַ֣י כַּפֶּֽכָה׃

Transliteration

ʾāḥôr wāqedem ṣartānî and-tāšet upon-me kappekâ

Grammar Details

*ʾāḥôr*: adverb/noun - behind/backward
*wāqedem*: conjunction + noun - and before/in front
*ṣartānî*: verb, Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular + 1st person singular suffix - you hem in me/you surround me
*tāšet*: verb, Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular + waw consecutive - and you place/put
*kappekâ*: noun, feminine singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix - your palm/hand

Word Meanings

*ʾāḥôr*: behind/backward/from behind
*qedem*: before/in front/from the east
*ṣartānî*: hem in me/surround me/besiege me/form me
*tāšet*: place/put/lay
*kappekâ*: your palm/your hand

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

🔄 Compare with

ESVNIVCSBNLTNASBNET

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Deut 33:27 : 27 The eternal God is [thy] dwelling-place, And underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy from before thee, And said, Destroy.
Job 9:33 : 33 There is no umpire betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both.
Job 23:8-9 : 8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not [there]; And backward, but I cannot perceive him; 9 On the left hand, when he doth work, but I cannot behold him; He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.
Ps 34:7 : 7 The angel of Jehovah encampeth round about them that fear him, And delivereth them.
Rev 1:17 : 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, {G3427} Fear not; I am the first and the last,
Exod 24:11 : 11 And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: and they beheld God, and did eat and drink.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Ps 139:1-4
4 verses
84%
1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. O Jehovah, thou hast searched me, and known [me].
2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; Thou understandest my thought afar off.
3Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, And art acquainted with all my ways.
4For there is not a word in my tongue, But, lo, O Jehovah, thou knowest it altogether.
Ps 139:6-10
5 verses
80%
6[ Such] knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there.
9If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me.
Ps 139:13-18
6 verses
79%
13For thou didst form my inward parts: Thou didst cover me in my mother's womb.
14I will give thanks unto thee; For I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Wonderful are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well.
15My frame was not hidden from thee, When I was made in secret, [And] curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, [Even] the days that were ordained [for me], When as yet there was none of them.
17How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
18If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: When I awake, I am still with thee.
Ps 73:23-24
2 verses
77%
23Nevertheless I am continually with thee: Thou hast holden my right hand.
24Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.
Ps 142:3
76%
3When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walk Have they hidden a snare for me.
Job 10:7-8
2 verses
75%
7Although thou knowest that I am not wicked, And there is none that can deliver out of thy hand?
8Thy hands have framed me and fashioned me Together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.
Ps 119:73
74%
73YODH. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: Give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
Ps 139:23
74%
23Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts;
Jer 12:3
73%
3But thou, O Jehovah, knowest me; thou seest me, and triest my heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
Job 13:27
73%
27Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, And markest all my paths; Thou settest a bound to the soles of my feet:
Ps 63:8
73%
8My soul followeth hard after thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me.
Ps 41:12
73%
12And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, And settest me before thy face for ever.
Job 30:21
73%
21Thou art turned to be cruel to me; With the might of thy hand thou persecutest me.
Job 14:16
73%
16But now thou numberest my steps: Dost thou not watch over my sin?
Ps 18:39
73%
39For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
Job 10:13
73%
13Yet these things thou didst hide in thy heart; I know that this is with thee:
Ps 18:35-36
2 verses
73%
35Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation; And thy right hand hath holden me up, And thy gentleness hath made me great.
36Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped.
Ps 17:3
73%
3Thou hast proved my heart; Thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tried me, and findest nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
Ps 38:2
73%
2For thine arrows stick fast in me, And thy hand presseth me sore.
Ps 138:7
73%
7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me; Thou wilt stretch forth thy hand against the wrath of mine enemies, And thy right hand will save me.
Isa 37:28
72%
28But I know thy sitting down, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy raging against me.
Ps 89:13
72%
13Thou hast a mighty arm; Strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.
2 Sam 22:40-41
2 verses
72%
40For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle; Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
41Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me, That I might cut off them that hate me.
Ps 109:27
72%
27That they may know that this is thy hand; [That] thou, Jehovah, hast done it.
Ps 69:5
72%
5O God, thou knowest my foolishness; And my sins are not hid from thee.
Job 10:11
72%
11Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews.
Ps 31:15
72%
15My times are in thy hand: Deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
2 Kgs 19:27
72%
27But I know thy sitting down, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy raging against me.
Ps 32:7
72%
7Thou art my hiding-place; Thou wilt preserve me from trouble; Thou wilt compass me about with songs of deliverance. {H5542}
Ps 119:168
72%
168I have observed thy precepts and thy testimonies; For all my ways are before thee.
Ps 80:17
72%
17Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, Upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.
Ps 31:8
72%
8And thou hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; Thou hast set my feet in a large place.
Ps 140:5
72%
5The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; They have spread a net by the wayside; They have set gins for me. {H5542}
Ps 118:13
71%
13Thou didst thrust sore at me that I might fall; But Jehovah helped me.