What does Psalms 139:17 mean?

"How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!" - Psalms 139:17

"How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!" - Psalms 139:17

Psalms 139:17 (KJV) reads, "How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!" This verse is part of a larger passage in Psalm 139 in which the author, traditionally believed to be King David, praises the omniscience and omnipresence of God.

The theme of this verse is the overwhelming love and care of God for his creation, specifically for the individual. The speaker marvels at the extent of God's thoughts and the value of them. This verse demonstrates the intimacy and personal relationship between the speaker and God. It reflects the idea that each person is known and valued by God, and that God's thoughts towards them are countless and precious. The speaker's response is one of awe and gratitude towards God's compassion and concern for them.

The context of this verse is important to understanding its full meaning. In the preceding verses, the author describes God's thorough knowledge and understanding of the individual. In verses 1-6, the author muses on the fact that God knows every aspect of their being, from their thoughts to their actions, and that there is no place where God cannot be found. In verses 7-12, the author reflects on how even in the darkest and most distant places, God's presence is there, guiding and protecting them. In verses 13-16, the author marvels at how intricately and intentionally God has created them, molding them in the womb and knowing the course of their life before it even came to be.

In this broader context, verse 17 serves as a response to the overwhelming realization of God's intimate knowledge and care for the individual. The speaker is overcome with a sense of awe and wonder at the value placed on them by God. This verse, therefore, acts as a declaration of the speaker's deep personal connection with God, acknowledging the significance of God's thoughts towards them.

The symbolism in this verse lies in the concept of God's thoughts. The speaker's use of the word "precious" denotes the value and worth of God's thoughts towards them. This not only reflects a sense of intimacy and care, but also emphasizes the idea that God holds the individual in high regard. It symbolizes the depth of God's love and concern for the speaker, demonstrating a personal and intimate relationship between God and the individual.

Furthermore, the idea of the "sum" of God's thoughts emphasizes the magnitude and abundance of God's care and attention towards the individual. This symbolizes the immeasurable and abundant nature of God's love and thoughts towards each person. It conveys the idea that God's thoughts are innumerable and beyond human comprehension, demonstrating the vastness of God's care and concern for the speaker.

In conclusion, Psalm 139:17 (KJV) is a poignant declaration of the intimate and personal relationship between the speaker and God. It reflects the speaker's awe and gratitude towards the immeasurable value and abundance of God's thoughts towards them. The verse conveys the concept of God's overwhelming love and care for the individual, symbolizing the depth and significance of God's intimate knowledge and concern for each person. It serves as a powerful affirmation of God's personal relationship with the individual and evokes a sense of wonder and awe at the immeasurable love and care of God.

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Psalms 139:17 Artwork

Psalms 139:17 - "How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!"

Psalms 139:17 - "How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!"

"How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!" - Psalms 139:17

"How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!" - Psalms 139:17

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Psalms 139:23 - "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:"

Psalms 139:23 - "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:"

"If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;" - Psalms 139:9

"If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;" - Psalms 139:9

Psalms 139:1 - "O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me."

Psalms 139:1 - "O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me."

Psalms 139:9 - "If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;"

Psalms 139:9 - "If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;"

Psalms 139:24 - "And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

Psalms 139:24 - "And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

Psalms 139:4 - "For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether."

Psalms 139:4 - "For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether."

Psalms 139:6 - "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it."

Psalms 139:6 - "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it."

"I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies." - Psalms 139:22

"I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies." - Psalms 139:22

Psalms 139:20 - "For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain."

Psalms 139:20 - "For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain."

Psalms 139:22 - "I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies."

Psalms 139:22 - "I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies."

Psalms 139:5 - "Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me."

Psalms 139:5 - "Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me."

Psalms 139:13 - "For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb."

Psalms 139:13 - "For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb."

Psalms 139:2 - "Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off."

Psalms 139:2 - "Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off."

Psalms 139:3 - "Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways."

Psalms 139:3 - "Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways."

Psalms 119:139 - "My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words."

Psalms 119:139 - "My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words."

Psalms 139:10 - "Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me."

Psalms 139:10 - "Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me."

Psalms 139:11 - "If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me."

Psalms 139:11 - "If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me."

"My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words." - Psalms 119:139

"My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words." - Psalms 119:139

Psalms 139:12 - "Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee."

Psalms 139:12 - "Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee."

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:" - Psalms 139:23

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:" - Psalms 139:23

Psalms 139:7 - "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?"

Psalms 139:7 - "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?"