· Translation: KJV

Psalms 139:6This knowledge is beyond me. It's lofty. I can't attain it.

The setting

Jerusalem, ~1000 BC. David pauses mid-psalm, mentally exhausted trying to comprehend God's omniscience. Modern-day Jerusalem, Israel.

The emotion here: mentally overwhelmed but worshipful, like staring at the night sky

The original word

niplā'āh (נפלאה) — too wonderful, beyond human capacity to grasp

Why it matters

David was considered the wisest king of his era, yet admits intellectual defeat

Read with care

What most readers miss in Psalms 139:6

This isn't frustration - it's wonder. Like a child marveling at the ocean's vastness

Common misconceptionPeople think this shows David's frustration with God's mystery. Actually, David is celebrating it - he's relieved he doesn't have to figure God out completely.

Bible Genome reading

Psalms 139:6 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerDavid
EraUnited Kingdom
Primary emotionworship
Literary typepsalm
MarkPrayer

Emotional genome

Comfort power60%
Quotability85%
Memorability85%
Crisis relevance60%
Standalone80%
Themes:human limitationdivine transcendence

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open Psalms 139

Psalms 139:6 comes from the book of Psalms, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to David. The dominant emotion in this verse is worship, with a comfort power of 60% and a tone that is reverent. It belongs to the psalm genre of biblical literature. Key themes include human limitation, divine transcendence. Notable phrases: knowledge is beyond me; too lofty; can't attain it. This verse is a prayer.

Your reflection

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