KJV ORIGINAL
Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
You have surrounded me on all sides—behind me and in front of me—and placed your hand upon me.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The writer is expressing that God completely surrounds and covers him with His presence and protection.
📚 Historical Context
This is part of Psalm 139, traditionally attributed to King David, which is one of the most intimate psalms about God's complete knowledge and presence. In ancient Hebrew culture, the image of being 'surrounded' by God would have conveyed both protection and inescapable divine presence. The laying on of hands was a gesture of blessing, commissioning, or divine touch in Hebrew tradition.
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