Psalm 139

Psalm 139 ( = Psalm 138 according to the numbering of the Septuagint and Vulgate ) is a Psalm from the Bible's Book of Psalms. He is known for his expressive and poetic images and was set to music, among other many times.

The first verse of the psalm writes to the Israelite King David.

Position in the Psalter and historical context

Psalm 139 EU belongs to the group of eight so-called " Psalms of David " (Ps. 138-145 ) within the 5th book of Psalms collection. The Psalms of David ( see also the further collection Ps 3-41 ) are characterized by the same write-up לְדָוִד ( leDavid ) in verse 1 of. The term is traditionally used as an indication of authorship ( " le- auctoris " ) understood and translated as " David ". The preposition le can also be " for" or "above" mean and then referred to the Messianic significance of the psalm for the Jewish people. In the historical-critical exegesis authorship of David can be excluded to Ps 139 and adopted a late date in the sapiential context of Judaism. This is the text is not before the 5th century. have arisen BC.

Content

The psalm describes how close God made man from the beginning was. He developed a theology of creation that makes him appear not only creator of the world as a whole or as a process, but each person. Thus, it is God who has a human being in the womb formed. God appears as the Omniscient and Omnipresent, but everyone knows each and affirmed as wonderful.

This psalm is God - centered and not man - centered. God appears as the all-knowing (verses 1-4), the incomprehensible, omnipresent - on spatial ( verses 5-12) Almighty Creator (verses 13-18). It ends with the utter renunciation of all David's wicked and the complete surrender to God, trusting in his ability to guide him into eternity into (v. 19-24).

Especially verse 5 ( From all sides you surround me, and thine hand upon me. ) And verse 9 to 11 ( If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost sea, so your hand would lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me there as well. ) are popular Taufsprüche because they award to the person being baptized protection and grip.

The psalm (see the image of God ) is often reduced to the Big Father motif, which in a next step, either positively interpreted as Big Father Takes Care or negative as Big Father is watching us.

Musical settings

  • Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): Search me, O God, and know my heart, Cantata on the eighth Sunday after Trinity ( BWV 136)
  • Paul Blumenthal (1843-1930): Psalm 139 (verses 23 and 24)
  • Johann Nepomuk David (1895-1977): Psalm 139 ( "Lord, thou hast searched me " ) for mixed choir
  • Ernst Pepping (1901-1981): The 139th Psalm ( "Lord, thou hast searched me " ) for alto solo, mixed choir and orchestra 4stimmigen
  • Franz Koglmann (* 1947): Psalm 139 for soprano, trumpet, trombone and tuba
  • David Evan Thomas (* 1958): The Wings of the Morning ( " O Lord, thou hast searched me"; 2003) for medium voice and piano. Text: English in the King James Version
  • Rudi Spring (* 1962): Psalm 139 (Op. 68c; 1997) for alto, mixed unison choir and organ. Text: German by Martin Buber
  • Goals Wilhelm Aas (* 1957): Your love ( album "Get together " Oslo Gospel Choir ) 4 -voice for the gospel choir. Text: German by Mary B. Wenger / Stephanie Klein Your Love
Wisdom literature Erforsche mich, Gott, und erfahre mein Herz, BWV 136 Franz Rosenzweig Erich Zenger Psalm 2 Psalm 3 Psalm 4 Psalm 5 Psalm 6 Psalm 7 Psalm 8 Psalm 9 Psalm 11 Psalm 12 Psalm 53 Psalm 15 Psalm 16 Psalm 17 Psalm 18 Psalm 19 Psalm 20 Psalm 21 Psalm 22 Psalm 25 Psalm 26 Psalm 27 Psalm 28 Psalm 29 Psalm 30 Psalm 31 Psalm 32 Psalm 34 Psalm 39 Psalm 44 Psalm 49 Psalm 54 Psalm 57 Psalm 58 Psalm 59 Psalm 60 Psalm 61 Psalm 62 Psalm 67 Psalm 69 Psalm 75 Psalm 76 Psalm 77 Psalm 79 Psalm 82 Psalm 83 Psalm 84 Psalm 85 Psalm 86 Psalm 87 Psalm 88 Psalm 89 Psalm 90 Psalm 91 Psalm 93 Psalm 94 Psalm 95 Psalm 96 Psalm 97 Psalm 98 Psalm 103 Psalm 104 Psalm 110 Psalm 113 Psalm 117 Psalm 119 Psalm 121 Psalm 122 Psalm 123 Psalm 124 Psalm 137 Psalm 146 Psalm 147 Psalm 150 Psalm 151
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