How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

PSALMS 139:17KJV
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Psalms 139:17 (KJV)

What does Psalms 139:17 mean?

Psalms 139:17 expresses amazement at how valuable and numerous God’s thoughts are toward the person praying. The verse highlights that God’s care and attention are both precious and beyond counting.

King David is speaking directly to God, reflecting on how deeply and constantly God thinks about him. This comes in the middle of a psalm where David marvels at God’s knowledge of every detail of his life. The verse emphasizes not just the number of God’s thoughts, but their worth—David sees God’s attention as something to treasure.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 139:17

  • "Precious" (יָקָר, yaqar) means something highly valued or costly. David is not just counting God’s thoughts, but calling them a treasure—something to be cherished.
  • "Thoughts" (רֵעַ, rea‘) refers to intentions, plans, or considerations. This word points to God’s ongoing care and purposeful attention, not just passing ideas.
  • "God" (אֵל, El) is a name that highlights God’s power and might, reminding the reader that the One thinking about them is the all-powerful Creator.
  • "Great" (עָצַם, ‘atsam) means to be vast, mighty, or numerous. David is struck by the sheer abundance of God’s thoughts.
  • "Sum" (רֹאשׁ, rosh) literally means “head” or “total.” Here, it points to the total number or the entirety of God’s thoughts, stressing their overwhelming quantity.

Why Psalms 139:17 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that God is distant or uninterested; instead, it shows God’s thoughts toward each person are both personal and valuable.
  • The emphasis on both the quality (“precious”) and quantity (“great is the sum”) of God’s thoughts highlights the depth of God’s care.
  • In the wider passage, this verse fits into David’s meditation on God’s intimate knowledge and presence, reinforcing the theme that God is always attentive and involved in every detail of a person’s life.

Where else these words appear

“thoughts” Hebrew H7454 · used in 2 verses

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

“precious” Hebrew H3365 · used in 11 verses

  • 1 Samuel 18:30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
  • 2 Kings 1:14 Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.
  • Proverbs 25:17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

“great” Hebrew H6105 · used in 20 verses

  • Genesis 26:16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.
  • Psalms 69:4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.
  • Jeremiah 15:8 Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city.