Psalms 139:6
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Psalms 139:6
Verse 6: “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.” The psalmist responds with awe and humility to the extent of God’s knowledge. The phrase acknowledges that God’s omniscience surpasses human understanding. Theological culture in ancient Israel valued wisdom but recognized human limits. The stanza invites readers to revere the divine mind, which transcends human categories. The rhetorical purpose is to shift from introspective confession to an expansive, worshipful recognition of God’s infinity. The verse also signals tension: human epistemic boundaries are real; yet God invites relationship through revelation, which gradually unfolds in the rest of the psalm.
This verse anchors the mystery of God’s knowledge. It humanizes faith by acknowledging limits while still praising God’s comprehensive understanding. It also protects the believer from pride: knowing that God’s knowledge exceeds ours keeps us teachable and dependent on divine wisdom. Theologically, it sets up the tension between human striving to know God and God’s incomprehensibility, balanced by God’s self-disclosure in Scripture and in Jesus. It’s a call to humility and wonder, not cessation of pursuit. The knowledge of God remains a Mystery that invites ongoing relationship and trust.
Practically, this verse invites humility in our pursuits—academic, professional, or spiritual. When you encounter complex problems or moral ambiguity, resist the urge to pretend certainty and instead seek God’s wisdom with a posture of learning. Use this as a reminder to avoid spiritual arrogance—recognize that no single person holds all truth. In prayer, approach with reverence, acknowledging that God’s understanding surpasses ours, yet He invites conversation and guidance. In leadership or counseling roles, this can cultivate listening more than prescribing; admit that you may not grasp every motive or complication, but God does, and He can guide us toward truth and mercy.
Cross-References: Isaiah 55:8-9; Job 11:7-9; Romans 11:33-36; 1 Corinthians 13:12; Psalm 145:3