Psalms 138:5

Verse 5. Last. Hebrew “what are behind and before:” or, joining it with the sequel, “thou hast formed behind,” and so forth which seems not so noble. Bert.—See Job 10:18.—Chal. “thou hast afflicted me before and behind, and hast stricken me with thy hand.” Hence the Rabbins have ridiculously inferred that God reduced the extraordinary size of Adam after his sin to 100 cubits! The sense of the Chal. may be adopted, though the hand upon me, in Hebrew may also signify the divine protection Psalms 79:18.