Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Psalms 50:11

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"I know all the winged creatures of heaven" [Psalm 50:11]. How does He know? He has weighed them, has counted. Which of us knows all the winged creatures of heaven? But even though to some man God give knowledge of all the winged creatures of heaven, He does not Himself know in the same manner as He gives man to know. One thing is God's knowledge, another man's: in like manner as there is one possession of God's, another of man's: that is, God's possessing is one thing, man's another. …

Exposition on Psalm 50 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

With respect to the second he says, "I know all the birds of heaven," that is, these are subject to my providence. By these birds the holy Angels are understood, who are a likeness. With respect to the third he says, "And the beauty of the field is with me," that is, whatever is beautiful in them serves me. Or, "the beauty of the field is with me," because I am everywhere. And [it says] "is," because I always am, without past or future.

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗