King James Version

What Does Psalms 139:14 Mean?

Psalms 139:14 in the King James Version says “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right we...” — study this verse from Psalms chapter 139 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. right: Heb. greatly”

Psalms 139:14 · KJV

Context

12

Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. hideth: Heb. darkeneth not the darkness and: Heb. as is the darkness, so is the light

13

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

14

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. right: Heb. greatly

15

My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. substance: or, strength, or, body

16

Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. all: Heb. all of them which: or, what days they should be fashioned

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. This verse appears in the middle of Scripture's most intimate exploration of God's omniscience and omnipresence, specifically within a section celebrating God's intimate involvement in human formation (v.13-16).

"I will praise thee" (אוֹדְךָ/odekha) is emphatic future: "I will give thanks, I will confess." This isn't mere acknowledgment but worshipful response to understanding God's creative work. Recognizing how we're made should produce praise.

"Fearfully" (נוֹרָאוֹת/nora'ot) means with fear, reverently, awesomely. The same root describes God's awesome deeds (Exodus 15:11, Deuteronomy 10:21). Human creation evokes the same reverential awe as God's mighty works in history. We're not mere accidents but awesome divine craftsmanship.

"Wonderfully made" (נִפְלֵיתִי/nifleiti) comes from pala, meaning distinguished, set apart, wonderful—describing things beyond human capability. The Niphal form indicates action done to the subject: "I was made wonderful." This isn't self-praise but recognition of God's extraordinary workmanship.

"Marvellous are thy works" (נִפְלָאִים מַעֲשֶׂיךָ/nifla'im ma'asekha) applies the same root to God's works generally. The plural "works" encompasses all creation, but the context emphasizes human formation specifically. The verse preceding describes God "knitting me together in my mother's womb" (v.13).

"That my soul knoweth right well" (וְנַפְשִׁי יֹדַעַת מְאֹד/venafshi yoda'at me'od) indicates deep, experiential knowledge. Me'od (exceedingly, abundantly) intensifies: "my soul knows full well," "knows abundantly." This isn't theoretical knowledge but lived awareness of God's creative care.

The broader context (v.13-16) details God's intimate involvement: forming inward parts, knitting together in the womb, seeing substance while yet unformed, writing all days in His book before any existed. This isn't deistic clockmaker theology but intimate divine involvement in every detail of human formation.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Psalm 139, attributed to David, reflects mature theological understanding of God's omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. Whether written during David's shepherd years, his fugitive period fleeing Saul, or his kingship, the psalm expresses profound awareness of God's comprehensive knowledge and care.

Ancient Near Eastern peoples generally viewed creation positively—humans as divine craftsmanship. But pagan cultures attributed creation to various deities, often through violent conflict (Enuma Elish describes Marduk creating humans from slain god Tiamat's blood). In contrast, Genesis and this psalm present purposeful, loving divine formation.

Greek philosophy introduced body-soul dualism, viewing physical creation as inferior to spiritual. Gnosticism (emerging in first-century Christianity) taught the physical body was evil, trapping the divine spirit. Against this, biblical faith affirms the goodness of material creation, including human bodies.

For Israel, this psalm affirmed each person's value regardless of social status. Ancient cultures often viewed slaves, women, foreigners as inferior. But if all are fearfully and wonderfully made by God, all bear inherent dignity and worth. This had revolutionary social implications.

In Christian theology, this verse supports the sanctity of human life—from conception (v.13-16 describe prenatal development) through natural death. The pro-life movement frequently cites this psalm, seeing God's intimate involvement in prenatal formation as establishing personhood before birth.

Modern science, far from diminishing this truth, amplifies it. DNA complexity, cellular intricacy, neurological sophistication, coordinated biological systems—all reveal staggering design. The Human Genome Project mapped three billion DNA base pairs, each precisely ordered. Such complexity testifies to "fearfully and wonderfully made."

For people struggling with self-worth, body image issues, feeling insignificant or worthless, this verse speaks divine truth: you are God's masterpiece, deliberately crafted, purposefully designed, intimately known, and deeply valued.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does understanding that you are 'fearfully and wonderfully made' affect your view of yourself and others?
  2. What does it mean that God was intimately involved in your formation before birth (v.13-16), and how does this establish human value and dignity?
  3. How should the truth that we're God's workmanship affect how we treat our bodies and view physical creation?
  4. In what ways does modern scientific understanding of human complexity confirm rather than contradict being 'fearfully and wonderfully made'?
  5. How does this psalm's teaching on God's intimate involvement in human formation speak to questions about the sanctity of life, abortion, and bioethics?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 10 words
אֽוֹדְךָ֗1 of 10

“I will praise”

H3034

physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the ha

עַ֤ל2 of 10
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

כִּ֥י3 of 10
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

נוֹרָא֗וֹת4 of 10

“thee for I am fearfully”

H3372

to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten

נִ֫פְלֵ֥יתִי5 of 10

“and wonderfully made”

H6395

to distinguish (literally or figuratively)

נִפְלָאִ֥ים6 of 10

“marvellous”

H6381

properly, perhaps to separate, i.e., distinguish (literally or figuratively); by implication, to be (causatively, make) great, difficult, wonderful

מַעֲשֶׂ֑יךָ7 of 10

“are thy works”

H4639

an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property

וְ֝נַפְשִׁ֗י8 of 10

“and that my soul”

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

יֹדַ֥עַת9 of 10

“knoweth”

H3045

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

מְאֹֽד׃10 of 10

“right well”

H3966

properly, vehemence, i.e., (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Psalms. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Psalms 139:14 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Psalms 139:14 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 1:26-27Psalms 111:2Psalms 104:24Psalms 92:4-5Job 5:9Psalms 40:5

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