TRV
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Psalms 139:7–16. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
It is of great use to us to know the certainty of the things wherein we have been instructed, that we may not only believe them, but be able to tell why we believe them, and to give a reason of the hope that is in us. David is sure that God perfectly knows him and all his ways,
I.Because he is always under his eye.
If God is omnipresent, he must needs be omniscient; but he is omnipresent; this supposes the infinite and immensity of his being, from which follows the ubiquity of his presence; heaven and earth include the whole creation, and the Creator fills both (Jer 23:24); he not only knows both, and governs both, but he fills both. Every part of the creation is under God's intuition and influence. David here acknowledges this also with application and sees himself thus open before God.
1.No flight can remove us out of God's presence: "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit, from thy presence, that is, from thy spiritual presence, from thyself, who art a Spirit?" God is a Spirit, and therefore it is folly to think that because we cannot see him he cannot see us: Whither shall I flee from thy presence? Not that he desired to go away from God; no, he desired nothing more than to be near him; but he only puts the case, "Suppose I should be so foolish as to think of getting out of thy sight, that I might shake off the awe of thee, suppose I should think of revolting from my obedience to thee, or of disowning a dependence on thee and of shifting for myself, alas! whither can I go?" A heathen could say, Quocunque te flexeris, ibi Deum videbis occurrentem tibi - Whithersoever thou turnest thyself, thou wilt see God meeting thee. Seneca. He specifies the most remote and distant places, and counts upon meeting God in them.
(1.)In heaven: "If I ascend thither, as I hope to do shortly, thou art there, and it will be my eternal bliss to be with thee there." Heaven is a vast large place, replenished with an innumerable company, and yet there is no escaping God's eye there, in any corner, or in any crowd. The inhabitants of that world have as necessary a dependence upon God, and lie as open to his strict scrutiny, as the inhabitants of this.
(2.)In hell - in Sheol, which may be understood of the depth of the earth, the very centre of it. Should we dig as deep as we can under ground, and think to hide ourselves there, we should be mistaken; God knows that path which the vulture's eye never saw, and to him the earth is all surface. Or it may be understood of the state of the dead. When we are removed out of the sight of all living, yet not out of the sight of the living God; from his eye we cannot hide ourselves in the grave. Or it maybe understood of the place of the damned: If I make my bed in hell (an uncomfortable place to make a bed in, where there is no rest day or night, yet thousands will make their bed for ever in those flames), behold, thou art there, in thy power and justice. God's wrath is the fire which will there burn everlastingly, Rev 14:10.
(3.)In the remotest corners of this world: "If I take the wings of the morning, the rays of the morning-light (called the wings of the sun, Mal 4:2), than which nothing more swift, and flee upon them to the uttermost parts of the sea, or of the earth (Job 38:12, Job 38:13), should I flee to the most distant and obscure islands (the ultima Thule, the Terra incognita), I should find thee there; there shall thy hand lead me, as far as I go, and thy right hand hold me, that I can go no further, that I cannot go out of thy reach." God soon arrested Jonah when he fled to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
2.No veil can hide us from God's eye, no, not that of the thickest darkness, Psa 139:11, Psa 139:12. "If I say, Yet the darkness shall cover me, when nothing else will, alas! I find myself deceived; the curtains of the evening will stand me in no more stead than the wings of the morning; even the night shall be light about me. That which often favours the escape of a pursued criminal, and the retreat of a beaten army, will do me no kindness in fleeing from them." When God divided between the light and darkness it was with a reservation of this prerogative, that to himself the darkness and the light should still be both alike. "The darkness darkeneth not from thee, for there is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves." No hypocritical mask or disguise, how specious soever, can save any person or action from appearing in a true light before God. Secret haunts of sin are as open before God as the most open and barefaced villanies.
II.Because he is the work of his hands.
He that framed the engine knows all the motions of it. God made us, and therefore no doubt he knows us; he saw us when we were in the forming, and can we be hidden from him now that we are formed? This argument he insists upon (Psa 139:13-16): "Thou hast possessed my reins; thou art Master of my most secret thoughts and intentions, and the innermost recesses of my soul; thou not only knowest, but governest, them, as we do that which we have possession of; and the possession thou hast of my reins is a rightful possession, for thou coveredst me in my mother's womb, that is, thou madest me (Job 10:11), thou madest me in secret. The soul is concealed form all about us. Who knows the things of a man, save the spirit of a man?" Co1 2:11. Hence we read of the hidden man of the heart. But it was God himself that thus covered us, and therefore he can, when he pleases, discover us; when he hid us from all the world he did not intend to hide us from himself. Concerning the formation of man, of each of us,
1.The glory of it is here given to God, entirely to him; for it is he that has made us and not we ourselves. "I will praise thee, the author of my being; my parents were only the instruments of it." It was done,
(1.)Under the divine inspection: My substance, when hid in the womb, nay, when it was yet but in fieri - in the forming, an unshapen embryo, was not hidden from thee; thy eyes did see my substance.
(2.)By the divine operation. As the eye of God saw us then, so his hand wrought us; we were his work.
(3.)According to the divine model: In thy book all my members were written. Eternal wisdom formed the plan, and by that almighty power raised the noble structure.
2.Glorious things are here said concerning it. The generation of man is to be considered with the same pious veneration as his creation at first. Consider it,
(1.)As a great marvel, a great miracle we might call it, but that it is done in the ordinary course of nature. We are fearfully and wonderfully made; we may justly be astonished at the admirable contrivance of these living temples, the composition of every part, and the harmony of all together.
(2.)As a great mystery, a mystery of nature: My soul knows right well that it is marvellous, but how to describe it for any one else I know not; for I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the womb as in the lowest parts of the earth, so privately, and so far out of sight.
(3.)As a great mercy, that all our members in continuance were fashioned, according as they were written in the book of God's wise counsel, when as yet there was none of them; or, as some read it, and none of them was left out. If any of our members had been wanting in God's book, they would have been wanting in our bodies, but, through his goodness, we have all our limbs and sense, the want of any of which might have made us burdens to ourselves. See what reason we have then to praise God for our creation, and to conclude that he who saw our substance when it was unfashioned sees it now that it is fashioned.
Historical interpretation
Two Centuries of Reception
5 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
It is said also by those who treat of the nature and generation of animals, that the change of the blood into bone is something invisible and intangible, although in the case of other parts, I mean the flesh and nerves, the mode of their formation may be seen. And the Scripture also, in Ecclesiastes, adduces this, saying, As you know not the bones in the womb of her that is with child, so you shall not know the works of God. But from You was not hid even my substance, as it was originally in the lowest parts of the earth.
Let them not persuade themselves that they should not do penance, who, although they have not contaminated their hands by impious sacrifices, yet have defiled their consciences with certificates. That profession is of one who denies; the testimony is of a Christian who rejects what he had been. He said that he had done what another actually did, and, although it is written, “You cannot serve two masters,” he served a secular master, he submitted to his edict, he obeyed human authority rather than God. He should have seen whether he published what he committed with less scandal or less guilt among people; however, he will not be able to escape and avoid God as his judge, for the Holy Spirit says in the Psalms, “Your eyes have seen my imperfection, and all will be written in your book,” and again, “People look on the face, but God [looks] on the heart. Let the Lord himself also forewarn and instruct you with these words: “And all the churches shall know that I am he who searches the desires and hearts.” He perceives the concealed and the secret and considers the hidden, nor can anyone evade the eyes of God who says, “Am I a God at hand, and not a God afar off? Shall a person be hid in secret places and I not see him?” He sees the hearts and breasts of each one, and, when about to pass judgment not only on our deeds but also on our words and thoughts, he looks into the minds and the wills conceived in the very recess of a still closed heart.
Watch, for when the body is sleeping it is nature that holds sway over us, and our activity is directed not by our wills but by the impulse of nature. When a heavy torpor of weakness and sadness rules over the soul, it is the enemy who holds sway over it and leads it against its own desire. It is force that holds sway over nature and the enemy who holds sway over the soul. That is why our Lord spoke of vigilance of soul and of body lest the body sink into a heavy sleep and the soul into a sluggishness born of timidity; just as [Scripture] says, “Let justice awaken you,” and, “When I awake I am still with you,” and, “Do not lose heart.” This is why “we do not lose heart” in the ministry confided to us.
Therefore the Lord supported us when he fashioned us; he supports us also when he bids us to be born. Consequently, the just person says, “You have supported me from my mother’s womb.” Whose mother’s? “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” Those, whom the Lord forms, he also supports; he supports them even in their coming forth: “And before you came forth from your mother’s womb, I sanctified you.” He is our supporter, for he has supported us with his hands. He is called a supporter as the Creator of the human race. And he is our supporter, for he has supported us by his visitation, that he may protect us. In view of this, the psalmist himself says in another passage, “He that dwells in the aid of the most High shall say to the Lord, ‘You are my supporter and my refuge.’ ” The first support is that of God’s working in us, the second in that of his protection of us. Indeed, listen to Moses saying, “Spreading his wings he received them and supported them upon his shoulders.” He supported them like the eagle, which was accustomed to examine its progeny, so as to keep and to bring up those whom it observed to possess the qualities of a true offspring and the gift of an undamaged constitution and to reject those in whom it detected weakness of a degenerate origin even at that tender age.
"My bone is not hid from You, which You have made in secret" [Psalm 139:15]. "His bone," he says. What the people call ossum, is in Latin called os. This is the word in the Greek. For we might think the word os is here the one which makes in the plural ora, not os (short), which makes ossa. He says then, I have a certain bone (ossum) in secret. For this word let us prefer to use; better is it that scholars find fault with us, than that the people understand us not. "There is then," says he, a certain bone of mine, within, hidden; You have made within a bone for me in secret, yet is it not hidden from You. In secret have You made it, but have You therefore hidden it from Yourself? This my bone made by You in secret men see not, men know not: You know, who hast made. What "bone" then means he, brethren? Let us seek it, it is "in secret." But because as Christians we are speaking in the Name of the Lord to Christians, now we find what bone is of this kind. It is a sort of inward strength; for strength and fortitude are understood to be in the bones. There is then a sort of inward strength of the soul, wherein it is not broken. Whatever tortures, whatever tribulations, whatever adversities rage around, that which God has made strong in secret in us, cannot be broken, yields not. For by God is made a certain strength of patience, of which is said in another Psalm, "But my soul shall be subjected to God, for of Him is my patience.". ..Wherein do you glory? "In tribulations, knowing that tribulation works patience." [Romans 4:5] See how that strength is fashioned within in his heart: "because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." So is fashioned and made strong that hidden bone, that it makes us even to glory in tribulations. But to men we seem wretched, because that which we have within is hidden from them. "And my substance is in the lower parts of the earth." Behold, in flesh is my substance, yet have I a bone within, which You have fashioned, such as to cause me never to yield to any persecutions of this lower region, where still my substance is. For what great matter is it, if an Angel be brave? This is a great matter, if flesh is brave. And whence is flesh brave, whence is an earthen vessel brave, save because in it is made a bone in secret?
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Summary
Psalms 139:15 offers a profound testament to God's intimate and exhaustive knowledge of human formation, even from its most nascent and hidden stages. The psalmist expresses awe at the divine precision and artistry involved in the creation of his very being, declaring that his physical substance and intricate development were never concealed from the all-seeing eyes of God, even within the secret confines of the womb. This verse powerfully underscores the deep personal relationship between the Creator and His creation, highlighting God's meticulous, purposeful involvement in every individual's existence from conception.
Context
Literary Context
Psalms 139 is a magnificent psalm of wisdom and praise, traditionally attributed to David, which systematically explores the immutable attributes of God. The psalm commences with an awe-filled meditation on God's omniscience, detailing His complete knowledge of the psalmist's thoughts, words, and paths, emphasizing that no aspect of human existence escapes His divine gaze, as seen in Psalms 139:1-6. This transitions seamlessly into God's omnipresence, asserting that there is no place one can flee from His Spirit or presence, whether in the heights of heaven, the depths of Sheol, or the uttermost parts of the sea, even darkness cannot hide from Him (Psalms 139:7-12). Verse 15 directly follows and expands upon the theme of God's intricate involvement in human creation, building on the preceding declaration in Psalms 139:13-14 that God "knit me together in my mother's womb" and that the psalmist is "fearfully and wonderfully made." This verse, therefore, serves as a powerful continuation and reinforcement of the divine hand in the very genesis of life, solidifying the psalm's celebration of God's creative power and intimate knowledge of His creation.
Historical & Cultural Context
In ancient Israel, while the biological intricacies of conception and gestation were not understood with modern scientific precision, the profound mystery of life's formation within the womb was deeply acknowledged as a divine act. The womb was considered a sacred, hidden, and mysterious place where only God worked His wonders. Unlike surrounding pagan cultures that might attribute life's origins to various deities or impersonal forces, Israelite theology consistently affirmed Yahweh as the unique and sole Creator of all life, including human beings. This monotheistic perspective imbued human life, from its earliest stages, with inherent dignity, purpose, and sacredness, as it was directly fashioned by the Almighty. The vivid imagery of "curiously wrought" (embroidered or woven) would have resonated deeply in a culture where textile arts were highly valued and understood as requiring immense skill, patience, and intricate design. This metaphor powerfully conveyed the deliberate, artistic, and detailed nature of God's creative work, elevating human formation to a divine masterpiece.
Key Themes
Psalms 139:15 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the psalm and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it profoundly reinforces the theme of Divine Omniscience and Intimacy, demonstrating that God's knowledge extends not just to our actions and thoughts, but to our very physical formation from the moment of conception. This profound intimacy is echoed in prophetic declarations like Jeremiah 1:5, where God states, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you." Secondly, the verse highlights the Miracle of Human Creation as a direct, personal act of God, not a random occurrence. The language used emphasizes the deliberate and purposeful design behind every individual life, affirming that each person is a unique and intentional creation. Thirdly, the concept of being "curiously wrought" speaks to God's Meticulous Handiwork, portraying human beings as masterpieces of divine artistry, intricately designed and uniquely fashioned. This theme underscores the inherent value and uniqueness of each person as a creation of God, a sentiment foundational to understanding human dignity and worth throughout the biblical narrative, from the initial creation account in Genesis 1 to the new creation in Christ.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
From the root meaning "power" or "might," this word in context refers to the essential framework, the very core, or the developing physical body of a person, even in its embryonic or fetal state. It denotes the robust structure of one's being, emphasizing that even this foundational element, in its nascent form, was not hidden from God. It conveys the idea of the developing physical entity, the nascent form of the individual.
This primitive root means "to secrete, by act or word," or "to conceal." Its use here emphatically states that nothing about the psalmist's formation was unknown, invisible, or kept secret from God. Despite the natural hiddenness of the womb, God's gaze penetrated every stage of development, signifying His absolute transparency and intimate involvement in the creative process.
A primitive root meaning "to variegate color," "to embroider," or "to fabricate." This powerful verb conjures the image of a skilled artisan meticulously weaving a complex tapestry with diverse colors and patterns. It suggests that human formation is not a simple assembly of parts, but an intricate, detailed, and artistic work of divine craftsmanship, where every fiber and feature is intentionally designed and interwoven with precision, beauty, and purpose.
Verse Breakdown
"My substance was not hid from thee"
This opening clause immediately establishes God's comprehensive, all-encompassing knowledge of the psalmist's physical being, even before it fully formed. The "substance" refers to the developing body, the skeletal and organic framework that would become a person. The declaration that it "was not hid from thee" asserts God's omnipresent and omniscient gaze penetrating the most concealed stages of human development, affirming that nothing about our origins or intricate makeup is unknown to Him.
"when I was made in secret"
This phrase precisely describes the context of human formation – the mother's womb. It is a "secret" place, hidden from human eyes, a realm of profound biological mystery and privacy. The word "made" (Hebrew, ʻâsâh') signifies God's active, purposeful, and deliberate involvement in the creation process, emphasizing that He is the primary agent of this hidden work. It highlights the wonder of prenatal development as a divinely orchestrated process, occurring outside of human observation but fully within God's sight and control.
"and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth"
This climactic clause employs vivid and evocative imagery to describe the meticulous nature of God's creative work. "Curiously wrought" (Hebrew, râqam') evokes the image of intricate embroidery or weaving, suggesting a highly detailed, artistic, and deliberate design process, where every component is carefully integrated. The phrase "in the lowest parts of the earth" is a poetic Metaphor for the womb, symbolizing a deep, hidden, and foundational place. It draws a parallel between the deep, concealed places of the earth (like subterranean caverns or mines where precious things are formed) and the womb, reinforcing its sacred and mysterious nature as the site of divine creation. This imagery underscores the complexity, beauty, and intentionality of God's hand in fashioning each individual, emphasizing that human life is a masterpiece of divine design.
Literary Devices
Psalms 139:15 is rich with literary devices that amplify its profound theological message. The most prominent is Metaphor, particularly in the phrase "in the lowest parts of the earth," which serves as a powerful and poetic representation of the mother's womb. This metaphor emphasizes the hidden, foundational, and mysterious nature of prenatal development, likening it to the deep, concealed places where precious elements or intricate geological formations might occur. Furthermore, the phrase "curiously wrought" employs vivid Imagery, drawing on the ancient craft of an embroiderer or weaver. This imagery conveys the idea that human life is not merely assembled but is intricately designed and artfully woven together by divine hands, suggesting precision, beauty, and deliberate purpose in every detail of our being. This also implies a degree of Anthropomorphism, attributing human-like artistic skill, meticulousness, and intentionality to God, making His creative act more relatable and awe-inspiring. The entire verse uses Hyperbole to emphasize God's absolute omniscience, stating that nothing was hidden from Him, even in the most concealed and nascent stages of life, thereby magnifying His unparalleled knowledge and involvement.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Psalms 139:15 offers profound theological insights into the nature of God and humanity. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty and meticulous involvement in the creation of every human life, affirming that life is not accidental but divinely purposed and intricately designed from conception. This verse establishes the inherent dignity and value of every individual, as each is a unique masterpiece of God's handiwork, known and loved by Him even before birth. It speaks to God's omnipresence and omniscience extending to the most private and hidden aspects of our existence, providing a deep sense of security, belonging, and divine care. The imagery of "curiously wrought" elevates human creation to an art form, highlighting God's creative genius, personal investment, and the profound beauty He infuses into each person.
Reflection and Application
Psalms 139:15 provides immense comfort and a foundational truth for personal identity and worth. To know that our "substance was not hid" from God, and that we were "curiously wrought" by Him in the deepest secrecy of the womb, transforms our understanding of ourselves. It means our existence is not a random occurrence but a deliberate, artistic act of the divine Creator. This truth instills profound confidence and security, reminding us that we are known, seen, and valued by God from our very beginnings. It calls us to embrace our unique design, recognizing that every detail of our being was intentionally fashioned by a loving and infinitely wise God. Furthermore, this verse has significant implications for the sanctity of life, affirming that life, from conception onward, is sacred because it is a direct product of God's creative hand and purpose. It challenges us to view ourselves and others with the same reverence and value that God places upon His intricate handiwork, fostering humility, gratitude, and a deep appreciation for the miracle of life and the divine Artist behind it all.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "lowest parts of the earth" mean in this verse?
The phrase "lowest parts of the earth" is a poetic metaphor for the mother's womb. It does not refer to a literal subterranean location, but rather to the deep, hidden, and private place where human life is conceived and developed. This imagery emphasizes the profound mystery and secrecy of prenatal formation, yet simultaneously highlights that even in this most concealed space, God's presence and meticulous creative work are fully active and visible to Him. It draws a parallel between the hidden depths of the earth, where precious things might be formed, and the sacred, life-giving environment of the womb, underscoring its foundational role in human existence.
Does Psalms 139:15 support the sanctity of life from conception?
Yes, Psalms 139:15 is widely understood to strongly support the sanctity of life from conception. By declaring that the psalmist's "substance was not hid" from God and that he was "curiously wrought" (intricately designed and fashioned) while "made in secret" within the womb, the verse emphasizes God's personal and active involvement in the formation of an individual from its earliest stages. This implies that human life, even in its embryonic or fetal state, is known, valued, and purposed by God, thus possessing inherent dignity and sacredness from its very beginning. This divine perspective on the origins of life provides a powerful biblical foundation for affirming the value of all human life, as God is intimately involved in its very formation.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Psalms 139:15, with its profound declaration of God's intimate and artistic involvement in human creation, finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in Jesus Christ. He is not merely the subject of God's meticulous creation, but the very agent and blueprint of it. Colossians 1:16 declares that "by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible... all things were created through him and for him." Thus, the divine hand that "curiously wrought" the psalmist in the womb is none other than the pre-existent Son, the Word through whom all things came into being (John 1:3). Moreover, Christ perfectly embodies the "substance" of humanity, meticulously formed and without blemish, taking on flesh in the womb of Mary through the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35). He is the ultimate "curiously wrought" masterpiece, the perfect image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15), fully human yet without sin, uniquely designed to reconcile humanity to God. Through His incarnation, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection, Christ not only validates the sacredness of human life from its very beginning but also offers the promise of a new creation, where those who are "in Christ" become new creations, intricately remade by the Holy Spirit for God's redemptive purposes (2 Corinthians 5:17). Thus, the wonder of our initial creation in the womb points forward to the even greater wonder of our spiritual recreation in Christ, where we are perfectly known and perfectly remade by our Divine Creator and Redeemer.