Psalms 139:13

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

For thou hast possessed {H7069} my reins {H3629}: thou hast covered {H5526} me in my mother's {H517} womb {H990}.

For you fashioned my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb.

For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

For thou didst form my inward parts: Thou didst cover me in my mother’s womb.

Commentary

Context

Psalm 139 is a profound meditation on God's omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence. The psalmist, David, expresses awe at the Lord's intimate knowledge of his every thought, path, and word (Psalm 139:1-4). Verse 13 shifts focus to God's active role in the psalmist's formation, specifically from conception, emphasizing God's intimate involvement in the very beginning of life.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty in Creation: This verse powerfully asserts God's direct, personal involvement in the creation of human life. It highlights that human existence is not merely a biological accident but a deliberate, divine act of formation.
  • Intimate Knowledge and Care: God's knowledge of us extends to our very conception and development in the womb, showcasing His deep, personal, and continuous care for each individual from the earliest moments of existence.
  • Sanctity of Life: By emphasizing God's meticulous work in forming a person "in my mother's womb," the verse underscores the inherent value, dignity, and sacredness of human life from its earliest stages.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "possessed my reins" translates the Hebrew word kilyah (כִּלְיָה), which literally refers to the kidneys. However, in biblical usage, "reins" or "kidneys" often metaphorically represent the deepest inner parts of a person – the seat of emotions, thoughts, conscience, and the core of one's being. Thus, it implies God's complete understanding and mastery over the psalmist's innermost self.

"Thou hast covered me" comes from the Hebrew verb sakak (סָכַךְ), meaning "to weave," "to knit together," "to hedge about," or "to protect." This vividly portrays God as the divine artisan, meticulously forming and protecting the psalmist within the womb, like a careful covering or an intricate tapestry. This imagery is further developed in the subsequent verse, where the psalmist marvels at being "fearfully and wonderfully made" and how his "substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought" (Psalm 139:15).

Practical Application

This verse offers profound comfort and assurance, reminding us that we are not accidents but divinely purposed creations. It calls us to recognize the inherent dignity and worth of every human being, crafted by God's own hand from the very beginning of life. It encourages trust in God's intimate knowledge and care throughout all stages of life, knowing that He has been intricately involved from our conception. Just as God knew and formed the psalmist, He also knew Jeremiah before he was formed in the womb, demonstrating His foreknowledge and purpose for each individual.

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Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 1:5 (65 votes)

    Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

  • Psalms 119:73 (48 votes)

    ¶ JOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

  • Isaiah 44:2 (45 votes)

    Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, [which] will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.

  • Job 31:15 (35 votes)

    Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?

  • Job 10:9 (31 votes)

    Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?

  • Job 10:12 (31 votes)

    Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.

  • Isaiah 46:3 (28 votes)

    Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne [by me] from the belly, which are carried from the womb: