Psalm 139:13 kjv
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13 nkjv
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13 niv
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13 esv
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13 nlt
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother's womb.
Psalm 139 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 1:5 | “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you..." | God's pre-conception knowledge and purpose. |
| Isa 49:1 | “Before I was born the Lord called me; from my mother’s womb he has been mindful of me..." | Divine calling and attention from the womb. |
| Ps 22:9-10 | "Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust when I was on my mother’s breasts. On you was I cast from birth..." | God's role in safe delivery and early life reliance. |
| Job 10:8-12 | "Your hands fashioned and made me... Did you not pour me out like milk... clothed me with skin and flesh... granted me life and steadfast love..." | Detailed divine creation of the body. |
| Ecc 11:5 | "As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything." | Mystery of life's formation as God's work. |
| Isa 44:2 | "Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you..." | God as the Maker and Former from the womb. |
| Gen 1:27 | "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." | Humanity created by God. |
| Gen 2:7 | "then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life..." | God's hands-on formation of life. |
| Eph 2:10 | "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand..." | Believers as God's workmanship, with purpose. |
| Ps 139:14 | "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works..." | Continuation: Acknowledging the wondrous design of God. |
| Isa 64:8 | "But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand." | God as the potter, humanity as His creation. |
| Rom 9:20 | "But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have you made me like this?'" | God's sovereignty over His creation. |
| Lk 1:41, 44 | "...when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. ...for behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy." | Recognition of personhood and life in the womb. |
| Ex 21:22-25 | "When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman... and a miscarriage results, then if there is no further harm, he shall be fined... If any further harm results, then you shall give life for life..." | Legal protection of the unborn (implied value). |
| Ps 71:6 | "From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb..." | God's lifelong sustenance and origin. |
| Gal 1:15 | "But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace..." | Paul's pre-birth setting apart by God. |
| Job 31:15 | "Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?" | Shared humanity created by one God. |
| Ps 119:73 | "Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments." | God as creator of mind and body. |
| Ps 51:5 | "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me." | Acknowledgment of conception and human fallen state. |
| Ps 100:3 | "Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his..." | God as the Creator and Owner of all people. |
| Isa 43:7 | "everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." | God creates and forms for His glory. |
Psalm 139 verses
Psalm 139 13 Meaning
Psalm 139:13 declares that God, in His sovereign power and intimate knowledge, purposefully formed the psalmist's deepest being while he was still in his mother's womb. It underscores the belief that every individual is not a product of chance but is meticulously designed and intricately "knitted" by the divine Creator even before birth, emphasizing His personal involvement in the origin of each life.
Psalm 139 13 Context
Psalm 139 is a magnificent hymn of individual thanksgiving, focusing on the pervasive knowledge, presence, and power of God. The preceding verses (1-12) establish God's omniscience (His exhaustive knowledge of all thoughts and actions), omnipresence (His presence in all places, inescapable), and omnipotence (His ability to act everywhere). Verse 13 transitions from God knowing the psalmist now to His intimate involvement in the psalmist's formation before birth. It provides the foundational reason for God's extensive knowledge: He created the individual from their very beginnings. Historically, this affirmation stood in contrast to surrounding pagan cultures, which often attributed creation to multiple, often capricious, deities or impersonal forces. The psalmist asserts the personal, caring, and all-knowing involvement of the one true God in the specific and unique formation of each human being.
Psalm 139 13 Word analysis
- For (`kî`, כִּי): A causal conjunction, meaning "because," "for," or "indeed." It introduces the reason or explanation for the Lord's profound knowledge of the psalmist mentioned in the preceding verses. God knows the psalmist thoroughly because He meticulously fashioned him.
- You (`’attâ`, אַתָּה): Emphasizes God (Yahweh), the direct, personal subject of the action. This highlights the intensely personal relationship and involvement of God in the creation of the psalmist.
- created / formed / possessed (`qānîtā`, קָנִיתָ): Derived from the verb `qanāh` (קָנָה). While `qanāh` commonly means "to buy" or "to acquire" (implying ownership), in contexts relating to birth and formation, it often means "to get," "to produce," or "to create" in a skilled, purposeful manner. It suggests that God not only brought the psalmist into being but also possesses or owns him by virtue of being his Creator, signifying divine prerogative and meticulous formation, not merely casual production.
- my inmost parts / my kidneys (`kilyōtay`, כִּלְיוֹתָ֑י): "Kidneys" (kilya) in Hebrew thought, particularly in wisdom literature, are often seen as the seat of deep emotion, will, and conscience—the core or secret part of one's being, distinct from the visible external self. So, "inmost parts" conveys the comprehensive extent of God's work, forming not just the physical body but the very essence of the individual's inner self and emotional landscape.
- You knit me together / You wove me / You covered me (`tissakēnī`, תְּסֻכֵּ֣נִי): Derived from the verb `sākhakh` (סָכַךְ), which means "to cover," "to hedge about," "to protect," or "to interweave." This vivid metaphorical image paints a picture of intricate, detailed, and purposeful construction. Like a skilled weaver or knitter creates a complex fabric strand by strand, God meticulously assembled and integrated every part of the psalmist's being. This highlights divine artistry, delicate care, and perfect design in human formation.
- in my mother’s womb (`bǝ-beṭen immî`, בְּבֶ֥טֶן אִמִּֽי): Specifies the exact location and period of this divine work. `Beṭen` refers to the "belly" or "womb." This phrase explicitly declares that God's detailed creative activity occurred prenatally, from the very earliest stages of development, affirming the existence and formation of human life within the maternal embrace. This asserts God's presence and activity even in the hidden, mysterious process of embryonic development.
- "For you created my inmost parts": This phrase establishes the foundational truth that God is the source of our being. The act of "creating" here is not just an impersonal formation, but implies an intimate ownership and profound knowledge, suggesting that God designed the deepest, most intricate aspects of our inner life.
- "You knit me together in my mother's womb": This poetic and highly descriptive phrase is central. It emphasizes the intricate, delicate, and purposeful nature of God's work in human formation. "Knitting" evokes images of precise arrangement, interlocking structures, and unique design. It signifies that human beings are not accidents of nature but masterpieces of divine craftsmanship, formed in the protected, initial stages of life. This strongly implies the value and personal nature of life from conception onward.
Psalm 139 13 Bonus section
This verse serves as a crucial theological foundation for the Christian perspective on the sanctity of human life from conception. The vivid imagery of God "knitting" a person in the womb points to the unparalleled complexity, beauty, and individuality of human biological and spiritual makeup. It implies intentionality and foreknowledge on God's part regarding each person's unique DNA, physiology, and inner disposition. The "inmost parts" (kilyotay) being the focus further emphasizes God's complete and intimate knowledge not only of our physical form but also our deepest inclinations and constitution. This Psalm stands against any view that devalues nascent human life, presenting conception and gestation as a period of profound divine activity and intentional person-making.
Psalm 139 13 Commentary
Psalm 139:13 is a profound statement on God's sovereignty and intricate involvement in human life, even from its inception. It reveals that our very existence is not happenstance, but the result of divine intention and skillful formation. God "created" or "possessed" our deepest being and "knit us together" in the womb. This implies a deliberate, detailed, and caring assembly, akin to a master artisan creating a unique piece of art. The "inmost parts" refer to the core of our being—our will, emotions, and spirit—signifying that God designs us completely, inside and out. The explicit mention of "in my mother's womb" anchors God's creative work to the earliest stage of human development, affirming His personal relationship and formative activity prior to birth. This verse undergirds the biblical understanding of the sanctity and dignity of human life, as each person is uniquely and intentionally made by God.For example, understanding this verse can cultivate a deep sense of personal worth and purpose, knowing one is fearfully and wonderfully made by a loving Creator. It challenges the notion that life is cheap or accidental, highlighting divine design and value inherent in every human being from conception.