Psalm 139 14

Psalm 139:14 kjv

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

Psalm 139:14 nkjv

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.

Psalm 139:14 niv

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 139:14 esv

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 139:14 nlt

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous ? how well I know it.

Psalm 139 verses

Psalm 139 14 Meaning

This verse is a profound declaration of praise to God, acknowledging His extraordinary power, wisdom, and artistry evident in the creation of humanity. The Psalmist marvels at the intricate, complex, and distinct manner in which he was formed by God, recognizing that his very existence and unique constitution are divine miracles, compelling him to offer heartfelt thanksgiving and adoration.

Psalm 139 14 Context

Psalm 139 is a deeply personal and theological meditation on God's omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent attributes. The verse 14 falls within a section (verses 13-18) where the Psalmist transitions from acknowledging God's intimate knowledge of his thoughts and ways (v. 1-6) and God's inescapable presence (v. 7-12) to reflecting on God's meticulous and intricate involvement in his creation in the womb. This verse is the climactic expression of praise for the miracle of human formation, setting the stage for the Psalmist's acknowledgment of God's complete blueprint for his life. The surrounding verses speak to God's careful fashioning, knitting together, and the inscribing of all his days before even one of them existed. The Psalmist is expressing awe not merely at his existence, but at the divine craftsmanship evident in his very being.

Psalm 139 14 Word analysis

• "I will praise You" (אוֹדֶךָּ – 'odekha): This is a resolute and personal vow of thanksgiving. From the Hebrew root yadah, meaning "to acknowledge, give thanks, confess." It signifies a heartfelt expression of gratitude and adoration directed at God, stemming from a deep recognition of His worthiness. The active will of the speaker to render praise highlights a conscious and chosen response to God's actions.

• "for I am fearfully" (כִּי נוֹרָאוֹת – ki nora'ot): The Hebrew nora'ot comes from yare, meaning "to fear, reverence, stand in awe of." It implies "terrible things," "awe-inspiring," or "reverential." This isn't fear of terror, but a profound sense of awe, reverence, and respect at God's overwhelming majesty, power, and wisdom as manifested in human creation. It suggests that the act of creation is so grand and profound that it elicits deep wonder and dread in the most respectful sense.

• "and wonderfully made" (נִפְלֵאתִי – nifleti): Derived from the root pala, meaning "to be distinct, wonderful, set apart, miraculous, incomprehensible." It points to something extraordinary, a miraculous work beyond normal human comprehension or expectation. The "wonderfully made" conveys that humanity's construction is an unexplainable marvel, testifying to God's supernatural and unique power.

• "Marvelous are Your works" (פְלָאִים מַעֲשֶׂיךָ – pela'im ma'aseykha): Here, pela'im (wonders, marvelous things) reiterates the theme from nifleti, using a noun form to describe God's creative ma'aseykha (works/deeds). It underscores that all of God's actions, especially in creation, are wonders. It’s a statement of profound theological truth, affirming God’s entire body of creative activity as miraculous and awe-inspiring, not just the Psalmist’s individual formation.

• "And that my soul knows very well" (וְנַפְשִׁי יוֹדַעַת מְאֹד – v'nafshi yoda'at me'od): Nefesh refers to the entire being—soul, self, life, mind, personality. Yoda'at (knows) denotes experiential knowledge, not just intellectual assent. Me'od means "exceedingly," "very much." This phrase emphasizes that this profound truth about God’s miraculous creation is not just understood intellectually but is deeply known and affirmed by the Psalmist’s entire inner being. It is a personal and deeply internalized conviction, born of introspection and divine revelation.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made": This opening segment establishes a direct link between God's amazing creative power and the Psalmist's personal existence. The "for" indicates that the Psalmist's praise is directly a consequence of, and response to, God's awesome craftsmanship in his own making. It frames self-awareness as a catalyst for worship.
• "fearfully and wonderfully made": This potent phrase captures the paradoxical nature of human creation: it is both an object of profound awe (fearfully) due to its divine origin and overwhelming power, and an intricate masterpiece of miraculous design (wonderfully). It suggests a level of divine artistry that transcends simple explanation, invoking a sense of sacred mystery and intricate precision.
• "Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well": This concluding part broadens the scope from the Psalmist's personal creation to all of God's "works" while reaffirming the personal, deep-seated conviction. It moves from specific experience to general theological truth, asserting that all of God's actions are marvelous, a fact that resonates with the core of the Psalmist’s being. The personal confirmation ("my soul knows very well") lends authenticity and profound conviction to the declaration, making it more than just intellectual assent, but a deeply felt truth of faith.

Psalm 139 14 Bonus section

The concept of "fearfully" (nora'ot) also implicitly connects to God's attribute as El Gabor, a mighty God, whose actions are impactful and sometimes "terrible" in a grand, awe-inspiring sense. The human body, with its intricate systems (nervous, circulatory, reproductive) operating flawlessly, yet with an astounding capacity for complexity and differentiation, is often highlighted as one of creation's greatest testaments to divine design, far exceeding the sophistication of any human-made machine. This verse therefore becomes foundational for understanding concepts of imago Dei (the image of God) within humanity, asserting that our very being reflects aspects of our Creator. Furthermore, the intimate language of being "made" and "knit together" (from Ps 139:13) in the "secret place" (the womb) paints a picture of God not as a distant architect, but as an involved, hands-on Artisan meticulously crafting each individual with unique precision and personal intention from conception.

Psalm 139 14 Commentary

Psalm 139:14 is a pinnacle of devotional praise, reflecting an understanding of self that is wholly dependent on, and derived from, God's sovereign creation. It is a robust affirmation of human dignity and intrinsic worth, not based on achievement or societal status, but on the fact of being divinely fashioned. The "fearfully and wonderfully made" points to the inherent sacredness of life and the human form, an intricate work of divine art, possessing immense complexity and delicate balance, which could only come from a Creator of infinite wisdom and power. This realization evokes nora (reverential awe) because God's hand in our formation is beyond human comprehension, prompting heartfelt thanksgiving. The Psalmist does not merely acknowledge this truth intellectually but feels it deeply within his "soul," a comprehensive inner knowing. This verse stands as a powerful counter-narrative to any worldview that reduces human existence to mere chance, accidental assembly, or diminishes human value. It inspires an attitude of worship for the divine craftsman and promotes self-acceptance based on one's identity as a deliberate and marvelous creation of God. This profound understanding can lead to humility before God, valuing of all human life, and careful stewardship of our own bodies, recognizing them as divinely designed vessels.