Psalm 139 15

Psalm 139:15 kjv

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

Psalm 139:15 nkjv

My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Psalm 139:15 niv

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Psalm 139:15 esv

My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Psalm 139:15 nlt

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

Psalm 139 verses

Psalm 139 15 Meaning

Psalm 139:15 declares that the Psalmist's entire being and development, from skeletal structure to intricate features, was fully known to God even when forming in the most concealed and secret place – the mother's womb. It emphasizes God's active, meticulous, and artistic involvement in creating human life, viewing the process as an intricate "weaving" or "embroidering" in the mysterious depth of life's beginning. It highlights God's absolute omniscience and intentional design of each individual.

Psalm 139 15 Context

Psalm 139 is a profound hymn of praise focusing on the incomparable attributes of God: His omniscience (v. 1-6), omnipresence (v. 7-12), and omnipotence, particularly as demonstrated in the creation of the Psalmist (v. 13-16). Verse 15 builds directly upon the previous verses, where the Psalmist acknowledges God's intricate formation of his "inward parts" and how he was "knit together" (v. 13). The metaphor of being "fearfully and wonderfully made" (v. 14) underscores the miraculous nature of human existence, which verse 15 then elaborates upon with vivid imagery. The historical and cultural context would have viewed conception and gestation as deeply mysterious processes, largely hidden from human sight and understanding. The Psalmist's confession here would stand in direct contrast to pagan beliefs that often attributed creation to random chance or lesser deities, affirming the sovereign, personal, and artistic involvement of the One true God in every human life from its very inception.

Psalm 139 15 Word analysis

• My frame (עָצְמִי - ʻotzmi): The Hebrew `עֹ֫צֶם` (ʻōtsem) often refers to bone, strength, or substance. It signifies the very structural essence and strength of the individual, the complete skeletal system and the inner being, not just external appearance. This highlights God's knowledge of even the foundational, hidden aspects of a person.
• was not hidden (לֹא־נִכְחַדְתָּה - loh nikhkhad'tah): From `כָּחַד` (kachad), meaning "to hide, conceal, keep secret." The negative asserts God's absolute and unyielding omniscience. Nothing about the Psalmist's development, no matter how obscured to human view, escaped God's perfect knowledge. This is a direct declaration against the idea that anything could be secret from God.
• from You (מִמֶּךָּ - mimmekkah): Directly states the divine object of perfect knowledge, emphasizing the personal and intimate nature of God's awareness.
• when I was made in secret (בַּסֵּתֶר עֻשֵּׂיתִי - bas-seter ʻussiyti): `בַּסֵּתֶר` (bas-seter) means "in secret" or "in a hidden place," a clear metaphorical reference to the mother's womb, where life uniquely forms away from human observation. `עֻשֵּׂיתִי` (ussiyti) comes from `עָשָׂה` (asah), "to do, make, create," indicating an active process of being formed.
• and skillfully wrought (רֻקַּמְתִּי - ruqamti): From `רָקַם` (raqam), meaning "to embroider, weave with colors, design intricately." This powerful verb portrays God not as a mere manufacturer, but as an artist, a master craftsman who meticulously weaves together every thread and detail of a human being, indicating intentional design, precision, and beauty in the creation process.
• in the lowest parts of the earth (בְּתַחְתִּיּוֹת אָרֶץ - bətaḥtiyōt aretz): A profound poetic metaphor for the womb, symbolizing deep, hidden, and primal origins. It could also allude to the dust from which humanity was originally formed (Gen 2:7), linking the creation of each individual to the original act of creation. It conveys a sense of profound mystery and humility, being formed from the very ground, yet with divine handiwork.

• "My frame...was not hidden from You": Emphasizes the transparent and known nature of the Psalmist's inner constitution to God, affirming divine knowledge extending beyond outward appearances.
• "when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth": This phrase functions as a poetic parallelism. "Made in secret" clarifies "lowest parts of the earth" as referring to the concealed nature of the womb. "Skillfully wrought" depicts the intentional artistry of God in the seemingly obscure environment, highlighting that no process, no matter how hidden, lacks His active and careful design. The imagery is rich, contrasting human inability to see or understand the full process with God's complete oversight and meticulous craftsmanship.

Psalm 139 15 Bonus section

The sophisticated Hebrew word רָקַם (raqam), translated "skillfully wrought" or "embroidered," resonates deeply with modern understanding of human embryology. While the Psalmist did not possess scientific knowledge of DNA, cell division, or organogenesis, his inspired words convey a truth about the intricate and highly detailed process of human development. The precise coding of DNA, the programmed sequence of cellular differentiation, and the coordinated development of complex systems like the nervous or circulatory system truly are a form of "skillful weaving" or "embroidering" beyond human comprehension, pointing to an intelligent designer. This ancient text thus aligns remarkably with scientific observation, reinforcing the Psalmist's theological affirmation of a divinely ordered and orchestrated life from conception. The idea of "lowest parts of the earth" also implies not just a physical hiddenness, but perhaps a philosophical one: the mysterious emergence of complex life from fundamental, almost unseen, components—the dust to man.

Psalm 139 15 Commentary

Psalm 139:15 presents an awe-inspiring vision of divine artistry and omniscience in the creation of human life. The Psalmist is reflecting on God's personal and detailed involvement in his very formation within the womb. The "frame" (עֹ֫צֶם) refers to the underlying structure, the very bones and core essence of a person, emphasizing that God knew the individual's foundational blueprint before anything was outwardly visible. The statement "was not hidden from You" underscores God's absolute, inescapable knowledge; no process, no matter how veiled to human eyes, is obscure to Him. The phrase "made in secret" precisely identifies the womb as this hidden workshop. The most potent imagery lies in "skillfully wrought" (רֻקַּמְתִּי), which implies an artist meticulously embroidering a complex design. This goes beyond simple assembly, conveying purposeful, detailed, and beautiful craftsmanship. Finally, "in the lowest parts of the earth" is a profound poetic metaphor for the deepest, most hidden place—the womb—or even a symbolic link to humanity's origin from dust (Gen 2:7), signifying humble beginnings touched by divine power. This verse teaches the profound dignity of human life from conception, stressing that each individual is not an accident of nature but a divinely known, intentionally crafted masterpiece. This concept offers solace in personal identity and underscores the sacredness of life in its earliest stages.
Example: When someone feels insignificant or unplanned, this verse powerfully asserts their intrinsic value and purpose from the very beginning of their existence, as a carefully woven creation of God. It combats feelings of anonymity by revealing a God who knows and designs intimately.