Psalms 139 · Verse 15

Psalms 139:15

My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Psalms 139:15, King James Version

Psalms 139:15 in other translations

BSBMy frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
WEBMy frame wasn’t hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth.
ASVMy frame was not hidden from thee, When I was made in secret, And curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
YLTMy substance was not hid from Thee, When I was made in secret, Curiously wrought in the lower part of earth.
DARBYMy bones were not hidden from thee when I was made in secret, curiously wrought in the lower parts of the earth.
BBEMy frame was not unseen by you when I was made secretly, and strangely formed in the lowest parts of the earth.
WebsterMy substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret, and curiously formed in the lowest parts of the earth.

What does Psalms 139:15 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 My substance was not hid from thee - עצמי atsmi, my bones or skeleton. Curiously wrought - רקמתי rukkamti, embroidered, made of needlework. These two words, says Bishop Horsley, describe the two principal parts of which the human body is composed; the bony skeleton, the foundation of the whole; and the external covering of muscular flesh, tendons, veins, arteries, nerves, and skin; a curious web of fibres. On this passage Bishop Lowth has some excellent observations: "In that most perfect hymn, where the immensity of the omnipresent Deity, and the admirable wisdom of the Divine Artificer in framing the human body, are celebrated, the poet uses a remarkable metaphor, drawn from the nicest tapestry work: - When I was formed in secret; When I was wrought, as with a needle, in the lowest parts of the earth. "He who remarks this, (but the man who consults Versions only will hardly remark it), and at the same time reflects upon the wonderful composition of the human body, the various implication of veins, arteries, fibres, membranes, and the 'inexplicable texture' of the whole frame; will immediately understand the beauty and elegance of this most apt translation. But he will not attain the whole force and dignity, unless he also considers that the most artful embroidery with the needle was dedicated by the Hebrews to the service of the sanctuary; and that the proper and singular use of their work was, by the immediate prescript of the Divine law, applied in a certain part of the high priest's dress, and in the curtains of the tabernacle, Exo 28:39; Exo 26:36; Exo 27:16; and compare Eze 16:10; Eze 13:18. So that the psalmist may well be supposed to have compared the wisdom of the Divine Artificer particularly with that specimen of human art, whose dignity was through religion the highest, and whose elegance (Exo 35:30-35) was so exquisite, that the sacred writer seems to attribute it to a Divine inspiration." In the lowest parts of the earth - The womb of the mother, thus expressed by way of delicacy.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 139:7-16

We cannot see God, but he can see us. The psalmist did not desire to go from the Lord. Whither can I go? In the most distant corners of the world, in heaven, or in hell, I cannot go out of thy reach. No veil can hide us from God; not the thickest darkness. No disguise can save any person or action from being seen in the true light by him. Secret haunts of sin are as open before God as the most open villanies. On the…

Read the full comment on Psalms 139:7-16 →

Psalms 139:15 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
נִכְחַ֥דnikh.Chadit was hiddenH3582
עָצְמִ֗י'a.tze.Mibone[s] myH6108
מִ֫מֶּ֥ךָּmi.Me.kafrom youH4480
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whoH834
עֻשֵּׂ֥יתִי'u.Sei.tiI was madeH6213
בַסֵּ֑תֶרva.Se.terin the secret placeH5643
רֻ֝קַּ֗מְתִּיru.Kam.tiI was formedH7551
בְּֽתַחְתִּיּ֥וֹתbe.tach.ti.Yotin [the] lower parts ofH8482
אָֽרֶץ\׃'A.retz[the] earthH776

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 139:15

  • Ecclesiastes 11:5

    As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

  • Psalms 139:13

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

  • Job 10:8-11

    Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me. Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again? Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese? Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews.

  • Psalms 63:9

    But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
substance. or, strength, or body. when I.
13; Job 10:9-11; Ex 11:5
in the lowest.
63:9; Eph 4:9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 139:14

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

  • Psalms 139:15

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

  • Psalms 139:16

    Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

Read all of Psalms 139

Psalms 139:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		No fué encubierto de ti mi cuerpo, bien que en oculto fuí formado, y compaginado en lo más bajo de la tierra.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mes os ne t’ont point été cachés lorsque j’ai été fait dans le secret, façonné comme une broderie dans les lieux bas de la terre.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Nicht verhohlen war mein Gebein vor dir, als ich gemacht ward im Verborgenen, gewirkt wie ein Stickwerk in den untersten Örtern der Erde.