Psalm 139:15 - Printer Friendly

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

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.

NASB: My frame was not hidden from You When I was made in secret, And skillfully formed in the depths of the earth;

CSB: My bones were not hidden from you when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth.

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

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

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

In this verse David mentions his frame was not hidden from God when God made him in secret. "My frame" signifies the strength or framework of the body, essentially meaning the skeletal structure. The expression, "in the depths of the earth," is a poetic term that describes the womb as being just as dark and hidden from human view as the subterranean caverns.

"Woven," as rendered in this verse, is from the Hebrew word raqam. This term refers to the skill of an embroiderer or someone skilled in needlework. God's creation of the human body in the womb is a masterpiece of design and workmanship. Conception and gestation have been designed by God as miracles that lead to birth.

Beyond the physical wonder of the human body, every person is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). To murder what God creates in the womb is an attack on the image of God, as is any other murder (Genesis 9:6).

In Bible times conception and birth were occasions to celebrate. Children were considered gifts from the Lord (Psalm 127:3). When Eve conceived and bore Cain, she said, "I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD" (Genesis 4:1). When Hannah bore a son, she called him Samuel, and said, "I have asked for him from the LORD" (1 Samuel 1:20). When she had weaned Samuel, she dedicated him to service in the temple, and she offered praise to the Lord (1 Samuel 2).

Psalm 139:13–16 describes God's omnipotence: His attribute of being all-powerful. The psalmist, David, described God's omniscience in verses 1–6 and His omnipresence in verses 7–12. In this section, he links omnipotence to the way God created the writer in his mother's womb.

In this psalm David marvels at God's amazing characteristics. God knows everything about him: where he goes, all David's thoughts and everything about his conduct. The Lord knows what David will say even before David says it. There is no place David can go that God isn't already present. David marvels at God's creative work in the womb. He is thankful for God's innumerable thoughts for him and for God's presence day and night. Finally, David's thoughts turn to the wicked. He considers them God's enemies and his, and longs for God to slay them. David is disgusted by evil people because they rail against God and take His name in vain. He asks God to search his heart to see if any sin is there, and he asks God to lead him in the way everlasting.

This psalm of David lies in the fifth division of Psalms, Psalms 107—150. It discloses information about God's omniscience: He knows everything. It explains His omnipresence: that He is everywhere. It declares His omnipotence: He formed every part of human beings. It also describes His holiness: He judges the wicked and searches the heart. These attributes reflect common themes across both the Old and New Testaments.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.