Psalm 139:13-14
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse emphasizes God's intimate and skillful artistry, not just as a creator, but as a weaver who meticulously "knitted" every part of you together in the womb, highlighting a deliberate, intricate process behind your very being. This imagery suggests a profound level of personal craftsmanship that goes beyond mere formation.
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Psalmist is exploring the immeasurable depth of God's knowledge and presence, arguing that since God created him from the very beginning, nothing about him can be hidden. He's just described how God would know his thoughts even if he were miles away or deep in darkness, and now he turns to his own formation in the womb as proof of God's intimate involvement. This leads into his awe at being "fearfully and wonderfully made," emphasizing God's intricate work in bringing him into existence.
You might think of your deepest self as something you discover or build. But Scripture says God laid its foundation before you even knew yourself.
The verse uses the word "reins," which in ancient Hebrew thought referred to the inner organs, often seen as the seat of emotions, thoughts, and desires. The original text suggests God didn't just own these inward parts; He formed them. Think of it like God laying the very blueprints and building the core structure of your being from the inside out. This was His work, in the hidden depths of the womb, establishing the foundation of who you are.
The journey from a tiny cell to a fully formed baby is incredibly complex. Psalm 139 paints this process not as random chance, but as a divine act of creation.
The phrase "knitted me together" vividly describes a meticulous, interwoven process. It's like God was the ultimate artisan, carefully weaving together every fiber, muscle, and bone. This wasn't just a crude construction; it was a delicate, intricate design, happening in the absolute secret of the womb. The ancient writers were awestruck by this, comparing it to the finest embroidery or weaving, emphasizing God's unparalleled skill and intimate knowledge of His creation, even before it was visible.
Understand the original words
Ask a follow-up
kilyah · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the internal organs or the seat of emotions, will, and intellect; the hidden, deepest part of a human being known intimately by God.
qanah · Hebrew Verb
A term indicating the act of creating, fashioning, or forming as a potter works with clay, emphasizing God's purposeful design and sovereignty in creation.
yare · Hebrew Adjective/Participle
Derived from a root meaning to tremble or revere, it describes something that inspires profound awe, respect, or a sense of divine majesty.
pala · Hebrew Adjective/Participle
Refers to something extraordinary, set apart, or difficult for human comprehension; often used to describe God's mighty acts and sovereign power.
nephesh · Hebrew Noun
The Hebrew 'nephesh' signifies the whole living being, the seat of the inner life, desires, emotions, and the immortal spirit that relates to God.
This passage echoes the Psalmist's awe at God's creative work, describing God as the one who formed him, clothed him, and watched over him from the beginning of his existence.
Isaiah 44:24This verse directly states God's role as the creator of all things, including the 'bowels' or innermost parts of individuals, underscoring His intimate involvement in our formation.
Jeremiah 1:5God tells Jeremiah, 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,' highlighting the deep, personal knowledge God has of us even before our physical creation.
Luke 1:31-35The miraculous conception of Jesus, where the Holy Spirit 'overshadowed' Mary, demonstrates God's active, direct involvement in the formation and unique creation of individuals.
ellicottPsalms 139:13: "For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb."
(13) For . . .—The mystery of birth regarded as one of the greatest mysteries (see Ecclesiastes 11:5 ), is a proof of God’s omniscience. Possessed.—The context seems to require formed, fashioned, as, according to Gesenius, in Deuteronomy 32:6, (Authorised Version “bought”) (Comp. Genesis 14:19, where maker should be read for possessor.) For “reins” see Psalm 16:7. Covered me.—Most critics render here di…
pulpitPsalms 139:13: "For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb."
Verse 13. - For thou hast possessed my reins. Thou knowest me and seest me always, because thou madest me. Thy omniscience and thy omnipresence both rest upon thine omnipotence. Thou hast covered me (rather, woven me) in my mother's womb (comp. Job 10:11).
The verse emphasizes God's intimate and skillful artistry, not just as a creator, but as a weaver who meticulously "knitted" every part of you together in the womb, highlighting a deliberate, intricate process behind your very being. This imagery suggests a profound level of personal craftsmanship that goes beyond mere formation.
The Psalmist is exploring the immeasurable depth of God's knowledge and presence, arguing that since God created him from the very beginning, nothing about him can be hidden. He's just described how God would know his thoughts even if he were miles away or deep in darkness, and now he turns to his own formation in the womb as proof of God's intimate involvement. This leads into his awe at being "fearfully and wonderfully made," emphasizing God's intricate work in bringing him into existence.
The Psalmist is exploring the immeasurable depth of God's knowledge and presence, arguing that since God created him from the very beginning, nothing about him can be hidden. He's just described how God would know his thoughts even if he were miles away or deep in darkness, and now he turns to his own formation in the womb as proof of God's intimate involvement. This leads into his awe at being "fearfully and wonderfully made," emphasizing God's intricate work in bringing him into existence.
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." — The verse emphasizes God's intimate and skillful artistry, not just as a creator, but as a weaver who meticulously "knitted" every part of you together in the womb, highlighting a deliberate, intrica…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
