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Text -- Psalms 139:15 (NET)

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Context
139:15 my bones were not hidden from you, when I was made in secret and sewed together in the depths of the earth.
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Word/Phrase Notes
Clarke , Calvin , Defender , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Clarke: Psa 139:15 - -- My substance was not hid from thee - עצמי atsmi , my bones or skeleton

My substance was not hid from thee - עצמי atsmi , my bones or skeleton

Clarke: Psa 139:15 - -- Curiously wrought - רקמתי rukkamti , embroidered, made of needlework. These two words, says Bishop Horsley, describe the two principal parts o...

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.

Clarke: Psa 139:15 - -- In the lowest parts of the earth - The womb of the mother, thus expressed by way of delicacy.

In the lowest parts of the earth - The womb of the mother, thus expressed by way of delicacy.

Calvin: Psa 139:15 - -- 15.My strength was not hid from thee That nothing is hid from God David now begins to prove from the way in which man is at first formed, and points ...

15.My strength was not hid from thee That nothing is hid from God David now begins to prove from the way in which man is at first formed, and points out God’s superiority to other artificers in this, that while they must have their work set before their eyes before they can form it, he fashioned us in our mother’s womb. It is of little importance whether we read my strength or my bone, though I prefer the latter reading. He next likens the womb of the mother to the lowest caverns or recesses of the earth. Should an artizan intend commencing a work in some dark cave where there was no light to assist him, how would he set his hand to it? in what way would he proceed? and what kind of workmanship would it prove? 213 But God makes the most perfect work of all in the dark, for he fashions man in mother’s womb. The verb רקם , rakam, which means weave together, 214 is employed to amplify and enhance what the Psalmist had just said. David no doubt means figuratively to express the inconceivable skill which appears in the formation of the human body. When we examine it, even to the nails on our fingers, there is nothing which could be altered, without felt inconveniency, as at something disjointed or put out of place; and what, then, if we should make the individual parts the subject of enumeration? 215 Where is the embroiderer who — with all his industry and ingenuity — could execute the hundredth part of this complicate and diversified structure? We need not then wonder if God, who formed man so perfectly in the womb, should have an exact knowledge of him after he is ushered into the world.

Defender: Psa 139:15 - -- This refers to the basic frame or skeleton. Note also the similar testimony in Ecc 11:5. The marvels of embryonic growth are still largely unexplained...

This refers to the basic frame or skeleton. Note also the similar testimony in Ecc 11:5. The marvels of embryonic growth are still largely unexplained by scientists but God knows!

Defender: Psa 139:15 - -- "Curiously wrought" means "embroidered," a striking description of the double-helical DNA molecular program which organizes part by part the beautiful...

"Curiously wrought" means "embroidered," a striking description of the double-helical DNA molecular program which organizes part by part the beautiful structure of the whole infant.

Defender: Psa 139:15 - -- For "lowest parts," read "nether parts" or "hidden parts." God made these hidden parts or elements of the earth, then formed Adam's body from this "du...

For "lowest parts," read "nether parts" or "hidden parts." God made these hidden parts or elements of the earth, then formed Adam's body from this "dust of the earth" (Gen 2:7). He created within the body of Adam and Eve the marvelous and complex ability to multiply that body and to generate from these lowest parts of the earth through the curiously wrought embroidery of DNA, all the many billions of their descendants including David himself."

TSK: Psa 139:15 - -- substance : or, strength, or body when I : Psa 139:13; Job 10:9-11; Exo 11:5 in the lowest : Psa 63:9; Eph 4:9

substance : or, strength, or body

when I : Psa 139:13; Job 10:9-11; Exo 11:5

in the lowest : Psa 63:9; Eph 4:9

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Psa 139:15 - -- My substance was not hid from thee - Thou didst see it; thou didst understand it altogether, when it was hidden from the eyes of man. The word ...

My substance was not hid from thee - Thou didst see it; thou didst understand it altogether, when it was hidden from the eyes of man. The word "substance"is rendered in the margin, "strength"or "body."The Septuagint, the Latin Vulgate, the Syriac, the Arabic, and Luther render it, "my bone,"or "my bones."The word properly means strength, and then anything strong. Another form of the word, with different pointing in the Hebrew, means a bone, so called from its strength. The allusion here is to the bodily frame, considered as strong, or as that which has strength. Whatever there was that entered into and constituted the vigor of his frame, the psalmist says, was seen and known by God, even in its commencement, and when most feeble. Its capability to become strong - feeble as it then was - could not even at that time be concealed or hidden from the view of God.

When I was made in secret - In the womb; or, hidden from the eye of man. Even then thine eye saw me, and saw the wondrous process by which my members were formed.

And curiously wrought. - Literally, "embroidered."The Hebrew word - רקם râqam - means to deck with color, to variegate. Hence, it means to variegate a garment; to weave with threads of various colors. With us the idea of embroidering is that of working various colors on a cloth by a needle. The Hebrew word, however, properly refers to the act of "weaving in"various threads - as now in weaving carpets. The reference here is to the various and complicated tissues of the human frame - the tendons, nerves, veins, arteries, muscles, "as if"they had been woven, or as they appear to be curiously interweaved. No work of tapestry can be compared with this; no art of man could "weave"together such a variety of most tender and delicate fibres and tissues as those which go to make up the human frame, even if they were made ready to his hand: and who but God could "make"them? The comparison is a most beautiful one; and it will be admired the more, the more man understands the structure of his own frame.

In the lowest parts of the earth - Wrought in a place as dark, as obscure, and as much beyond the power of human observation as though it had been done low down beneath the ground where no eye of man can penetrate. Compare the notes at Job 28:7-8.

Poole: Psa 139:15 - -- My substance or, My bone , as the LXX. and others render the word. And bone may be here taken collectively for bones, as is usual in such words, o...

My substance or, My bone , as the LXX. and others render the word. And bone may be here taken collectively for bones, as is usual in such words, or for the whole fabric of the bones And the bones may be very fitly mentioned here, because they are inward and invisible, as being covered with skin, and flesh, and sinews. Or the bones may be put synecdochically for the whole body, as being the most substantial part of it, as they are Psa 35:10 .

In secret in the dark vault of my mother’ s womb.

Curiously wrought Heb. embroidered ; exquisitely composed of bones, and muscles, and sinews, and veins, and arteries, and other parts, all framed with such wonderful skill, that even heathens, upon the contemplation of all the parts of man’ s body, and how excellently they were framed, both for beauty and use, have broken forth into pangs of admiration and adoration of the Creator of man, as Galen particularly did.

In the lowest parts of the earth or, as it were in the lowest parts of the earth . So there is only an ellipsis of the note of similitude, which is very frequent in Scripture, as hath been often said and proved. In a place as secret and remote from human eyes as the lowest parts of the earth are, to wit, in my mother’ s womb. And so what is said in the former clause is repeated in this in other words.

Gill: Psa 139:15 - -- My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret,.... Or "my bone" n; everyone of his bones, which are the substantial parts of the body, ...

My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret,.... Or "my bone" n; everyone of his bones, which are the substantial parts of the body, the strength of it; and so some render it "my strength" o; those, though covered with skin and flesh yet, being done by the Lord himself, were not hid from him; nor the manner of their production and growth, which being done in secret is a secret to men; for they know not how the bones grow in the womb of her that is with child, Ecc 11:5; but God does;

and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth; or formed in my mother's womb, as the Targum, and so Jarchi, like a curious piece of needlework or embroidery, as the word p signifies; and such is the contexture of the human body, and so nicely and curiously are all its parts put together, bones, muscles, arteries, veins, nerves, and fibres, as exceed the most curious piece of needlework, or the finest embroidery that ever was made by the hands of men; and all this done in the dark shop of nature, in the "ovarium", where there is no more light to work by than in the lowest parts of the earth. The same phrase is used of Christ's descent into this world, into the womb of the virgin, where his human nature was curiously wrought by the finger of the blessed Spirit, Eph 4:9.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Psa 139:15 The phrase depths of the earth may be metaphorical (euphemistic) or it may reflect a prescientific belief about the origins of the embryo deep beneath...

Geneva Bible: Psa 139:15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, [and] curiously wrought ( k ) in the lowest parts of the earth. ( k ) That is, in my m...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Psa 139:1-24 - --1 David praises God for his all-seeing providence;17 and for his infinite mercies.19 He defies the wicked.23 He prays for sincerity.

MHCC: Psa 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 ...

Matthew Henry: Psa 139:7-16 - -- It is of great use to us to know the certainty of the things wherein we have been instructed, that we may not only believe them, but be able to tell...

Keil-Delitzsch: Psa 139:13-18 - -- The fact that man is manifest to God even to the very bottom of his nature, and in every place, is now confirmed from the origin of man. The develop...

Constable: Psa 107:1--150:6 - --V. Book 5: chs. 107--150 There are 44 psalms in this section of the Psalter. David composed 15 of these (108-110...

Constable: Psa 139:1-24 - --Psalm 139 David praised God for His omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence in this popular psalm. It...

Constable: Psa 139:13-18 - --3. God's omnipotence 139:13-18 139:13-14 The word "For" indicates that what follows explains what precedes. Since God creates people He knows them int...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: Psalms (Book Introduction) The Hebrew title of this book is Tehilim ("praises" or "hymns"), for a leading feature in its contents is praise, though the word occurs in the title ...

JFB: Psalms (Outline) ALEPH. (Psa 119:1-8). This celebrated Psalm has several peculiarities. It is divided into twenty-two parts or stanzas, denoted by the twenty-two let...

TSK: Psalms (Book Introduction) The Psalms have been the general song of the universal Church; and in their praise, all the Fathers have been unanimously eloquent. Men of all nation...

TSK: Psalms 139 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Psa 139:1, David praises God for his all-seeing providence; Psa 139:17, and for his infinite mercies; Psa 139:19, He defies the wicked; P...

Poole: Psalms (Book Introduction) OF PSALMS THE ARGUMENT The divine authority of this Book of PSALMS is so certain and evident, that it was never questioned in the church; which b...

Poole: Psalms 139 (Chapter Introduction) THE ARGUMENT This Psalm is esteemed by the Hebrews the most excellent in the whole book. The matter of it is noble and sublime, and so is the style...

MHCC: Psalms (Book Introduction) David was the penman of most of the psalms, but some evidently were composed by other writers, and the writers of some are doubtful. But all were writ...

MHCC: Psalms 139 (Chapter Introduction) (Psa 139:1-6) God knows all things. (Psa 139:7-16) He is every where present. (Psa 139:17-24) The psalmist's hatred to sin, and desire to be led ari...

Matthew Henry: Psalms (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Book of Psalms We have now before us one of the choicest and most excellent parts of all the Old Te...

Matthew Henry: Psalms 139 (Chapter Introduction) Some of the Jewish doctors are of opinion that this is the most excellent of all the psalms of David; and a very pious devout meditation it is upon...

Constable: Psalms (Book Introduction) Introduction Title The title of this book in the Hebrew Bible is Tehillim, which means...

Constable: Psalms (Outline) Outline I. Book 1: chs. 1-41 II. Book 2: chs. 42-72 III. Book 3: chs. 73...

Constable: Psalms Psalms Bibliography Allen, Ronald B. "Evidence from Psalm 89." In A Case for Premillennialism: A New Consensus,...

Haydock: Psalms (Book Introduction) THE BOOK OF PSALMS. INTRODUCTION. The Psalms are called by the Hebrew, Tehillim; that is, hymns of praise. The author, of a great part of ...

Gill: Psalms (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO PSALMS The title of this book may be rendered "the Book of Praises", or "Hymns"; the psalm which our Lord sung at the passover is c...

Gill: Psalms 139 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 139 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. This psalm was written by David, when he lay under the reproach and calumnies of...

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