Psalms 139:13
Psalms 139:13 in Multiple Translations
For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
For thou didst form my inward parts: Thou didst cover me in my mother’s womb.
My flesh was made by you, and my parts joined together in my mother's body.
You made me from the inside out, shaping me in my mother's womb.
For thou hast possessed my reines: thou hast couered me in my mothers wombe.
For Thou — Thou hast possessed my reins, Thou dost cover me in my mother's belly.
For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
I know that the Lord will do justice to the needy, and will revenge the poor.
You created all the parts of my body; you put the parts of my body together when I was still in my mother’s womb.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 139:13
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 139:13 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
כִּֽי
אַ֭תָּה
קָנִ֣יתָ
כִלְיֹתָ֑/י
תְּ֝סֻכֵּ֗/נִי
בְּ/בֶ֣טֶן
אִמִּֽ/י
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
אַ֭תָּה
ʼattâh
H859
you(m.s.)
Pron
קָנִ֣יתָ
qânâh
H7069
to buy
V-Qal-Perf-2ms
כִלְיֹתָ֑/י
kilyâh
H3629
kidney
N-fp | Suff
תְּ֝סֻכֵּ֗/נִי
çâkak
H5526
to fence
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms | Suff
בְּ/בֶ֣טֶן
beṭen
H990
belly
Prep | N-fs
אִמִּֽ/י
ʼêm
H517
mother
N-fs | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 139:13
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
אַ֭תָּה
ʼattâh
H859
"you(m.s.)"
Pron
You is the translation of a Hebrew word used to address someone directly, like when God says you to someone in the Bible. It can be singular or plural, and is often translated as thee, thou, or ye.
Definition: you (second pers. sing. masc.)
Usage: Occurs in 997 OT verses. KJV: thee, thou, ye, you. See also: Genesis 3:11; Exodus 23:9; Deuteronomy 14:1.
קָנִ֣יתָ
qânâh
H7069
"to buy"
V-Qal-Perf-2ms
This verb means to buy or acquire something, and is used to describe God's redemption of His people. It emphasizes ownership and possession, as seen in the stories of God's creation and redemption.
Definition: 1) to get, acquire, create, buy, possess 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to get, acquire, obtain 1a1a) of God originating, creating, redeeming His people 1a1a1) possessor 1a1b) of Eve acquiring 1a1c) of acquiring knowledge, wisdom 1a2) to buy 1b) (Niphal) to be bought 1c) (Hiphil) to cause to possess Aramaic equivalent: qe.na (קְנָא "to buy" H7066)
Usage: Occurs in 76 OT verses. KJV: attain, buy(-er), teach to keep cattle, get, provoke to jealousy, possess(-or), purchase, recover, redeem, [idiom] surely, [idiom] verily. See also: Genesis 4:1; 2 Chronicles 34:11; Psalms 74:2.
כִלְיֹתָ֑/י
kilyâh
H3629
"kidney"
N-fp | Suff
In the Bible, this word refers to the kidneys, which were considered essential organs, and also symbolized the mind and emotions. It appears in passages like Psalm 7:9 and Revelation 2:23. The kidneys were thought to be the seat of feelings and affections.
Definition: 1) kidneys 1a) of physical organ (lit.) 1b) of seat of emotion and affection (fig.) 1c) of sacrificial animals 2) (TWOT) reins
Usage: Occurs in 26 OT verses. KJV: kidneys, reins. See also: Exodus 29:13; Job 19:27; Psalms 7:10.
תְּ֝סֻכֵּ֗/נִי
çâkak
H5526
"to fence"
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms | Suff
To weave means to entwine or fence in, implying protection, as seen in the Bible where it means to cover or defend something.
Definition: (Qal) to hedge, fence about, shut in
Usage: Occurs in 24 OT verses. KJV: cover, defence, defend, hedge in, join together, set, shut up. See also: Exodus 25:20; Job 40:22; Psalms 5:12.
בְּ/בֶ֣טֶן
beṭen
H990
"belly"
Prep | N-fs
This Hebrew word refers to the belly or womb, and is used to describe the seat of hunger, emotions, and even the depths of the afterlife. It is used in the Bible to describe the body and its functions. The KJV translates it as belly, body, or womb.
Definition: : abdomen 1) belly, womb, body 1a) belly, abdomen 1a1) as seat of hunger 1a2) as seat of mental faculties 1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.) 1b) womb
Usage: Occurs in 72 OT verses. KJV: belly, body, [phrase] as they be born, [phrase] within, womb. See also: Genesis 25:23; Psalms 22:10; Psalms 17:14.
אִמִּֽ/י
ʼêm
H517
"mother"
N-fs | Suff
The Hebrew word for 'mother' is used in the Bible to describe a female parent or a maternal figure. It can also refer to the source or origin of something, such as a river or a family. In some cases, it is used figuratively to describe a person's relationship to others.
Definition: 1) mother 1a) of humans 1b) of Deborah's relationship to the people (fig.) 1c) of animals 2) point of departure or division
Usage: Occurs in 202 OT verses. KJV: dam, mother, [idiom] parting. See also: Genesis 2:24; 2 Kings 4:19; Psalms 22:10.
Study Notes — Psalms 139:13
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 139:13 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 139:13
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 139:13
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 139:13
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 139:13
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 139:13
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 139:13
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 139:13
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 139:13
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 139:13
- Sermons on Psalms 139:13
Context — You Have Searched Me and Known Me
11If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light become night around me”—
12even the darkness is not dark to You, but the night shines like the day, for darkness is as light to You.
13For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and I know this very well. 15My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 1:5 | “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” |
| 2 | Psalms 119:73 | Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding to learn Your commandments. |
| 3 | Isaiah 44:2 | This is the word of the LORD, your Maker, who formed you from the womb and who will help you: “Do not be afraid, O Jacob My servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. |
| 4 | Job 31:15 | Did not He who made me in the womb also make them? Did not the same One form us in the womb? |
| 5 | Job 10:9–12 | Please remember that You molded me like clay. Would You now return me to dust? Did You not pour me out like milk, and curdle me like cheese? You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. You have granted me life and loving devotion, and Your care has preserved my spirit. |
| 6 | Psalms 71:6 | I have leaned on You since birth; You pulled me from my mother’s womb. My praise is always for You. |
| 7 | Psalms 22:9–10 | Yet You brought me forth from the womb; You made me secure at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast upon You; from my mother’s womb You have been my God. |
| 8 | Isaiah 46:3 | “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been sustained from the womb, carried along since birth. |
Psalms 139:13 Summary
This verse, Psalms 139:13, tells us that God created the deepest parts of who we are and carefully put us together in our mother's womb. It means that God loves us so much and is so involved in our lives that He even formed the smallest details of who we are. This is similar to what we see in Jeremiah 1:5, where God says He knew us before we were even formed in the womb. Knowing that God created us with such care and love can help us feel special and loved, and it encourages us to live in a way that honors Him, as seen in Romans 12:1, where we are called to offer our lives to God in gratitude for His mercy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that God formed my inmost being?
This phrase suggests that God carefully and intentionally created the deepest, most inner parts of who we are, as seen in Psalms 139:13, where it says 'You formed my inmost being' - a concept also reflected in Jeremiah 1:5, where God says 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you'.
How does this verse relate to the concept of abortion?
This verse, Psalms 139:13, emphasizes the value and sanctity of human life from the moment of conception, as God is actively involved in forming and knitting the unborn child together in the womb, a truth also stated in Exodus 21:22-25, where the unborn are given the same rights as any other human being.
What does 'knit me together' imply about God's role in creation?
The phrase 'You knit me together' in Psalms 139:13 implies a careful, meticulous, and loving involvement by God in the creation of each human being, much like the attention to detail seen in the creation account of Genesis 1:1-31 and Genesis 2:7, where God breathes life into Adam, demonstrating His personal and intimate involvement in the creation of humanity.
How can I apply this verse to my life?
Recognizing that God formed your inmost being and knit you together in your mother's womb can bring a deep sense of purpose, identity, and worth, encouraging you to live a life that honors God, as seen in Romans 12:1, where we are called to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, in view of His mercy, including the mercy shown in creating each of us uniquely and with purpose.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I can reflect on and respond to the truth that God formed my inmost being and knit me together in my mother's womb?
- How does understanding God's intimate involvement in my creation affect my sense of self-worth and identity?
- In what ways can I honor God with the body and life He has given me, recognizing His meticulous and loving creation of me?
- What does it mean for me to live as one 'fearfully and wonderfully made' by God, as stated in the following verse, Psalms 139:14?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 139:13
For thou hast possessed my reins,.... His thoughts and counsels, the reins being the seat of instruction and counsel; hence God is called the trier of the reins, and searcher of the hearts of the
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 139:13
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. For thou (emphatic) hast possessed my reins.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 139:13
Thou hast possessed; or, thou dost possess; thou dwellest in them, thou art the Owner and Governor of them, and therefore must needs know them. Or, thou hast formed, as some of the ancients and others render it. My reins; the most inward and hidden part of the body, supposed also to be the seat of men’ s lusts and passions. Thou hast covered me; either, 1. With that covering called the after-birth, wherein the infant is wrapped and preserved in the womb by the wonderful care of Divine Providence. Or, 2. With skin and flesh, as it is expressed, .
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 139:13
Psalms 139:13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’ s womb.Ver. 13. For thou hast possessed my reins] The seat of mine affections. Thoughts kindle affections, and these cause thoughts to boil; they are causes one of another, and both well known to God. For who possesseth lands or houses, but he knoweth the right title and rooms thereof? saith an expositor. Thou hast covered me in my mother’ s womb] But not from thine all-piercing eyes, though in so dark a place, and wrapt up in secundines .
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 139:13
(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 Psalms 16:7. Covered me.—Most critics render here didst weave me. (Comp. Job 10:11.) But the usual sense of the word cover or protect, suits equally well. The prime thought is that every birth is a divine creation.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 139:13
Verse 13. Thou hast possessed my reins] As the Hebrews believed that the reins were the first part of the human fetus that is formed, it may here mean, thou hast laid the foundation of my being.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 139:13
13–18. God must know the Psalmist perfectly, for He ordered the first beginnings of his life, and foresaw all his destiny.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 139:13
For thou hast possessed my reins - The word here rendered “possessed” means properly to “set upright,” to “erect,” and hence, the derivative of the verb is applied to a cane or reed, as being erect.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 139:13
13, 14. From God in universal space and material nature, the psalmist returns to contemplate God, in his own mysterious origin and personal being.
Sermons on Psalms 139:13
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(Godly Home) Part 3 - the Eternal Value of a Child by Denny Kenaston | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of building a strong foundation in the relationship between parents and their children. He shares a story of a couple seeking |
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The God Who Helps by D.A. Carson | This sermon emphasizes the need to trust in God's help in times of trouble, acknowledging our dependence on Him and the ongoing need for His mercy and protection. It highlights the |
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Be Prepared to Worship by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the speaker begins by praising and worshiping God for His love and faithfulness. He emphasizes that God has always been our protector, even before we knew Him. The |
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In the Potters Hands by Steve Hill | This sermon emphasizes how God works uniquely in each of our lives according to His purpose, even when we struggle with the trials and challenges He allows. It highlights the analo |
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No, Mr. President: John Piper's Response to President Obama by John Piper | This sermon emphasizes the sanctity of human life, highlighting the unique creation of man in the image of God and the eternal nature of human existence. It addresses the cultural |
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Men Like Noah by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the speaker begins by discussing the negative impact of television on families, referring to it as the "life support" of most homes. He shares a story of a woman at |
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(The Works of Faith) Learning to Be Content by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of embracing suffering and obedience on earth. They warn against avoiding suffering because it can hinder opportunities for sp |