Psalm 139:13-15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 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 why we believe them, and to give a reason of the hope that is in us. David is sure that God perfectly knows him and all his ways, I. Because he is always under his eye. If God is omnipresent, he must needs be omniscient; but he is omnipresent; this supposes the infinite and immensity of his being, from which follows the ubiquity of his presence;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 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 children of men; he is the possessor or master of their most secret thoughts, and thoroughly knows them; see Psalm 7:9 ; they are also the seat of the affections, which are naturally sinful and inordinate, and set upon carnal and earthly things; but the Lord possesses and engrosses the affections... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:14

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made ,.... the formation of man is not of himself, nor of his parents, but of God, and is very wonderful in all its parts; it has been matter of astonishment to many Heathens, as Galen and others, who have, with any carefulness, examined the structure and texture of the human body, the exact symmetry and just proportion of all its parts, their position and usefulness; holy every bone, muscle, artery, nerve and fibre, are nicely framed... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:15

My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret ,.... Or "my bone" F14 עצמי "os meum", V. L. Vatablus, Gejerus, "ossa mea", Piscator; "apparatio ossium meorum", Cocceius. ; everyone of his bones, which are the substantial parts of the body, the strength of it; and so some render it "my strength" F15 "Robur meum", Tigurine version; "vis mea", Junius & Tremellius. ; those, though covered with skin and flesh yet, being done by the Lord himself, were not hid from... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:13

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. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:14

I am fearfully and wonderfully made - The texture of the human body is the most complicated and curious that can be conceived. It is, indeed, wonderfully made; and it is withal so exquisitely nice and delicate, that the slightest accident may impair or destroy in a moment some of those parts essentially necessary to the continuance of life; therefore, we are fearfully made. And God has done so to show us our frailty, that we should walk with death, keeping life in view; and feel the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:15

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... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:13

Verse 13 13.For thou hast possessed my reins Apparently he prosecutes the same subject, though he carries it out somewhat farther, declaring that we need not be surprised at God’s knowledge of the most secret thoughts of men, since he formed their hearts and their reins. He thus represents God as sitting king in the very reins of man, as the center of his jurisdiction, and shows it ought to be no ground of wonder that all the windings and recesses of our hearts are known to him who, when we... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:15

Verse 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 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... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 139:7-16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:15

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 139:15

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 139:1-24

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