What Does Psalm 139:14 Mean in the King James?

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Psalm 139:14 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The same Hebrew root names both your being “wonderfully made” and God’s “marvellous” works, placing you within the wonder you praise.

THE MEANING

You are formed as something wondrous, within the marvelous works of God. Your living soul knows this deeply.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The belief that your body is merely ordinary, with no inherent wonder, is undone: the verse names your formation itself as wondrous.

THE ROOT

נִפְלֵיתִי

nifleiti

GROWS FROM

פלא

To be wondrous, extraordinary, beyond ordinary understanding.

“Wonderfully made” and “marvellous” come from the same root, ⁨פלא⁩ (pala, to be wondrous). The verse places your formation and God’s works in one field of wonder: you are among the marvels being praised.

ALSO GROWS

nifla'im: Wondrous, marvelous works.

נִפְלָאִים

This form appears in the verse’s description of God’s works, echoing the root used for your formation.

nifla'ot: Wondrous deeds or marvels.

נִפְלָאוֹת

This related form shows the root’s reach beyond a single act of making to works that inspire wonder.

יֹדַעַת

yoda'at

GROWS FROM

ידע

To know, recognize, or perceive through encounter.

“knoweth” in this verse is yoda'at. The one who knows is the speaker’s own living soul, so this is inward recognition, not simply information received from outside. “Right well” intensifies that knowing: the verse presents wonder as something the living self recognizes deeply.

ALSO GROWS

yada: To know or perceive through encounter.

יָדַע

This is the same verb root as “knoweth,” keeping the verse’s knowing personal and direct.

da'at: Knowledge or understanding.

דַּעַת

This noun from the same root connects the soul’s knowing to a settled recognition.

THE PATTERN

Human life is named as part of the Creator’s marvelous work.

And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Genesis 1:31 · KJVThe human being is included among all that God makes and calls very good.

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

Psalm 8:5 · KJVHumanity is described as made and given a place of dignity within God’s creation.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10 · KJVThe verse names people themselves as God’s workmanship.

THE THREAD

Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.

Psalm 77:14 · KJV

The same Hebrew root ⁨פלא⁩ (pala, to be wondrous) describes God’s works here and the psalmist’s formation in Psalm 139:14. The connection makes the self a part of the wonders being praised.

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