Psalm 139:14 Text
King James Version (KJV)
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
World English Bible (WEB)
I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.
What Psalm 139:14 Means
Here the psalmist breaks into praise as he thinks about how he was made. The word fearfully carries the sense of awe, reverence or wonder, and wonderfully means set apart or distinct, so together they say that human life is both awe-inspiring and carefully crafted. The writer is looking at his own body and existence and treating them as evidence of God's skill. Marvellous are thy works in the KJV, and Your works are wonderful in the WEB, extend this beyond himself to all that God has done. The last line, that my soul knows it very well, suggests this is not just an idea but a settled inner conviction. One caution is worth stating. The verse speaks of wonder, not perfection, and it does not deny that people live with illness, disability or struggles with how they look.
Context of Psalm 139:14
The psalm is headed as a psalm of David, though some scholars suggest it was composed later, and the language is among the most personal in the Psalter. It reflects on God's complete knowledge of the writer: God knows his sitting and rising, is present everywhere he goes, and watched over him before birth. Verses 13 to 16 describe being formed in the womb. The psalm ends with a prayer asking God to search his heart. To read the whole book, see random verse from Psalms.
How to Apply Psalm 139:14
Take a moment to thank God for something specific about how you are made, whether your senses, your abilities or even your quirks. If you struggle with your body or self-image, read the verse slowly as a counter to harsh self-talk. Extend the same respect to other people, remembering they are also wonderfully made.
Related Verses
- Psalm 139:13 – For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
- Genesis 1:27 – So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
- Job 10:8 – Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.
- Jeremiah 1:5 – Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Looking for more verses on this theme? Browse Bible Verses About Gratitude, each with a short note on its context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does fearfully and wonderfully made mean?
It means that humans are made with deep skill and care, which should lead to awe. Fearfully points to reverence for God's work, and wonderfully means remarkable or set apart. The verse celebrates each person's worth as God's creation.
Is Psalm 139:14 about self-esteem?
Partly. It affirms that people have value because God made them, which can support a healthy view of yourself. But the verse is mainly praise directed at God, not self-praise. The worth it describes comes from the Creator, not from achievements or appearance.
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