"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14). God formed us in the womb (Psalm 139:13-16), created humankind in His image (Genesis 1:27), and we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works (Ephesians 2:10).
"Fearfully and wonderfully made" is David's praise for God's craftsmanship in the womb. These twelve King James passages explore identity as God's creation—image-bearers, known before birth, shaped for purpose.
Fearfully and wonderfully made
1. Psalms 139:14
"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
2. Psalms 139:13
"For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb."
God possessed (formed) David's reins and covered him in his mother's womb.
3. Psalms 139:15-16
"My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them."
God's eyes saw the unformed substance; days were written in His book before one existed.
4. Job 10:8
"Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me."
Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about. Job names God as his Maker even in suffering.
Made in God's image
5. 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."
God created man in His own image; male and female created He them. Dignity starts with the image of God.
6. Genesis 2:7
"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."
The LORD God formed man of the dust and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.
7. Psalms 8:4-5
"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour."
What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? Yet You crowned him with glory and honour.
8. Psalms 100:3
"Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."
It is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
His workmanship and purpose
9. Ephesians 2:10
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works God prepared beforehand.
10. Isaiah 64:8
"But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand."
O LORD, Thou art our father; we are the clay, and Thou our potter.
11. 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."
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; before thou camest forth I sanctified thee.
12. Isaiah 43:1
"But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine."
Fear not: I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
A short prayer
Creator God, I praise You: I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Thank You for forming me, knowing me, and calling me Yours. Shape me as clay in the potter's hand, and help me walk in the good works You prepared. In Jesus' name, amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
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Frequently asked questions
Where does the Bible say "fearfully and wonderfully made"?
Psalm 139:14: "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."
What does "fearfully and wonderfully made" mean?
"Fearfully" points to awe-inspiring craftsmanship; "wonderfully" to being set apart as remarkable. David is praising God's intricate work in creating him.
What other verses support Psalm 139?
Genesis 1:27 (image of God), Jeremiah 1:5 (known before birth), Ephesians 2:10 (His workmanship), and Isaiah 64:8 (potter and clay) are close companions.
Is this only about self-esteem?
Psalm 139 is worship of the Creator, not a pep talk. The right response is praise to God (v. 14) and living as His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10).
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about God's love · Bible verses about humility · Bible verses about life · guard your heart Bible verses · Bible verses on hope
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