FROM THE HEBREW · PSALM 139:14
“Fearfully and wonderfully made”: Psalm 139:14 in Hebrew
It is one of the most loved lines about human worth. In Hebrew, “fearfully” has nothing to do with fear, and “wonderfully” points to something hidden.
Key Hebrew words
The verse in context
Psalm 139 is a meditation on being completely known. “O LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me,” it begins. The psalmist cannot flee from God’s presence, not to heaven, not to the depths, not into darkness. Then, in verses 13 to 16, he describes being formed in his mother’s womb. Verse 14 is his response: thanks.
Nora’ot: “fearfully” means awe
נוֹרָאוֹת comes from the root ירא, which covers both fear and awe. In this verse it is awe. The word describes things so great they make you stop. “Fearfully made” does not mean made in fear or made to be afraid. It means made in an awe-inspiring way.
Nifleiti: wonder, and something hidden
נִפְלֵיתִי is the hardest word in the verse. Most readers connect it with pele, wonder, the word for miracles. Some lexicons connect the exact spelling with a related root meaning to be distinct or set apart, so the verse could mean “I am distinguished, made distinct.” Both sit behind the English “wonderfully.”
The medieval glossary Metzudat Zion defines it as מִלְּשׁוֹן פֶּלֶא וְדָבָר מְכֻסֶּה, “from the language of wonder, and a covered, hidden thing.” In Hebrew, a wonder is something beyond your reach to explain.
What the classical commentators say
Ibn Ezra notes that nora’ot describes the deeds, as an adverb: God acted “awesomely” in making me.
Radak: “there are awesome works in my formation, and I thank You for them.” He adds that the wisdom of the body is open to those who study it, “for every single limb was created with wisdom,” for a purpose, “and every person should reflect on them, and through that recognize the wonders of the Maker and thank Him.”
Metzudat David reads the end of the verse with humility: Your works are hidden, and even though my soul is intelligent and knows much, it does not know the wonders of Your works. Ibn Ezra mentions a similar reading in the name of Rabbi Judah Halevi.
A verse with two difficult words
Scholars have long noticed that the Hebrew grammar here is unusual. Nifleiti is spelled with a י where the root of wonder has an א, and nora’ot is a plural noun used like an adverb. That is why translations vary: “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (JPS 1917 and KJV), “I am awesomely, wondrously made,” or even readings where the awe belongs to God’s works rather than to the speaker. The medieval commentators already discuss these options, which is part of what makes reading them so rewarding.
So what does it mean today?
In Hebrew, Psalm 139:14 says: I was made in a way that inspires awe, and part of that wonder stays hidden even from me. It is gratitude more than self-esteem. The person who is fully known by God gives thanks for being made with care, and admits that the full wonder of it is beyond understanding.
Frequently asked questions
What does “fearfully” mean in Psalm 139:14?
The Hebrew nora’ot (נוֹרָאוֹת) means awesome or awe-inspiring. It comes from the root ירא, which covers awe as well as fear. Here it means awe.
What does “wonderfully made” mean in Hebrew?
The word is nifleiti (נִפְלֵיתִי), linked to pele, wonder; Metzudat Zion adds “a hidden thing.” Some lexicons connect it to a root meaning to be distinct or set apart.
What does Radak say about Psalm 139:14?
Radak says the formation of the body contains awesome works, that every limb was created with wisdom for a purpose, and that reflecting on this leads a person to recognize the Maker and give thanks.
Who wrote Psalm 139?
The heading attributes it to David: “For the Leader. A Psalm of David.”
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Sources: Hebrew text from the Masoretic text; English from The Holy Scriptures according to the Masoretic Text (Jewish Publication Society, 1917, public domain). Commentaries (Rashi, Ibn Ezra, Radak, Metzudat David, Metzudat Zion, Malbim and others) quoted from their Hebrew originals, in our own translation. Lexical notes from Brown-Driver-Briggs and Strong’s.