Hebrew Word Study – Wonderfully Made – Nipeleti – Nun Pei Lamed Yod Taw Yod

Psalms 139: 14: “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”  

“I will praise thee…”   The word for praise here is yadah which is found in a Hiphal imperfect form.  This use of an imperfect form followed by two participles in the same sentence is typical of David’s style of writing.  Perhaps he does this as a poetic discipline or he may do it as a remez that is a hint of a double or deeper understanding.   

You see he has not yet given thanks, but will. He will do this for something that is in the process of happening. This word for praise, yadah another form of this word is todah which means thanksgiving.  This is a praise of thanks. It is also a vocal, public praise of thanks.  So, David is looking and planning for the next testimony meeting when he can stand up and give a testimony.  He will testify to something that is now taking place.  Note too, that this is in a Hiphil form.  Something is motivating him, causing him to give this testimony.  

He has realized that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Fearful and wonderful are participles. There is no present tense in the Hebrew, but we use the participle to express a present tense. Yeah, I know, this whole expression is a syntactical nightmare. That is why later scribes changed the participles to a simple verb and put this into a first person,  keeping it in a Niphal form but putting it into a perfect tense.  Now if we follow the Septuagint which predates the Masoretic Text which did this tinkering with the syntax, we need to revert back to a second person rather than a first person. This is important because I have a theory that the Masorites wanted to rub out a very important reference to Jesus.

Thus, the original text before the Masorites got their grubby hands on it, most likely read: “Your works are fearful and wonderful.” What is fearful and wonderful?  Each word defines itself.  Fearful is “yarah.”  The word is spelled Yod Resh and Hei which represents a messenger from heaven the Yod which is The Son, the Resh which is the letter for the Holy Spirit, and the Hei the letter that suggests God’s presence.  Son, Holy Spirit, and Father. Note the progression. We first come into salvation through the Son, Jesus Christ.  Then the Holy Spirit sanctifies us and then we are allowed to enter into the Father’s presence.  In the temple, you have the outer court.  This is a picture of Jesus, where everyone is invited to enter.  Then you have the inner court. Only the priest goes in there to prepare to minister.  This pictures the work of the Holy Spirit.  Then you have the holy of holies where the very presence of God rested.  

Then they are wonderful or pala’. This means distinguished, separated, and unique.  His works are works that no other could perform.  Again, I see a Messianic reference here.  Only the work of Jesus Christ on the cross could bring us to a completion with God. 

Then David says “My soul knoweth right well.” I know the translators for the King James Version had an agenda, but sometimes I think that agenda was to confuse us. Sort of like an old Theology professor of mine who said: “If you can convince ‘em, confuse ‘em.”   Literally in the Hebrew, it says: “my soul knows very.”  Most of your major translations simply say something to the effect, “My soul knows it.” I can’t argue that. But, being the dusty old professor that I am, I can’t just let it sit there without adding one little zinger to the mix.  The word soul is nephesh which is that part of you that feels emotions. This is what knows, or yada’.  Now this is not the same word as our first word yadah which means verbal thanks, but it is sort of a play on that word.  Yada’ is to know intimately.  The Septuagint uses the Greek word ginosko for yada.  This is the same word Mary used in Luke 1:34 when she asked how could she be pregnant when she ginosko (knew) no man. She was, of course, referring to an intimacy.  That is why in the Hebrew the word mo’ed (very) is used as an adverb to yada’.  David’s soul was intimate with the completed work of God. 

So David is saying that he will give vocal praise for the completed and unique work of God because he experienced it firsthand. It would be a future descendent of his by the name of Jesus who would complete of our salvation.  

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