Charles H. Spurgeon on Psalms 139:15

In the lowest parts of the earth. From this remarkable expression, which, in the original, and as elsewhere used, denotes the region of the dead —Sheol, or Hades —it would appear that it is not only his formation in the womb the Psalmist here contemplates, but also —regarding the region of the dead as the womb of resurrection life —the refashioning of the body hereafter, and its new birth to the life immortal, which will be no less "marvellous" a work, but rather more so, than the first fashioning of man's "substance." Confirmed by the words of Ps 139:18 —"When I awake, I am still with thee" —the same language before employed to express the resurrection hope, Ps 17:15; when there shall be purposes and "precious counsels" with respect to his redeemed, in anticipation of which they may repeat this Psalm with renewed feelings of wonder and admiration. —William De Burgh.

Verse 15-16. The word substance represents different words in these verses. In Ps 139:15 it is "my strength", or "my bones"; in Ps 139:16 the word is usually rendered "embryo": but "clew" (life a ball yet to be unwound) finds favour with great scholars. In the lowest parts of the earth denotes no subterranean limbo or workshop; but is a poetical parallel to "in secret." Which in continuance were fashioned is wrong. The margin, though also wrong, indicates the right way: "my days were determined before one of them was." —David M`laren, in "The Book of Psalms in Metre," 1883.