Psalm 139

The subtitle wasn’t part of the original psalm. And the possible byline “of David,” isn’t necessarily a byline. The vague phrase could mean the song was written by David, about David, or was inspired by David. Almost half of the psalms are attributed to David in this way, 73 of 150. Ancient Jewish history tells of David playing a lyre and writing songs. For one, he wrote a song of mourning at the battlefield death of King Saul and his sons: “How have the mighty fallen!” (2 Samuel 1:19-27 New American Standard Bible). An ancient Jewish scroll from about the time of Jesus, discovered among the famous Dead Sea Scrolls, reports that David wrote 3,600 songs.

Literally, Sheol, a word Old Testament writers used to describe the place of the dead. It is a kind of underworld where the dead are cut off from the living—and from God—and there is no coming back.

The phrase is more literally translated, “You created my inward parts.” But the Hebrew for the inward parts is kilyah, which can mean kidneys, internal organs, the body’s HQ for emotion and love. That’s why one Tanakh Jewish Bible translates the phrase, “my conscience.”

More literally “formed in the depths of the earth.” It’s unclear what the poet intended. Perhaps he was referring to a folk tale that humans were created in the earth, perhaps believing it or using it as a metaphor, instead. Genesis teaches God made Adam from dirt: “Dust is what you were and dust is what you’ll be” (Genesis 3:19). Also, at least 300 years before Moses could have written that—assuming Jewish tradition is right and Moses wrote Genesis—someone in what is now Iraq said their god made people from dirt. It’s in a story called the Epic of Gilgamesh (GILL gah mesh). Similar ancient stories in Egypt, Central Africa, and Greece say much the same.

Scholars say this is an abrupt and awkward end to this song within the psalm. Christians traditionally say they see this as a foreshadowing of resurrection, thanks to the future death and resurrection of Jesus.

Literally, “Lead me in the everlasting way.” Some scholars speculate the poetic was talking about the good and godly behavior of God’s people from Israel’s ancient history. Others say this points toward everlasting life.