Another Pre-Existence Scripture

[rpn]

I heard this scripture in a movie today and didn't recall ever reading it.   So I looked up the KJV and saw how much more powerful the NLT version is.   Seems to me that the link below (which shows many translations of the verse) supports the NLT version.  

I just wanted to bring this one to other's attention: I didn't know there was another besides the Jeremiah one about the preexistence.

 

And I wondered if anyone has insight into the accuracy of the NLT version.

Psalm 139:16 (NLT)

¹⁶ You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.

 

¹⁶ 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.

 

http://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Psalm%20139:16

[Rivers]

This could easily be interpreted as God viewing the future and seeing our lives before they took place.

Edited February 9, 2014 by Rivers

[Rivers]

duplicate

Edited February 9, 2014 by Rivers

[danielwoods]

 

I heard this scripture in a movie today and didn't recall ever reading it.   So I looked up the KJV and saw how much more powerful the NLT version is.   Seems to me that the link below (which shows many translations of the verse) supports the NLT version.  

I just wanted to bring this one to other's attention: I didn't know there was another besides the Jeremiah one about the preexistence.

 

And I wondered if anyone has insight into the accuracy of the NLT version.

Psalm 139:16 (NLT)

¹⁶ You saw me before I was born.

    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out

    before a single day had passed.

 

¹⁶ 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.

 

http://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Psalm%20139:16

 

 

"Saw me before I was born." 

 

Most likely referring to our lives in the womb. 

[Coreyb]

reminds me of Enoch literature 

[JLHPROF]

 

I heard this scripture in a movie today and didn't recall ever reading it.   So I looked up the KJV and saw how much more powerful the NLT version is.   Seems to me that the link below (which shows many translations of the verse) supports the NLT version.  

I just wanted to bring this one to other's attention: I didn't know there was another besides the Jeremiah one about the preexistence.

 

And I wondered if anyone has insight into the accuracy of the NLT version.

Psalm 139:16 (NLT)

¹⁶ You saw me before I was born.

    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out

    before a single day had passed.

 

¹⁶ 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.

 

http://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Psalm%20139:16

 

 

Not sure I like the NLT version - it seems to remove our agency if every day of my life has already been written.  However the KJV version I like - wherein it is our substance and "members" (usually means body) that are seen and formed.

I would be interested to know if the original language favored the KJV or the NLT version, because I really don't care for the NLT in this.

 

 

My favorite pre-existence quote comes from Proverbs 8:

 

22The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

²³ I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

²⁴ When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

²⁵ Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

²⁶ While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

²⁷ When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

²⁸ When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

²⁹ When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

³⁰ Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

³¹ Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

[Robert F. Smith]

 

I heard this scripture in a movie today and didn't recall ever reading it.   So I looked up the KJV and saw how much more powerful the NLT version is.   Seems to me that the link below (which shows many translations of the verse) supports the NLT version.  

I just wanted to bring this one to other's attention: I didn't know there was another besides the Jeremiah one about the preexistence.

 

And I wondered if anyone has insight into the accuracy of the NLT version.

Psalm 139:16 (NLT)

¹⁶ You saw me before I was born.

    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out

    before a single day had passed.

 

¹⁶ 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.

 

http://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Psalm%20139:16

 

I note that they exclude the New Jerusalem Bible translation, and leave out important verses leading up to v. 16,

 

13 You created my inmost self,

knit me together in my mother's womb.

For so many marvels I thank you,

a wonder am I, and all your works are wonders.

 

14 You knew me through and through,

my being held no secrets for you,

when I was being formed in secret,

textured in the depths of the earth.

 

16 Your eyes could see my embryo.

In your book all my days were inscribed,

every one that was fixed is there.

 

Of the last line, the NJB notes that some mss read "is there," while others read "is not there."   The NJB discusses the passage: "The Psalmist is meditating on the divine omniscience:  God knows a person's destiny even before he is born," comparing Pss 22:10, 71:16, "while for that person the mystery is impenetrable."

Edited February 10, 2014 by Robert F. Smith

[volgadon]

It isn't a very useful scripture for pre-existence. Daniel is right that it has to do with life in the womb, and describes the notion that a child is formed layer upon layer, like in Ezekiel's vision of the dead bones.

[theplains]

My favorite pre-existence quote comes from Proverbs 8:

 

The context is wisdom personified as a woman. It has nothing to do with pre-existence.

Proverbs 9 resumes talk of this woman (wisdom).  Jehovah's Witnesses go so far as to

translate 8:30 as "Then I was beside him as a master worker. I was the one he was

especially fond of day by day; I rejoiced before him all the time", and presto, the woman

is now Jesus Christ.

 

Regards,

Jim

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

It isn't a very useful scripture for pre-existence. Daniel is right that it has to do with life in the womb, and describes the notion that a child is formed layer upon layer, like in Ezekiel's vision of the dead bones.

Many scriptures also have a dual meaning..."types and shadows". In John 3, when it talks about being born of the "water and the spirit" means birth and baptism at the same time as "quickened by the spirit prior to birth and quickened by the Spirit when we believe"...as explained by Enoch in Moses 6: 58-60.

[JLHPROF]

The context is wisdom personified as a woman. It has nothing to do with pre-existence.

Proverbs 9 resumes talk of this woman (wisdom).  Jehovah's Witnesses go so far as to

translate 8:30 as "Then I was beside him as a master worker. I was the one he was

especially fond of day by day; I rejoiced before him all the time", and presto, the woman

is now Jesus Christ.

 

Regards,

Jim

 

Wisdom is a woman who presto is now Jesus Christ?...sounds like Gnosticism and the old Pistis Sophia.

[theplains]

Wisdom is a woman who presto is now Jesus Christ?...sounds like Gnosticism and the old Pistis Sophia.

 

The Book of Proverbs 'symbolizes' foolishness and wisdom as women, starting in chapter

1. It begins in verse 20 and continues through to chapter 9 - "Wisdom crieth without; she

uttereth her voice in the streets". But the Jehovah's Witnesses use the NWT, which uses

the phrase 'master builder/worker'. They change the context of this particular verse, not

understanding the context of the chapters, and insert 'Jesus Christ' in their interpretation.

 

Regards,

Jim