Bible Commentaries
Psalms 104

Verse 1

Bless. Figure of speech Apostrophe.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. with 'eth = Jehovah Himself. App-4 .

my soul = I myself. Hebrew. nephesh.

LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

very great. The conception of Deity is grand; and the cosmogony is neither Hebrew nor Babylonian, but Divine.

clothed. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . So throughout the Psalm.

Verse 2

curtain. Of the fifty-three occurrences of this word, only one (here) in the Psalms. No less than forty-seven of them have to do with the Tabernacle; forty-three of them being in Exodus 26:0 and Exodus 36:0 .

Verse 3

the clouds = the thick clouds.

chariot. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.

wind. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

Verse 4

Who, &c. Quoted in Hebrews 1:7 .

spirits. Angels are spirits (Hebrew. ruach. App-9 ), and are called so in Hebrews 1:7 , Heb 1:14 ; 1 Peter 3:19 (compare 1 Peter 3:22 ).

ministers = servants. Compare Psalms 103:21 .

Verse 5

foundations. Compare Job 38:4-6 . Proverbs 8:29 .

earth. Hebrew. 'erez. As in verses: Psalms 104:9 , Psalms 104:13 , Psalms 104:14 , Psa 9:24 ; not the same word as in Psalms 104:20 .

be removed = move.

for ever = for ever and aye.

Verse 6

The waters stood. Compare 2 Peter 3:5 , 2 Peter 3:6 with Genesis 1:2 -.

Verse 8

hast founded = didst prepare.

Verse 11

The wild asses: are provided with water. Compare Psalms 104:15 .

Verse 14

man. Hebrew ' adam , with Art. = humanity. App-14 .

food. Hebrew bread, Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6 , for all food. Note the three, "grass", "herb". "food".

Verse 15

wine: is provided for man. Compare Psalms 104:11 . Hebrew. yayin. App-27 .

man = weak, mortal man. Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .

Verse 16

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 18

conies. Hebrew. shaphan. Not rabbits, which can burrow; but about their size, having smooth feet; therefore dwelling among the rocks, and not in the ground.

Verse 19

knoweth. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia. .

Verse 24

how manifold. Figure of speech Apostrophe. App-6 .

Verse 26

ships: or nautilus, the "small" of Psalms 104:25 .

leviathan = sea monster, or the "great" of Psalms 104:25 .

made = formed.

play = sport.

Verse 28

hand. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .

Verse 29

troubled = dismayed.

breath = spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

return. Compare Genesis 3:19 . Ecclesiastes 12:7 .

Verse 30

spirit. Hebrew. ruach . App-9 .

earth = ground. Hebrew. 'adamah.

Verse 31

His works. His own works.

Verse 35

sinners. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 .

the wicked = lawless ones. Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 .

be no more = be there no sign of them. Compare Psalms 103:16 .

Praise ye THE LORD (Hebrew Jah. App-4 ). Hebrew. Halelu-jah. This is the first "Hallelujah" in the O.T. The Talmud and the Midrash call attention to the fact that it is connected with the overthrow of the wicked. We may note that it is the same with the first Hallelujah in the N.T. (Revelation 19:1 , Revelation 19:2 ).