Bible Commentaries
Psalms 104

Verses 1-35

CIV. The Glory of the Creator.

Psalms 104:1-4 . Yahweh’ s power in the heavens. He is clothed in the light which God made first ( Genesis 1:3) before the heavenly bodies. He lays the foundation of His dwelling in the waters above the firmament ( Genesis 1:7 *). Thence He issues from time to time in person riding on the clouds ( Isaiah 19:1), or else sends His message by wind or flame.

Psalms 104:5-9 . Separation of land and sea.

Psalms 104:10-18 . God’ s care for man and beast.

Psalms 104:13 b. The emendation, “ The earth is satisfied from thy clouds,” i.e. with the rain which falls from them, implies the use of a word for clouds which means “ vapours” rather than actual rain.

Psalms 104:14 . service of man: rather, “ for man’ s work,” i.e. in tilling the ground and so raising grain.

Psalms 104:16 . The cedars of Lebanon are so great that only God could have planted them.

Psalms 104:18 . conies: Proverbs 30:26 *.

Psalms 104:19-23 . The night.

Psalms 104:19 . for seasons: especially holy seasons such as Passover, etc.

Psalms 104:24-30 . The poet begins with the sea and passes to the thought of God as giving and renewing all life.

Psalms 104:26 . Read perhaps, “ There go the dragons.” This preserves the parallelism.— leviathan: a mythical sea monster (see Job 40:24 to Job 41:34) with features borrowed from the crocodile and the whale.

Psalms 104:31-35 . Ascription of glory to God who Himself rejoices in His works.