Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 104:18
The high hills [are] a refuge for the wild goats; [and] the rocks for the conies.
18. From the lofty trees which are the home of birds it is a natural transition to the lofty mountains which are the home of animals. The Syrian wild goat, lit. ‘the climber,’ is a species of ibex (1Sa 24:2; Job 39:1): see Tristram, p. 95. The ‘coney,’ Heb. shphn = ‘the hider,’ is not the rabbit, but the hyrax Syriacus, a peculiar animal, not unlike a marmot in appearance, which “lives in holes in the rocks, where it makes its nest and conceals its young, and to which it retires at the least alarm.” See Tristram, p. 75.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats – Still keeping up the description of animated nature – the carrying out of the work of creation. The idea is, that nature is full of life. Even the most inaccessible places – the rocks – the high hills – have their inhabitants. Where man cannot climb or dwell, there are abodes of animals which God has made to dwell there, and which find there a refuge – a shelter – a home. On the word used here, and rendered wild goats, see the notes at Job 39:1. The word occurs elsewhere only in 1Sa 24:2.
And the rocks for the conies – The word here employed – shaphan – denotes a quadruped that chews the cud, in the manner of a hare Lev 11:5; Deu 14:7, and living in flocks. The rabbis render it the coney, or rabbit, as our translators have done. The habits of the rabbit accord with this description. The word occurs nowhere else, except in Pro 30:26, where it is rendered, as here, conies.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 18. The high hills are a refuge] The barren tops of the highest hills, and the craggy abrupt precipices of the most stupendous rocks, are not without their uses: they afford protection, refuge, and food, for creatures whose dispositions and habits are suited to such places; and thus no part of the creation is useless. The creatures who are their inhabitants are necessary links in the great chain of animated beings, and show the wisdom and providence of God.
For a description of the coney, see Le 11:5. The yael, translated here the wild goat, is no doubt a creature of the stag or deer kind; the ibex, chamois, antelope, &c.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
So he passeth from the rain to other works of Gods providence, as that God hath made suitable and sufficient provision for the security of these creatures against their persecutors. Although this verse also may have a reference to the former work, and the barren and rocky hills may be mentioned as receiving benefit by the rain, and it may be thus rendered, And
the high hills, ( understand, are satisfied, which is expressed Psa 104:16, and may very well be carried hither) which (that particle being frequently understood) are
a refuge for wild goats, and the rocks (understand out of the former branch, according to the usual manner, which are a refuge) for the conies; or, as others translate this word, for the mountain mice.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats,…. Who have their name in Hebrew d from their climbing and ascending them. What we commonly call “a wild goose chase” should be expressed “a wild goat’s chase”; for not geese, but goats, are chased; and when they are, they flee to the hills for refuge. Hence they are sometimes called the wild goats of the rocks, Job 39:1, and sometimes the rocks are called from them the rocks of wild goats, 1Sa 24:2. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions, render it “for the harts”, or deer; and so Apollinarius: but the word is not used of them.
And the rocks for the conies; who being a feeble folk, make their houses in them, to protect them from creatures of superior power and strength, Pr 30:26. Some interpret it of the “hedgehog”, as the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions: others of “hares”, as the Syriac and Arabic, and so Apollinarius; and others of “mountain mice”. Now what the hills and rocks are to the above creatures, a refuge and a habitation for them, that Christ is to those that fly to him for refuge; though weak and feeble, sinful and unworthy, he is their rock, the rock of their refuge, their strong tower, and place of defence.
d ab Buxtorf. Lexic. fol. 322.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(18) Wild goats.Heb., climbers, and so at home on the high hills. (See 1Sa. 24:2, the rocks of the wild goats.) This animal, which is a relation of the Swiss ibex or steinbock, is now called the beden or jaela (Bible Educator, II., 104).
Conies.Heb., shphan, i.e., hider. (Comp. Lev. 11:5, and Bible Educator, II., 201.) Naturalists know it as the hyrax Syriacus. The LXX., Vulg., and Aquila have hedgehogs.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
18. Wild goats The name occurs but twice more in Scripture, (1Sa 24:2, Job 39:1,) and applies to the ibex, or steinbok, a species of wild goat well known in Europe; also in Arabia and the East. Its Hebrew name is derived from a word which signifies to climb, and is given for its marvellous surefootedness in the mountainous regions which it inhabits.
Conies The , ( shephanim,) are
not rabbits, but the Syrian hyrax. Rabbits are not found in Palestine, but the hyrax is an animal a little larger than the rabbit; having its habitation in the rocks. It was classed with the unclean animals. Lev 11:5; Deu 14:7. The text denotes its habit of burrowing in the rocks; and its exceeding coyness and sagacity are mentioned Pro 30:26
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 104:18. The rocks for the conies See Lev 11:5. The meaning of the Psalmist is, that even those parts of the earth which may seem barren and useless have yet their uses, and serve to shelter certain animals which are adapted to them. None, says Dr. Delaney, but one who had surveyed the venerable shade and stupendous size of the cedars of Libanus, could entertain those exalted conceptions of them which David here does: that they were planted by the hand of God, Psa 104:16. None but one who had been himself refuged in the hills of the wild goats, could so well, and so familiarly, contemplate upon the ends of the divine wisdom in forming these solitary sanctuaries. It were endless to enumerate particulars; and I shall only beg leave to add, that none but one well acquainted with the fierce inhabitants of the forest, their rovings and roarings, could so describe them, as David doth in Psa 104:20-22.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 104:18 The high hills [are] a refuge for the wild goats; [and] the rocks for the conies.
Ver. 18. The high hills are a refuge ] These wild, but weak, creatures are so wise, as to secure themselves from violence; when pursued they run to their refuges; and should not we to God, for the securing of our comforts, and safeguarding of our persons?
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 104:18-23
18The high mountains are for the wild goats;
The cliffs are a refuge for the shephanim.
19He made the moon for the seasons;
The sun knows the place of its setting.
20You appoint darkness and it becomes night,
In which all the beasts of the forest prowl about.
21The young lions roar after their prey
And seek their food from God.
22When the sun rises they withdraw
And lie down in their dens.
23Man goes forth to his work
And to his labor until evening.
Psa 104:19 He made the moon for the seasons;
The sun knows the place of its setting This reflects the fourth day of creation and it shows the significant truth that God is in control of the sun and the moon (cf. Gen 1:14-19), as well as the light and the darkness (cf. Gen 1:3-5). This is not like the ANE myths of a conquest or contrast between the forces of light and darkness, but shows that God is in control of all of them. This is a very significant statement in light of the Babylonian astral worship and the horoscope myth of our day (cf. Psa 19:1-6).
The lights (i.e., sun, moon) are given in Gen 1:14 to set worship times (i.e., Sabbath, annual feast days, fasts). They are servants of mankind’s worship times. In this context they do not primarily refer to the seasons, unless they are linked to
1. the wet and dry seasons of the ANE (cf. Psa 104:10-17)
2. the feeding times of different animals (cf. Psa 104:20-23)
God created and controls light and darkness (cf. Psa 74:16; Amo 5:8). They are not gods or angels which affect human life! They are aspects of an orderly, regular creation with its cycles of activity and rest.
Psa 104:20 a This line of poetry has two verbs which are both jussives in form (but are not translated as jussive) as past acts of God at creation (cf. Gen 1:3-4).
Psa 104:21-23 Although it seems somewhat unusual at first, these verses are simply a statement that the animals of the forest use the nighttime to gather their food and mankind and other animals use the daytime to gather their food. There seems to be no more theological implication to this than this simple statement of creation sharing the time available to utilize the productivity of the earth.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
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.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the wild goats: The yaal, is the ibex, or rock goat, so called from alah, to ascend, because it is famous for mounting to the tops of the highest rocks. Its general appearance is that of the tame goat, of a dusky brown colour; but the male is larger, with long horns, bending backwards. 1Sa 24:2, Job 39:1
the conies: Deu 14:7, Pro 30:26
Reciprocal: Gen 1:24 – Let Lev 11:5 – the coney
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 104:18. The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats As if he had said, even those parts of the earth which may seem barren and useless, have yet their uses, and serve to shelter certain animals that are adapted to them. The psalmist, having alluded to the force of what we call instinct in birds, influencing them to choose secret and secure places in which to fix their habitation, and place their young, proceeds to show the power of the same principle in terrestrial animals, directing them to places of refuge, where they may be safe from their enemies. Thus the wild goats climb, with ease, to the tops and crags of mountains, where they deposite their young. And thus animals of another kind, which are more defenceless than goats, and not able to climb like them, have yet a way of intrenching themselves in a situation perfectly impregnable among the rocks: see on Lev 11:5.