Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 104:5
[Who] laid the foundations of the earth, [that] it should not be removed forever.
5. He founded the earth on its bases,
That it should not be moved for ever.
The earth is compared to a building erected upon solid foundations. Cp. Job 38:6; Pro 8:29.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
5 9. The formation of the earth, and the separation of land and water: the work of the third day, Gen 1:9-10; cp. Job 38:8-11.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Who laid the foundations of the earth – Referring still to the creation of the earth. The margin is, He hath founded the earth upon her bases. The Hebrew word rendered in the margin her bases means properly a place; then a basis or foundation. The idea is, that there wes something, as it were, placed under the earth to support it. The idea is not uncommon in the Scriptures. Compare the notes at Job 38:4.
That it should not be removed for ever – So that it cannot be shaken out of its place. That is, It is fixed, permanent, solid. Its foundations do not give way, as edifices reared by man. but it abides the same from age to age – the most fixed and stable object of which we have any knowledge. Compare the notes at Psa 78:69.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 104:5-9
Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not he removed for ever.
Stability of Nature essential to prosperity
Earthquakes alone are sufficient to destroy the prosperity of any country. If beneath England the now inert subterranean forces should exert those powers which most assuredly in former geological ages they have exerted, how completely would the entire condition of the country be changed! What would become of the lofty houses, thickly packed cities, great manufactories, the beautiful public and private edifices? If the new period of disturbance were first to commence by some great earthquake in the dead of the night, how terrific would be the carnage! England would at once be bankrupt; all papers, records, and accounts would from that moment be lost. Government being unable to collect the taxes, and failing to maintain its authority, the hand of violence and rapine would remain uncontrolled. In every large town famine would go forth, pestilence and death following in its train. (Charles Darwin.)
The stability of the earth
The stability of the earth is of God as much as the being and existence of it. There have been many earthquakes or movings of the earth in several parts of it, but the whole body of the earth was never removed so much as one hairs breadth out of its place, since the foundations thereof were laid. Archimedes, the great mathematician, said, If you will give me a place to set my engine on, I will remove the earth. It was a great brag, but the Lord hath laid it too fast for mans removing. He hath laid the foundations of the earth that it shall not be removed, nor can it be at all moved, but at His pleasure; and when it moves at any time, it is to mind the sons of men, that they by their sins have moved Him to displeasure. (Joseph Caryl.)
The waters stood above the mountains.—
Land from beneath the waters
It results from the simplest methods of interpretation that, leaving out of view certain patches of metamorphosed rocks and certain volcanic products, all that is now dry land has once been at the bottom of the waters. It is perfectly certain that at a comparatively recent period of the worlds history–the Cretaceous epoch–none of the great physical features which at present mark the surface of the globe existed. It is certain that the Rocky Mountains were not. It is certain that the Himalaya Mountains were not. It is certain that the Alps and the Pyrenees had no existence. The evidence is of the plainest possible character, and is simply this: We find raised up on the flanks of these mountains, elevated by the forces of upheaval which have given rise to them, masses of cretaceous rock which formed the bottom of the sea before those mountains existed. It is therefore clear that the elevatory forces which gave rise to the mountains operated subsequently to the Cretaceous epoch, and that the mountains themselves are largely made up of the materials deposited in the sea which once occupied their place. (Huxley.)
Geology the Divine record
To me it seems that to look on the first land that was ever lifted above the waste of waters, to follow the shore where the earliest animals and plants were created when the thought of God first expressed itself in organic forms, to hold in ones hand a bit of stone from an old sea-beach, hardened into rock thousands of centuries ago, and studded with the beings that once crept upon its surface or were stranded there by some retreating wave, is even of deeper interest to men than the relics of their own race, for these things tell more directly of the thoughts and creative acts of God. (Agassiz.)
At Thy rebuke they fled.—
Gods command over the elements
The famous description of Virgil comes to mind, who introduces Neptune as sternly rebuking the winds for daring without his consent to embroil earth and heaven, and raise such huge mountain waves: then, swifter than the word is spoken, he calms the swollen seas, scatters the gathered clouds, and brings back the sun. (Lorinus.)
Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over.—
Restraint imposed upon the sea
The Baltic Sea, in our own time, inundated large tracts of land, and did great damage to the Flemish people and other neighbouring nations. By an instance of this kind we are warned what would be the consequences were the restraint imposed upon the sea by the hand of God removed. Although the natural tendency of the waters is to cover the earth, yet this will not happen, because God has established, by His Word, a counteracting law, and as His truth is eternal, this law must remain steadfast. (J. Calvin.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 5. yasad erets al mechonepha,
bal tammot olam vaed.
“Laying the earth upon its foundations,
That it should not be shaken for evermore.”
This image Bishop Lowth thinks evidently taken from the tabernacle, which was so laid upon its foundations that nothing could move it, and the dispensation to which it was attached, till the end purposed by the secret counsel of God was accomplished: and thus the earth is established, till the end of its creation shall be fully answered; and then it and its works shall be burnt up. On the above ground, the stability of the sanctuary and the stability of the earth are sometimes mentioned in the same words.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He hath founded or established the earth upon its own basis or foundations, i.e. upon itself, or its own weight, whereby it stands as fast and unmovable, as if it were built upon the strongest foundations imaginable; which is a stupendous work of Divine power and wisdom. That it should not be removed out of its proper place, which is the lowest part of the world.
For ever; as long as the world continues.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. The earth is firmly fixed byHis power.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Who laid the foundations of the earth,…. Or “founded the earth upon its bases” l; which some take to be the waters, according to Ps 24:2, others the centre of gravity in it; others the mountains; others the circumambient air, by which it is poised; rather the almighty power of God, by which it subsists; this is the work of Christ the Almighty; see Heb 1:3.
That it should not be removed for ever: for though it may be shaken by earthquakes, yet not removed; nor will it be until the dissolution of all things, when it shall flee away before the face of the Judge, and a new earth shall succeed, Re 20:11.
l “super bases ejus”, Montanus, Musculus, Junius Tremellius, Piscator so the Tigurine version, Gejerus, Michaelis.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
In a second decastich the poet speaks of the restraining of the lower waters and the establishing of the land standing out of the water. The suffix, referring back to , is intended to say that the earth hanging free in space (Job 26:7) has its internal supports. Its eternal stability is preserved even amidst the judgment predicted in Isa 24:16., since it comes forth out of it, unremoved from its former station, as a transformed, glorified earth. The deep ( ) with which God covers it is that primordial mass of water in which it lay first of all as it were in embryo, for it came into being (2Pe 3:5). does not refer to ( masc. as in Job 28:14), because then would be required, but to , and the masculine is to be explained either by attraction) according to the model of 1Sa 2:4), or by a reversion to the masculine ground-form as the discourse proceeds (cf. the same thing with 2Sa 17:13, Exo 11:6, Eze 2:9). According to Psa 104:6, the earth thus overflowed with water was already mountainous; the primal formation of the mountains is therefore just as old as the mentioned in direct succession to the . After this, Psa 104:7 describe the subduing of the primordial waters by raising up the dry land and the confining of these waters in basins surrounded by banks. Terrified by the despotic command of God, they started asunder, and mountains rose aloft, the dry land with its heights and its low grounds appeared. The rendering that the waters, thrown into wild excitement, rose up the mountains and descended again (Hengstenberg), does not harmonize with the fact that they are represented in Psa 104:6 as standing above the mountains. Accordingly, too, it is not to be interpreted after Psa 107:26: they (the waters) rose mountain-high, they sunk down like valleys. The reference of the description to the coming forth of the dry land on the third day of creation requires that should be taken as subject to . But then, too, the are the subject to , as Hilary of Poictiers renders it in his Genesis, 5:97, etc.: subsidunt valles , and not the waters as subsiding into the valleys. Hupfeld is correct; Psa 104:8 is a parenthesis which affirms that, inasmuch as the waters retreating laid the solid land bare, mountains and valleys as such came forth visibly; cf. Ovid, Metam. i. 344: Flumina subsidunt, montes exire videntur.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
5 He hath founded the earth upon its foundations Here the prophet celebrates the glory of God, as manifested in the stability of the earth. Since it is suspended in the midst of the air, and is supported only by pillars of water, how does it keep its place so steadfastly that it cannot be moved? This I indeed grant may be explained on natural principles; for the earth, as it occupies the lowest place, being the center of the world, naturally settles down there. But even in this contrivance there shines forth the wonderful power of God. Again, if the waters are higher than the earth, because they are lighter, why do they not cover the whole earth round about? Certainly the only answer which philosophers can give to this is, that the tendency of the waters to do so is counteracted by the providence of God, that a dwelling-place might be provided for man. If they do not admit that the waters are restrained by the determinate appointment of God, they betray not only their depravity and unthankfulness, but also their ignorance, and are altogether barbarous. The prophet, therefore, not without reason, recounts among the miracles of God, that which would be to us wholly incredible, did not even experience show its truth. We are very base indeed if, taught by such undoubted a proof, we do not learn that nothing in the world is stable except in as far as it is sustained by the hand of God. The world did not originate from itself, consequently, the whole order of nature depends on nothing else than his appointment, by which each element has its own peculiar property. Nor is the language of the prophet to be viewed merely as an exhortation to give thanks to God; it is also intended to strengthen our confidence in regard to the future, that we may not live in the world in a state of constant fear and anxiety, as we must have done had not God testified that he has given the earth for a habitation to men. It is a singular blessing, which he bestows upon us, in his causing us to dwell upon the earth with undisturbed minds, by giving us the assurance that he has established it upon everlasting pillars. Although cities often perish by earthquakes, yet the body of the earth itself remains. Yea, all the agitations which befall it more fully confirm to us the truth, that the earth would be swallowed up every moment were it not preserved by the secret power of God.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(5) Who laid . . .Better, He fixed the earth on its foundations. (Comp. Job. 38:4-6; Pro. 8:29.)
The inconsistency of this with Job. 26:7, He laid the earth upon nothing, need not cause difficulty. Both treatments are poetical, not scientific. The word foundations implies stability and endurance (comp. Psa. 82:5), as in Shakespeares
The frame and huge foundation of the earth.
The verse has a historical interest from having supplied the Inquisition with an argument against Galileo.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
(518) The work of the third day of Creation in its two great divisions. (1) The separation of the land and water (Psa. 104:5-9); (2) the clothing of the earth with grass, herbs, and trees (Psa. 104:10-18). The poet, however, ranges beyond the Mosaic account, and already peoples the earth with the living creatures of the fifth day. It is not a picture of still life like that of Genesis, but a living, moving, animated scene (Perowne).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. Laid the foundations of the earth Literally, founded the earth upon its foundations, a poetical figure for a firm placing of the “earth” in its proper sphere. See Psa 119:89-91. Compare Job 26:7; Job 38:4; Job 38:6. Its place is fixed by an almighty fiat, not by chance, or evolutionary laws.
For ever Literally, for ever and ever.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 104:5. Who laid the foundations of the earth Who hath built the earth upon her bases. Bishop Lowth, in his 8th Prelection, of images taken from things sacred, observes, that we have a remarkable example hereof in this psalm. “The exordium (says he) is peculiarly magnificent, wherein the majesty of God is described, so far as we can investigate and comprehend it from the admirable construction of nature: in which passage, as it was for the most part necessary to use translatitious images, the sacred poet has principally applied those which would be esteemed by the Hebrews the most elevated and worthy such an argument; for they all, as it deems to me, are taken from the tabernacle. We will give the passage verbally, with a short explication. In the first place he expresses the greatness of God in proper words; then he uses metaphorical ones:
hod vehadar labashta Thou hast put on honour and majesty:
labashta is a word very frequently used in the dress of the priests.
Covering himself with light as with a garment:
A manifest symbol of the divine presence; the light, conspicuous in the holiest, is pointed out under the same idea; and from this single example a simile is educed to express the ineffable glory of God generally and universally.
noteh shamaiim kaiieriah. Stretching out the heavens like a curtain:
The word , rendered curtain, is that which denotes the curtains, or covering of the whole tabernacle.
hammekareh bammaiim aliiothaiv. Laying the beams of his chambers in the waters.
The sacred writer expresses the wonderful nature of the air, aptly and regularly constructed from various and flux elements into one continued and stable series, by a metaphor drawn from the singular formation of the tabernacle; which, consisting of many different parts, and easily reparable when there was need, was kept together by a perpetual juncture and contiguation of them all together. The poet goes on:
hassam abiim rekubo. hammehallek al kanpei ruach. Making the clouds his chariot; Walking upon the wings of the wind.
He had first expressed an image of the divine majesty, such as it resided in the holy of holies, discernible by a certain investiture of the most splendid light. He now denotes the same from that sight of itself, which the divine majesty exhibited, when it moved together with the ark, sitting on a circumambient cloud, and carried on high through the air: the seat of the divine presence is even called by the sacred historians, as its proper name, hamerchabah, that is, a chariot.
Causing the winds to be his angels. And the flaming fire to be in the place of his ministers. ouseh malaakaiv ruchoth. meshartaiv eish lohet.
The elements are described prompt and expedite to perform the divine commands, like angels or ministers serving in the tabernacle; the Hebrew mashartaiv, being a word most common in the sacred ministrations.
iasad erets al mekoneihah. He hath also founded the earth upon its bases:
This also is manifestly taken from the same. The poet adds,
bal timmot olam vanged. That it should not be removed for ever:
That is, till the time appointed according to the will of God. As the condition of each was the same in this respect; so the stability of the sanctuary, in turn, is in almost the same words elsewhere compared with the stability of the earth.”
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
All these are so many beautiful descriptions of the various works of God in creation. They need no comment; but we may scripturalise them in reference to the new creation in Christ Jesus, and find much for the soul to delight in. The foundation-stone which God hath laid in Zion is sure; and never to be moved. All the waters of sin and hell, and the breakings up of the great deep of iniquity, cannot remove it. Though the mountain’s depart, and the hills be removed, the word of the Lord, and salvation in that word, even the uncreated word Jesus, standeth forever. Isa 28:16 ; Son 8:7 ; Isa 54:10 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 104:5 [Who] laid the foundations of the earth, [that] it should not be removed for ever.
Ver. 5. Who laid the foundations of the earth ] Heb. He hath founded the earth upon her bases. See Psa 24:2 Job 38:4 ; Job 38:6 . See Trapp on “ Psa 24:2 “ See Trapp on “ Job 38:4 “ See Trapp on “ Job 38:6 “
That it should not be removed for ever
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 104:5-9
5He established the earth upon its foundations,
So that it will not totter forever and ever.
6You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
The waters were standing above the mountains.
7At Your rebuke they fled,
At the sound of Your thunder they hurried away.
8The mountains rose; the valleys sank down
To the place which You established for them.
9You set a boundary that they may not pass over,
So that they will not return to cover the earth.
Psa 104:5-9 In Genesis 1 the only thing that God did not speak into existence was water. This strophe describes (as does Psa 104:3) His control of water (cf. Gen 1:6-8, the waters above; Gen 1:9-10, the waters below). Job 38:8-11 forms a theological parallel.
Psa 104:5 God’s created order is secure (cf. 1Ch 16:30; Psa 24:1-2; 2Ti 2:19; Heb 11:10).
This same imagery is used of the Coming Messiah (i.e., the Cornerstone, cf. 1Co 3:11; Eph 2:20; 1Pe 2:6-8).
SPECIAL TOPIC: THE CORNERSTONE
So that it will not totter forever and ever Although Psa 102:25-26 speaks of the world passing away (cf. Mat 5:18; Mat 24:35; 2Pe 3:10), the earth is also used as a symbol of stability (cf. Psa 78:69; Psa 93:1; Psa 96:10; Ecc 1:4). The heavens and earth are regularly used as the two permanent witnesses (cf. Deu 4:26; Deu 30:19; Deu 31:28; Deu 32:1).
Psa 104:6 This line of poetry asserts that water covered the earth at the beginning of God’s spoken creative activity (cf. Gen 1:2; Psa 33:6-7; Pro 3:19-20; Pro 8:24-25; Pro 8:27-28). The Genesis summary account describes how God separated things (dark – light; water – land; salt water – fresh water) and how they were designed, in and of themselves, to continue and develop through time.
deep This term is personified in several ANE creation myths to show the chaos of original creation. However, both in Genesis 1 and Psa 104:6, God is in control of watery chaos (see Special Topic: waters). It is not a separate, independent entity, but is under the control of God. Although there are some terms in this Psalm which correlate to ancient mythology, the Psalm has removed all of the ancient mythological personalization from these terms (cf. Psa 74:12-17). See Introduction to Genesis online at www.freebiblecommentary.org.
Psa 104:7 At Your rebuke The noun (BDB 172) refers to an oral command or word. This is used in the OT for three events.
1. initial creation – Psa 18:13; Psa 18:15; Isa 50:2 (i.e., Gen 1:9-10)
2. the dividing of the Red Sea at the exodus – Psa 78:13; Psa 106:9
3. theophany of judgment (time unspecified) – Ps. 9:5,11; Ps. 9:21; Isa 17:13
Notice that thunder (BDB 947) is parallel (cf. Job 26:14; Job 37:4-5; Psa 18:13; Psa 29:3). Thunder is used by John in Revelation to describe the voice of
1. four living creatures, Rev 6:1
2. a strong angel, Rev 10:3-4
3. the redeemed, Rev 14:2
4. great multitude, Rev 19:6
At Your rebuke they fled This speaks of the power of God’s spoken word (cf. Genesis 1; Isa 55:11; Heb 1:3). It also shows that at His word, not only do things come into existence, but they were formed and shaped by His word after initial creation.
At the sound of Your thunder they hurried away This seems to remind us of the Exodus experience where God’s voice is described as thunder at the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai (cf. Exo 19:10-19).
Psa 104:8-9 To the place which You did establish for them These two verses show that God is in control of His creation. There is a set plan which creation follows. This basic worldview is the background of the western, scientific orientation. There is a natural order which can be discerned because of the creative and preserving hand of God in creation. This is not Theism, which says that God created and then left the world alone. This active, biblical personalism asserts that God is involved moment-by-moment in His creation.
Psa 104:9 The Bible has many passages about YHWH controlling and permanently limiting the seas and rivers/lakes (cf. Job 38:8-10; Psa 74:15; Pro 8:29; Jer 5:22). Water, with its destructive power, has been tamed (i.e., Isa 43:2).
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
foundations. Compare Job 38:4-6. Pro 8:29.
earth. Hebrew. ‘erez. As in verses: Psa 104:9, Psa 104:13, Psa 104:14, Psa 9:24; not the same word as in Psa 104:20.
be removed = move.
for ever = for ever and aye.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Who laid the foundations of the earth: Heb. He hath founded the earth upon her bases, Psa 24:2, Psa 33:9, Psa 136:6, Job 26:7, Job 38:4-7
that it: Psa 93:1, Psa 96:10, Ecc 1:4, 2Pe 3:10, Rev 6:14, Rev 20:11
Reciprocal: Gen 1:9 – General 1Sa 2:8 – the pillars Job 36:30 – and Job 38:6 – Whereupon Psa 18:15 – foundations Psa 66:6 – He turned Psa 78:69 – earth Psa 119:90 – thou hast Mic 6:2 – foundations Rom 1:20 – from the
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 104:5. Who laid the foundations of the earth Hebrew, , jasad eretz gnal mechoneah, who hath founded the earth upon its own bases, or foundations, that is, upon itself, or its own centre of gravity, by which it is self-balanced, and by which it stands as fast and immoveable as if it were built upon the strongest foundation imaginable, which is a most stupendous work of divine wisdom and power; that it should not be removed Out of its proper place; for ever Or, till the end of time, when it must give way to the new earth. God, says Dr. Hammond, has fixed so strange a place for the earth, that, being a heavy body, one would think it should fall every moment: and yet, which way so- ever we should imagine it to stir, it must, contrary to the nature of such a body, fall upward, and so can have no possible ruin, but by tumbling into heaven, namely, which surrounds it on all sides.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The psalmist described God creating the earth and then covering it with a blanket, as one would cover a new-born infant. He pictured the earth as though it were a building and stressed the stability of what God had made. He did not mean that the earth has literal foundations and is flat. God proceeded to separate the waters on the earth from those above the earth (Psa 104:6-7; cf. Gen 1:6-8). Then he separated the dry ground from the waters on the earth (Psa 104:8-9; cf. Gen 1:9-13). The seas are humanly unmanageable, but God set their boundaries and prohibited the waters from crossing them. The frequent references to God controlling water in this psalm demonstrate His sovereignty over all that is difficult to manage in creation.