Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 33:7
He gathereth the waters of the sea together as a heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
7. The separation of land and water (Gen 1:9-10). The present tense ( gathereth layeth up) expresses the continued action of maintenance as well as the original creation. The comparison as an heap probably refers to the appearance of the sea from the shore, and may have been derived from Exo 15:8; cp. Jos 3:13; Jos 3:16; Psa 78:13.
But all the Ancient Versions render as in a bottle, reading nd for nd. To the infinite power of the Creator the bed of the sea is but as the water-skin which a man carries with him for a journey. See Isa 40:12; Isa 40:15. Cp. “the pitchers of heaven” (Job 38:37).
the depth ] Better as R.V., the deeps: the vast masses of water stored away in subterranean abysses (Gen 7:11; Psa 78:15). So we read of the storehouses of the wind (Psa 135:7 = Jer 10:13), of the snow and hail (Job 38:22).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap – The Hebrew word here rendered gathereth is a participle; gathering. The design is to represent this as a continuous act; an act not merely of the original creation, but constantly occurring. The reference is to the power by which the waters are gathered and kept together; the continual power which prevents their overspreading the earth. The word rendered heap – ned – means properly a heap or mound, and is applied to the waves of the sea heaped up together like mounds. Compare Jos 3:13, Jos 3:16; Exo 15:8 : Psa 78:13. He collected those waters, and kept them in their places, as if they were solid matter. This denotes the absolute control which God has over the waters, and is thus a most striking illustration of his power.
He layeth up the depth in storehouses – The abysses; the deep waters; the masses of water. He places them where he pleases; he disposes of them as the farmer his grain, or the rich man his treasures. The caverns of the ocean – the ocean-beds – are thus vast reservoirs or treasure-houses for the reception of the waters which God has chosen to deposit there. All this is proof of his amazing power, and all this lays a proper foundation for praise. Occasions for gratitude to him may be found in every world that he has made; in every object that has come from his hand; and nothing more obviously suggests this than his wondrous power over the waters of the ocean – collecting them, restraining them, controlling them, as he pleases.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 7. He gathereth the waters of the sea together] He separated the water from the earth and, while the latter was collected into continents, islands, mountains, hills, and valleys, the former was collected into one place, and called seas; and by his all-controlling power and providence the waters have been retained in their place, so that they have not returned to drown the earth: and he has so adapted the solar and lunar influence exerted on the waters, that the tides are only raised to certain heights, so that they cannot overflow the shores, nor become dissipated in the atmospheric regions. In this one economy there is a whole circle of science. The quantity of matter in the sun, moon, and in the earth, are all adjusted to each other in this astonishing provision: the course of the moon, and the diurnal and annual revolutions of the earth, are all concerned here; and so concerned, that it requires some of the nicest of the Newtonian calculations to ascertain the laws by which the whole is affected.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He gathereth; or, gathered; for he speaks of the first creation, when this was done, Ge 1.
As an heap; by which expression he brings to our minds this great work of God, that the sea, which is lighter and higher than earth, is yet confined within its bounds, that it might not overflow the earth.
In storehouses; either in the clouds, or in the bowels of the earth; whence he can draw them forth when he sees fit.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4-9. Reasons for praise: first,God’s truth, faithfulness, and mercy, generally; then, His creativepower which all must honor.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap,…. Which was done on the third day of the creation, by means of which the dry land appeared, Ge 1:9; when the waters of the sea were piled up as an heap, and stood higher than the earth, as they now do; and which is a wonderful instance of the power and providence of God, to bound them, and preserve the earth from being overflowed by them,
Job 38:9;
he layeth up the depth in storehouses; that is, large quantities of water, for which he has his treasure houses, as for the wind, hail and snow, Ps 135:7; and these are the clouds of heaven above, and the fountains of the great deep below, which the Lord opens and stops at his pleasure; see Ge 7:11.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
7. He gathered together the waters of the sea as into a heap. (676) Here the Psalmist does not speak of all that might have been said of every part of the world, but under one department he comprehends all the rest. He celebrates, however, a signal and remarkable miracle which we see in looking on the surface of the earth; namely, that God gathers together the element of water, fluid and unstable as it is, into a solid heap, and holds it so at his pleasure. Natural philosophers confess, and experience openly proclaims, that the waters occupy a higher place than the earth. How is it then that, as they are fluid and naturally disposed to flow, they do not spread abroad and cover the earth, and how is it that the earth, which is lower in position, remains dry? In this we certainly perceive that God, who is ever attentive to the welfare of the human race, has inclosed the waters within certain invisible barriers, and keeps them shut up to this day; and the prophet elegantly declares that they stand still at God’s commandment, as if they were a heap of firm and solid matter. Nor is it without design that the Holy Spirit, in various passages, adduces this proof of divine power, as in Jer 5:22, and Job 38:8
In the second part of the verse, he seems to repeat the same idea, but with amplification. God not only confines the immense mass of waters in the seas, but also hides them, by a mysterious and incomprehensible power, in the very bowels of the earth. Whoever will compare the elements among themselves, will reckon it contrary to nature that the bottomless depths, or the immeasurable gulfs of waters, whose native tendency is rather to overwhelm the earth, should lie hid under it. That so many hollow channels and gulfs, accordingly, should not swallow up the earth every moment, affords another magnificent display of divine power; for although now and then some cities and fields are engulfed, yet the body of the earth is preserved in its place.
(676) In Gen 1:9 we read, “God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.” The Psalmist here probably has a reference to that passage, as in the 9 verse there is evidently an imitation of the style in which God is described in the first chapter of Genesis as performing the work of creation.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(7) As an heap.The image explains itself (so we speak of waves mountains high ) without reference to the passage either of the Red Sea or the Jordan. Still less is there a comparison to heaps of corn, some think, since storehouses in the next clause are not necessarily barns, but reservoirs. But the LXX., Vulg., and all ancient interpreters read nd (a skin), instead of nd (a heap), and make the reference to the rain, the clouds being considered as bottles. With this comp. Job. 38:37.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. Gathereth the waters This verse is a rehearsal of Gen 1:9.
Heap The allusion is to Exo 15:8. It is still a wonder that the ocean is confined to its bed.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 33:7. He gathereth the waters, &c. Though this may allude to the passage of the Israelites through the Red Sea, when the waters were as a wall unto them on the right hand and on the left; yet Mr. Lowth’s Observation upon Jer 5:22 may very properly be applied here. The keeping of the waters within bounds, so that they cannot overflow the earth, is often mentioned in Scripture as an immediate effect of God’s over-ruling power and providence. Job 38:10-11. Psa 104:9. Pro 8:29. For water being specifically lighter than earth, by the common laws of gravitation it should rise above and overflow it; and then the adjusting the proportion of the tides, so that they rise no higher to the prejudice of the lower grounds, is another remarkable instance of God’s especial providence. The last clause may be rendered, He layeth them up in the storehouses of the deep.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
From the kingdom of God in the works of nature, the Psalmist here turns to the contemplation of his government in the kingdom of his providence. What a sweet thought is suggested here to God’s redeemed and exercised family, in the consciousness of the Lord’s over-ruling power. No counsel but God’s can stand. Think of this, my brother, under any overbearing oppressions of the mighty: They may plan, they may threaten, they may for a while seem to exercise a high hand; but Jesus looks on: and whoso toucheth one of his little ones, toucheth the apple of his eye. Zec 2:8 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 33:7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
Ver. 7. He gathereth the waters of the sea together ] Confining them to their concave, to the pit he digged for them. Ecce altera misericordia, saith Kimchi here, Behold another mercy; without the which the earth would be unhabitable, unless by fishes only; because the waters would cover the earth.
As an heap
He layeth up the depth in storehouses
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
as an heap. Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac read “as a skin-bottle”, taking the pointing as in Psa 119:83. The Massoretic pointing refers it to Exo 15:8.
depth = depths, or abysses.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
He gathereth: Psa 104:6-9, Gen 1:9, Gen 1:10, Job 26:10, Job 38:8-11, Pro 8:29, Jer 5:22
heap: Exo 15:8, Jos 3:13, Jos 3:16, Hab 3:15
Reciprocal: Gen 7:11 – all Job 26:13 – his spirit Job 38:22 – General Psa 95:5 – The sea is his Psa 104:9 – hast set
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 33:7. He gathereth the waters Or, gathered, for he seems to speak of the first creation when this was done, Genesis 1. Or, he alludes to the passage of the Israelites through the Red sea, when the waters were as a wall unto them on the right hand and on the left. As a heap By which expression he leads our thoughts to that great work of God by which the sea, which is specifically lighter than the earth, and by the common laws of gravitation, should rise above and overflow it, is yet kept within proper bounds; which is often mentioned in Scripture as an immediate effect of Gods overruling power and providence. To this may be added that the adjusting the proportion of the tides, so that they rise no higher to the prejudice of the lower grounds, is another remarkable instance of Gods especial providence. He layeth up the depth in store-houses That is, either in the clouds, or in the bowels of the earth, whence he can draw them forth when he sees fit. Dr. Waterland renders this clause, He layeth them up in the store-houses of the deep.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
33:7 He {f} gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
(f) By the creation of the heavens and beautiful ornament with the gathering also of the waters, he sets forth the power of God, that all creatures might fear him.