Psalms 104:6 (KJV)

What does Psalms 104:6 mean?

Psalms 104:6 describes how God covered the earth with deep waters, like putting a garment over it, so that the waters stood above the mountains. The verse uses poetic language to picture the world at a time when water completely covered even the highest places.

The writer of Psalms, traditionally understood to be David, is speaking to God and reflecting on creation. In this section, the psalmist is recalling how, in the beginning, the earth was covered by water before God set boundaries for the seas. The verse emphasizes God's power and control over the natural world, using vivid imagery to help the reader imagine the earth hidden beneath a vast, watery covering.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 104:6

• "coveredst" (כָּסִיתָ, kasita): This word means to cover or conceal. Here, it highlights the idea of God actively placing the waters over the earth, much like someone would cover something with a cloth.
• "deep" (תְּהוֹם, tehom): This word often refers to the primeval ocean or the deep waters of chaos in ancient Hebrew thought. Its use here connects the verse to the creation story in Genesis, where the deep covered the earth.
• "garment" (לְבוּשׁ, levush): This word means a piece of clothing or covering. The comparison to a garment helps the reader picture the waters as something that completely wraps around and hides the earth.
• "stood" (עָמְדוּ, amdu): This word means to stand or remain. It shows that the waters were not just passing by, but were fixed in place above the mountains, emphasizing how thoroughly the earth was submerged.
• "mountains" (הָרִים, harim): This word refers to the highest points of the land. The mention of mountains makes it clear just how deep the waters were—they covered even the tallest peaks.

Why Psalms 104:6 matters

• Psalms 104:6 helps clarify that the psalmist is describing a time before the current order of land and sea, echoing the creation account in Genesis where water covered everything.
• The verse emphasizes God's authority over creation, showing that even the most powerful and uncontrollable parts of nature, like the deep waters, are under God's command.
• By using the image of a garment, the verse invites the reader to see creation as something cared for and shaped by God, not left to chaos or chance.