They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.

PSALMS 104:8KJV
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Psalms 104:8 (KJV)

What does Psalms 104:8 mean?

Psalms 104:8 describes the waters moving over the earth’s uneven landscape to the place God has prepared for them. In the KJV, the verse presents the waters as responding to God’s direction, rather than spreading without limit.

The psalmist speaks directly to God, calling him “thou.” Following the waters’ retreat in verse 7, the verse pictures movement through mountains and valleys toward an established place.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 104:8

  • “valleys” — בִּקְעָה (biqʿah): The word can mean a broad valley or plain. It gives the picture of low, open ground between higher areas.
  • “founded” — יָסַד (yasad): The word often means to establish or lay a foundation. Here it portrays the waters’ destination as a place God has firmly established.

Why Psalms 104:8 matters

  • The verse places the waters within an ordered landscape. The contrast between “mountains” and “valleys” sets their movement against the shape of the land.
  • The waters’ place has a limit. The next verse says God set a boundary they cannot pass, connecting their movement in verse 8 with the appearance of dry land.

Where else these words appear

“valleys” Hebrew H1237 · used in 20 verses

  • Genesis 11:2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
  • Joshua 12:7 And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel smote on this side Jordan on the west, from Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon even unto the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir; which Joshua gave unto the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions;
  • Ezekiel 3:22 And the hand of the LORD was there upon me; and he said unto me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with thee.

“which” Hebrew H2088 · used in 37 verses

  • Genesis 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
  • Exodus 13:3 And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
  • 1 Samuel 25:21 Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.

“founded” Hebrew H3245 · used in 41 verses

  • Exodus 9:18 Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.
  • Esther 1:8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
  • Isaiah 14:32 What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.