Psalm 33:6-9: Difference between revisions

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{{HB|32}}''&rarr;[[Bible_References|Bible]]&rarr;[[Bible_References#OT|Old Testament]]&rarr;[[Psalms]]'' <br><br>
{{HB|34}}''&rarr;[[Bible_References|Bible]]&rarr;[[Bible_References#OT|Old Testament]]&rarr;[[Psalms]]'' <br><br>
'''KJV'''<blockquote><onlyinclude><includeonly>[[Psalm 33:6-9]]<br></includeonly><sup>6 </sup>By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.<br><sup>7 </sup>He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.<br><sup>8 </sup>Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.<br><sup>9 </sup>For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.</onlyinclude>
'''KJV'''<blockquote><onlyinclude><includeonly>[[Psalm 33:6-9]]<br></includeonly><sup>6 </sup>By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.<br><sup>7 </sup>He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.<br><sup>8 </sup>Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.<br><sup>9 </sup>For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.</onlyinclude>
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Revision as of 23:09, 1 July 2023

Template:HBBibleOld TestamentPsalms

KJV

By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

JPS

He heaps up the ocean waters like a mound, stores the deep in vaults.

NET

He piles up the water of the sea; he puts the oceans[a] in storehouses.

[a] tn Or "watery depths." The form תְּהוֹמוֹת (téhomot, "watery depths") is the plural form of תְּהוֹם (téhom, "great deep"; see Gen 1:2). [Gunkel identified language from ANE creation myth here. — BP]

A Creation Record

See The Primal Sea.

This psalm alludes to Genesis chapter 1. Verse 6 of this psalm refers to both the second day (the creation of the firmament) and the fourth day (the great lights and stars put in the firmament) in Genesis, while verse 7 refers to the first part of the third day.

← back to Yahweh's victory over the Primal Sea A tour of the Bible's Creation Texts next →


Fiat Creation

Verse 9 of this psalm is sometimes used out of context as a proof text of an "instantaneous" creation*, but a cursory reading shows that the psalm celebrates the on-going goodness of the LORD as both Creator and Sustainer, celebrating his relationship with those who "fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy"(v. 18) — note the present tense (gathereth, layeth KJV, piles, puts JPS, NET) in v.7! It covers a period of three days in the week of Genesis 1 and does not add to the meaning of Genesis or entitle us to impose a particular meaning of instantaneity on Genesis. See F. F. Bruce, Word and Wisdom.

* Logic that has a comical result if applied to Psalm 68:11! — BP

See also Psalm 33:13-15 and Created, Formed and Made.

Problems with literal reading

The claim is made here that the psalm "accepts" events of early Genesis "as literally true". A truly literal reading is impossible, however, as with Psalm 8:3-6. The psalm is poetry, and its language is poetical. The host (army) of heaven itself is a metaphor; God speaking with the breath of his mouth is metaphorical anthropomorphism.

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