Psalm 104:11 kjv
They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
Psalm 104:11 nkjv
They give drink to every beast of the field; The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
Psalm 104:11 niv
They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
Psalm 104:11 esv
they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
Psalm 104:11 nlt
They provide water for all the animals,
and the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
Psalm 104 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:30 | And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens… | God provides for all living things |
| Gen 2:6 | But a mist used to rise from the earth and water the whole face of the ground. | Early form of God's watering provision |
| Job 12:10 | In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. | God sustains all life |
| Job 38:25-27 | Who has cut a channel for the torrents of rain…to satisfy the desolate wasteland… | God waters wilderness and desolate places |
| Ps 23:2 | He leads me beside still waters. | God's refreshing provision and leading |
| Ps 36:6 | Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; Your judgments are like the great deep… | God preserves man and beast |
| Ps 65:9-13 | You visit the earth and water it; You greatly enrich it… | God provides abundant rain for the earth |
| Ps 104:10 | He sends forth springs into the valleys; They flow among the hills… | Immediate preceding context of water source |
| Ps 104:13 | He waters the mountains from His upper chambers… | God waters elevated regions |
| Ps 104:14 | He causes the grass to grow for the cattle and vegetation for the service of man… | God's provision for domesticated animals & man |
| Ps 104:21 | The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. | God provides food even for predators |
| Ps 145:15-16 | The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand… | God provides for all living creatures |
| Ps 147:8-9 | He covers the heavens with clouds, He prepares rain for the earth… He gives to the beast his food… | God sends rain and provides food for animals |
| Prov 12:10 | A righteous man regards the life of his animal… | God's care extends to creatures |
| Isa 41:18 | I will open rivers on the bare heights and fountains in the midst of the valleys… | God's provision of water in arid places |
| Isa 43:20 | The wild beasts will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I have given waters… | Wilderness animals acknowledge God's water provision |
| Jer 14:5-6 | Even the hind in the field has given birth and abandoned her fawn because there was no grass… | Depiction of drought and animal suffering |
| Joel 2:22 | Be not afraid, you beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green… | God promises provision and restoration for animals |
| Mt 6:26 | Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. | God's comprehensive care for nature |
| Lk 12:24 | Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom or barn, and yet God feeds them. | God feeds even humble creatures |
| Rev 21:6 | I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. | God's ultimate provision for spiritual thirst |
Psalm 104 verses
Psalm 104 11 Meaning
Psalm 104:11 declares that God, through the provision of springs and streams, gives water to every wild animal of the field, specifically mentioning that the wild donkeys quench their thirst. This verse highlights God's comprehensive and unfailing care for all creation, extending His meticulous providence even to the untamed creatures dwelling in remote and often arid regions, ensuring their sustained life and well-being.
Psalm 104 11 Context
Psalm 104 is a magnificent hymn celebrating Yahweh as the Creator and Sustainer of the cosmos, largely paralleling the creative acts described in Genesis 1 and Job 38-41. It recounts God's continuous providential care over all creation, from the vast heavens to the smallest creatures. Verse 11 follows directly after verse 10, which states that God "sends forth springs into the valleys; They flow among the hills." This establishes the source of the water. The psalm details how God systematically sustains life, not just for humanity and domesticated animals (which are mentioned later in verses like 104:14), but for all of creation. Culturally, in the ancient Near East, water was paramount for survival, and attributing its reliable provision to God underscored His absolute sovereignty and benevolence, contrasting with the limited or capricious powers attributed to pagan deities like Baal, who were often worshipped for rain and fertility.
Psalm 104 11 Word analysis
- They: The subject refers back to the "springs" (
mayanim, מַעְיָנִים) and "streams" (naharim`, נְהָרִים) mentioned in the preceding verse (104:10). This indicates that God, as the ultimate Provider, acts through His natural ordinances, using the natural water sources He established. This is indirect yet intentional divine action. - give drink: Hebrew:
yashqu(יַשְׁקוּ), from the rootshaqa(שָׁקָה), meaning "to give to drink," "to water." This verb denotes active provision and care, not merely a passive availability of water. It emphasizes God's generous action in making life-sustaining water available. - every beast of the field: Hebrew:
kol chayyat hassadeh(כָּל חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה).kol(כָּל): "all," "every," signifying universality and completeness. God's provision is not selective or partial.chayyat(חַיַּת): fromchayyah(חַיָּה), "living thing," "animal," "beast." This is the general term for wild land animals, distinguished frombehemah(בְּהֵמָה), domesticated animals.hassadeh(הַשָּׂדֶה): "of the field," "wild." It refers to the open, untamed countryside, emphasizing that even those creatures living independently of human settlement and agriculture are under God's watchful eye and provision.
- The wild donkeys: Hebrew:
pera'im(פְּרָאִים), plural ofpereh(פֶּרֶא). The "wild donkey" is known for its resilience and ability to thrive in harsh, desolate, and arid environments where human settlement is sparse or nonexistent (cf. Job 39:5-8). Singling out this creature provides a vivid and relatable example of God's provision extending to even the most "wild" and seemingly self-sufficient creatures, often associated with remoteness. - quench their thirst: Hebrew:
yishbaru tzema'am(יִשְׁבְּרוּ צְמָאָם).yishbaru(יִשְׁבְּרוּ): fromshavar(שָׁבַר), meaning "to break," "to satisfy," "to sate." Here, it signifies the act of completely satisfying thirst, breaking its hold. It’s not just drinking, but drinking enough to be fully hydrated and relieved.tzema'am(צְמָאָם): "their thirst." The phrase emphasizes that God's provision meets the precise need of the creature.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "They give drink to every beast of the field": This phrase highlights the vast scope of God's providential care. It is not limited to humanity or economically valuable animals, but encompasses all wild animals, underscoring His impartial, universal sustenance for living creatures in their natural habitats.
- "The wild donkeys quench their thirst": This second clause provides a specific, concrete illustration of the general statement in the first clause. By naming the
pereh, creatures renowned for their ability to inhabit arid zones, the Psalmist emphasizes that God's provision reaches even those animals that live far from human settlements and domestic water sources, satisfying their most basic and urgent need for survival. This detailed attention points to the profound depth of God's care.
Psalm 104 11 Bonus section
This verse, within Psalm 104, reinforces the theological concept of creatio continua – the ongoing work of creation through God's sustained providence, as opposed to a mere initial creation followed by divine detachment. God is not merely an architect who designed the world and left it, but an active King who daily tends to His domain, down to the hydration of a wild donkey in the wilderness. The Psalm's focus on natural cycles and ecological interconnectedness (though not using modern terminology) showcases God's wisdom in creating systems that support diverse life forms, with water being a central element. This perspective implicitly encourages a reverence for the natural world as an object of divine care, fostering a theo-centric understanding of ecology rather than a purely anthropocentric one.
Psalm 104 11 Commentary
Psalm 104:11 serves as a profound testament to God's continuous and meticulously attentive providence over all creation. Building upon the preceding verse that identifies springs and streams as divine instruments, this verse specifically portrays God's provision for the wild creatures of the earth. The use of "every beast of the field" stresses the universality of His care, extending beyond domesticated animals useful to humans to encompass all independent wildlife. The particular mention of "wild donkeys" is highly significant; these are creatures often found in desolate, arid regions, symbolizing hardiness and distance from human direct care. Yet, even they are divinely sustained, not merely by the presence of water but to the point where they "quench their thirst," implying complete satisfaction and sustenance. This illustrates God's active, faithful, and generous provision for the basic needs of even the most seemingly untamed parts of His creation, demonstrating His meticulous involvement in the ongoing sustenance of life on earth. It counters any notion that wild nature operates outside God's purview, asserting His supreme and benevolent control over all.