Psalm 104:18 kjv
The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
Psalm 104:18 nkjv
The high hills are for the wild goats; The cliffs are a refuge for the rock badgers.
Psalm 104:18 niv
The high mountains belong to the wild goats; the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.
Psalm 104:18 esv
The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.
Psalm 104:18 nlt
High in the mountains live the wild goats,
and the rocks form a refuge for the hyraxes.
Psalm 104 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 145:15-16 | The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food... | God provides for all living things |
| Job 38:41 | Who provides food for the raven when its young cry to God...? | God feeds specific animals |
| Matt 6:26 | Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap... yet your heavenly Father feeds them. | God's care for birds |
| Luke 12:24 | Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap... yet God feeds them. | God's provision extends to all animals |
| Gen 1:20-25 | God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves... and saw that it was good. | God creates and designs habitats |
| Psa 36:6 | Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains; your judgments are like the great deep... You save man and beast. | God preserves all creation |
| Isa 43:20 | The beasts of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches... because I provide water in the wilderness. | God's provision for wild creatures |
| Job 39:1-4 | Do you know when the wild goats of the rock give birth? Do you mark when the does of the field calve? | God's knowledge of wild animal birth cycles |
| 1 Sam 24:2 | Saul went to search for David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats. | Historical setting of wild goat habitat |
| Prov 30:26 | The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make their houses in the rocks. | Direct parallel to conies' rocky dwelling |
| Lev 11:5 | The coney, for it chews the cud but does not have a split hoof, is unclean to you. | Biblical mention of the coney |
| Psa 18:2 | The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer... | God as a personal refuge, like nature's refuges |
| Psa 62:7 | On God depends my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. | God as a mighty rock and refuge |
| Deut 32:4 | The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice. | God's perfect, reliable nature |
| Hab 3:19 | God, the Lord, is my strength; He makes my feet like the deer's; He makes me tread on my high places. | Enables agility in high places |
| Isa 32:2 | And each will be like a hiding place from the wind... like the shade of a great rock. | Rock as refuge and protection |
| Psa 91:2 | I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." | God as personal refuge and fortress |
| Nahum 1:7 | The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him. | God as stronghold/refuge |
| Prov 18:10 | The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe. | God's name as a place of safety |
| Psa 46:1 | God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. | God as refuge and help |
| Job 12:7-10 | Ask the animals...who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? | Creation reveals God's work |
| Psa 8:3-4 | When I consider your heavens... What is mankind that you are mindful of them...? | God's detailed care for creation (man and animal) |
Psalm 104 verses
Psalm 104 18 Meaning
Psalm 104:18 speaks of the Lord's providential wisdom in creation, establishing specific and suitable habitats for various creatures. The verse highlights that elevated mountains serve as secure havens for the agile wild goats (ibex), while craggy rocks provide dwelling and protection for the smaller, less robust conies (hyrax). It portrays a meticulously ordered natural world, where God has perfectly fitted each creature to its environment, ensuring its safety and survival through His design.
Psalm 104 18 Context
Psalm 104 is a grand hymn celebrating the Lord as the glorious Creator and Sustainer of the cosmos. It paints a vibrant picture of God's wisdom, power, and continuous providential care for all creation, mirroring and elaborating on themes found in Genesis 1. The psalm progresses through various aspects of God's creative work, from stretching out the heavens (v. 2), setting boundaries for waters (v. 9), providing springs and rain for vegetation (v. 10-13), producing food for humanity and beasts (v. 14-17), to ordering the habitats of different creatures. Verse 18 specifically fits into this larger theme of divine providence, illustrating God's precise design in providing suitable homes for distinct species, thereby ensuring their survival and thriving within their natural environment. This ordering demonstrates God's sovereignty and meticulous attention to detail across the animal kingdom.
Psalm 104 18 Word analysis
- The high hills: (Hebrew: הָרִים הַגְּבֹהִים, hā-rîm hag-gə-ḇō-hîm). "Hills" (הר, har) commonly refers to mountains or elevated regions. "High" (גבוה, gā-ḇō-ah) emphasizes their towering nature and often, inaccessibility.
- Significance: Represents natural fortresses. These are not merely geographical features but divinely ordained safe zones, reflecting God's intelligent design.
- are a refuge: (Hebrew: מַחְסֶה, maḥseh). Means a shelter, a place of safety, or protection.
- Significance: Highlights the function of the habitat – providing security from predators and harsh elements. The same word is often used for God as a refuge for humanity (Psa 91:2).
- for the wild goats: (Hebrew: יַעֵל, yaʿēl). Specifically refers to the Ibex, a species of wild mountain goat known for its remarkable agility and ability to navigate treacherous, rocky, and elevated terrain.
- Significance: Illustrates a perfect fit between creature and habitat. Their physical attributes (strong legs, padded hooves, balance) are uniquely suited to the mountains as their haven.
- and the rocks: (Hebrew: סְלָעִים, səlāʿîm). Refers to crags, cliffs, large boulders, or rocky outcrops.
- Significance: Differentiates from "high hills," implying more intricate crevices and less open, sheer surfaces. These smaller, hidden shelters are suitable for different creatures.
- for the conies: (Hebrew: שַׁפַנִּים, šap̄annîm). Commonly translated as hyrax or rock badger. These are small, herbivorous mammals, known for dwelling in rock crevices. Though nimble, they are not as large or capable of scaling high mountain peaks like the ibex. They are proverbially "feeble folk" (Prov 30:26), relying on their natural fortress for survival.
- Significance: Shows God's provision for even the seemingly vulnerable creatures. Their reliance on these natural defenses further underscores God's intricate care for their protection.
Words-Group analysis:
- The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats: This phrase emphasizes God's design of large, expansive natural defenses for robust, agile creatures. The natural world provides exactly what is needed for survival for the animal equipped to use it.
- and the rocks for the conies: This contrasting phrase shows the diversification of divine provision. Different animals, with different needs and capacities, are provided with specifically tailored, smaller, and more intricate protective habitats, reflecting comprehensive and detailed care.
Psalm 104 18 Bonus section
This verse can be understood as a theological counter-statement against pagan mythologies where natural phenomena or specific animals were attributed to multiple, often chaotic deities. Here, the psalm firmly grounds all such specific ecological adaptations and the natural world's order directly in the singular, wise sovereignty of Yahweh. The detailed observation of nature in this psalm suggests that the Israelites' understanding of God was deeply intertwined with their understanding of the created order, leading to a natural theology where creation reveals the Creator's attributes. The provision of refuge for wild creatures serves as a tangible demonstration of God's overarching care, echoing the way He provides refuge for His people.
Psalm 104 18 Commentary
Psalm 104:18 provides a succinct illustration of God's magnificent ordering of the natural world. It underscores His divine wisdom, not just in creating life forms, but in perfectly matching them with their ideal environments, ensuring their safety and perpetuation. The agile ibex thrives on rugged mountain heights, inaccessible to many predators, while the more vulnerable hyrax finds secure crevices and hiding places within rocky outcrops. This detailed providence demonstrates that God’s care extends to every part of His creation, no matter how great or small, highlighting His sovereignty and meticulous attention. This harmony between creature and habitat is not coincidental but a testament to a wise and caring Creator who has thoughtfully appointed everything its place for sustenance and protection.