Psalm 104 25

Psalm 104:25 kjv

So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.

Psalm 104:25 nkjv

This great and wide sea, In which are innumerable teeming things, Living things both small and great.

Psalm 104:25 niv

There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number? living things both large and small.

Psalm 104:25 esv

Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great.

Psalm 104:25 nlt

Here is the ocean, vast and wide,
teeming with life of every kind,
both large and small.

Psalm 104 verses

Psalm 104 25 Meaning

Psalm 104:25 offers a vivid picture of God's majestic dominion over the vast and dynamic ocean. It highlights two distinct elements: human activity through the presence of "ships" and the incredible power represented by "Leviathan." Both are shown to exist and operate within the divine order, emphasizing that even the most immense and awe-inspiring creature is merely an outcome of God's creation, made by Him "to play therein," indicating His sovereign control and even delight over every aspect of His universe. The verse underscores God's wisdom, power, and sustaining care for His entire creation, from human enterprise to the mysterious depths of the sea.

Psalm 104 25 Context

Psalm 104 is a magnificent hymn of creation, closely paralleling the creative acts of Genesis 1, albeit with a different poetic and thematic arrangement. It systematically praises God as the wise and benevolent architect and sustainer of the natural world. The psalm progresses through various aspects of creation: God's glorious self-revelation (v. 1-2), the establishment of the heavens and earth (v. 3-9), the provision of water (v. 10-13), vegetation and food (v. 14-18), sun, moon, and seasons (v. 19-23), culminating in the vastness of the ocean.

Verse 25 is found within the psalm's final movement, where the poet marvels at God's abundant works ("O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures," v. 24). Having considered the terrestrial creatures and their dependence on God, the focus shifts to the mysterious and untamed marine environment. Historically and culturally, the sea was often perceived by ancient peoples, particularly land-dwelling Israelites, as a symbol of chaos, mystery, and danger. By asserting God's full sovereignty over this realm, including human navigation ("ships") and mythical-seeming beasts ("Leviathan"), the psalmist implicitly offers a profound polemic against the pagan cosmologies prevalent in the ancient Near East, which often depicted the world emerging from the defeat of chaotic, primeval sea monsters by a struggling deity. Instead, Psalm 104 declares that God creates such a formidable creature for His own purpose and pleasure, utterly negating any sense of divine struggle.

Psalm 104 25 Word analysis

• There go the ships;: This phrase, šām (šām) ’ōniyyōṯ (’ōniyyōṯ) in Hebrew, meaning "there ships," or "ships go there," indicates human activity within God's vast and diverse creation. It contrasts human enterprise, representing order and intentional movement, with the raw power of nature. The ships symbolize human engagement with the sea, operating under God's overarching dominion, navigating waters that are ultimately under His control.
• there is that Leviathan,: The Hebrew word לִוְיָתָן (Livyatán) refers to a massive, formidable sea creature. While possibly referring to a powerful whale or crocodile in natural terms, in ancient Near Eastern thought, and sometimes in other biblical texts (e.g., Job 41, Ps 74:14, Isa 27:1), Leviathan also embodies a mythical, chaotic sea monster. The psalmist, however, subverts this common imagery. By stating "there is that Leviathan," it grounds the creature within the realm of God's created reality, stripping it of its independent, chaotic, or divine threat status. Its inclusion highlights God's sovereignty even over the most powerful and potentially frightening elements of creation.
• which thou hast made: The Hebrew verb is עָשִׂיתָ (ʿāśîṯā), meaning "you have made." This verb clearly attributes the existence of Leviathan directly to God's creative act. It reinforces the psalmist's core theological assertion: nothing in creation, no matter how powerful or mysterious, exists independently of the Creator's will. This directly challenges polytheistic cosmogonies where powerful entities exist prior to, or in opposition to, a reigning deity. Leviathan is not a cosmic enemy God defeated, but a creature He made.
• to play therein: The Hebrew verb is שָׁחַק (shaḥaq), which means "to play," "to make sport," "to frolic," or even "to laugh." This word choice is highly significant and transformative. Instead of depicting Leviathan as a symbol of chaos to be subdued, it presents it as a creature engaged in playful activity. This conveys God's serene mastery over the most fearsome elements of His creation. It implies God takes delight in all He has made, even that which is massive and wild. It suggests a divine playfulness and ultimate control, where what might seem threatening is merely fulfilling its designed purpose, even for the Creator's amusement or pleasure.

Psalm 104 25 Bonus section

The structure of Psalm 104, mirroring aspects of Genesis 1, emphasizes that divine wisdom is not just abstract knowledge, but is tangibly expressed in the intricate design and continuous sustenance of the world. The mention of Leviathan alongside ships highlights the inclusivity of God's oversight – He sustains both humanity's productive efforts and the most untamed aspects of His wild creation. This perspective prefigures New Testament declarations, such as those in Colossians 1:16-17, which proclaim that "by him all things were created... and in him all things hold together." The universe is not a chaotic jumble but a cosmos, ordered and sustained by the Living God. The concept of God watching Leviathan "play" also implies divine enjoyment of creation for its own sake, not merely for its utility to humanity, inviting believers to similarly find joy in beholding God's vast and wonderful works.

Psalm 104 25 Commentary

Psalm 104:25 serves as a profound theological statement wrapped in poetic wonder. Following the magnificent overview of God's creation of land-based life and provision, the psalm transitions to the vast, mysterious, and often perilous domain of the sea. Here, God's sovereignty is magnified by two contrasting yet harmonizing elements: human activity (ships) and powerful, wild creation (Leviathan). The inclusion of "ships" indicates that even human enterprise and journeying upon the seemingly untamed waters are ultimately subject to and encompassed within God's vast, providential design.

The mention of "Leviathan" is particularly striking. In the wider ancient Near East, creatures similar to Leviathan were often depicted as primal, chaotic forces that deities had to overcome. Even in some biblical contexts (e.g., Job 41, Psalm 74), it can carry connotations of insurmountable power or a historical/eschatological foe. However, Psalm 104 boldly re-frames Leviathan. It is explicitly declared to be made by God, thereby negating any notion of its independent, chaotic, or threatening existence to the Creator. More astonishingly, it is said to exist "to play therein." This "play" underscores God's absolute, unthreatened dominion; the mightiest creature, even the one capable of embodying primeval chaos in other narratives, is here presented as merely frolicking within God's appointed domain, living out its existence for the Creator's wise and even joyful purpose. This portrays God not as one who struggles against the forces of chaos, but as one who simply wills their existence, brings them forth, and observes them fulfilling their creaturely function. The verse thus offers a powerful reassurance of God's complete control and the delightful order embedded in His creation, reinforcing that there is nothing beyond His reach or purpose.