Psalm 104 26

Psalm 104:26 kjv

There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.

Psalm 104:26 nkjv

There the ships sail about; There is that Leviathan Which You have made to play there.

Psalm 104:26 niv

There the ships go to and fro, and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.

Psalm 104:26 esv

There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.

Psalm 104:26 nlt

See the ships sailing along,
and Leviathan, which you made to play in the sea.

Psalm 104 verses

Psalm 104 26 Meaning

Psalm 104:26 speaks of the vastness and the inhabitants of the sea, portraying ships sailing upon its surface and the great creature Leviathan, created by God, finding its playful abode within its depths. The verse profoundly declares God's sovereignty over the seemingly uncontrollable elements and formidable beings of creation, demonstrating His effortless mastery and benevolent design over all that He has made.

Psalm 104 26 Context

Psalm 104 is a magnificent hymn of praise, extolling God as the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of the cosmos. It follows a structure broadly parallel to the Genesis account of creation, describing the various aspects of the created order, from the heavens and earth to springs, trees, animals, and eventually humanity. Verses 25-26 pivot to the vastness and mystery of the sea. The preceding verses highlight the richness and diversity of life on land, while these verses introduce the sea as another testament to God's immense power and design. It shows the Psalmist's contemplation of the full spectrum of God's works, moving from the visible activities of humankind (ships) to the profound, powerful, and mysterious creatures inhabiting the deep (Leviathan). The verse firmly situates both human enterprise and formidable natural phenomena under God's complete and joyous dominion.

Psalm 104 26 Word analysis

• There go (Original Hebrew context implies "there are going/passing"): Signifies ongoing activity and movement. It points to the dynamic nature of God's creation, where everything is in constant motion, demonstrating divine control over space and time.
• the ships (אֳנִיּוֹת, 'ōniyyōṯ): Refers to seafaring vessels, symbols of human endeavor, commerce, and exploration. In the ancient world, seas were often seen as unpredictable and dangerous. The Psalmist highlights that even human activity in such vast and perilous environments is accommodated within God's ordered world. Their presence affirms God's design that provides for both wild nature and human utility.
• there is that (often implicitly understood from context; points to the introduction of something specific and remarkable): Directs attention to a particular inhabitant of the deep.
• Leviathan (לִוְיָתָן, liwyāṯān): A legendary and mighty sea creature mentioned elsewhere in the Bible (Job 41, Ps 74, Isa 27). It represents chaos and formidable power from a human perspective. In surrounding ancient Near Eastern mythologies, sea monsters were often chaotic deities or primordial forces antagonistic to order. Here, the Psalmist offers a distinct monotheistic polemic: this "Leviathan" is not a competing god or an independent chaotic force, but rather made by God, showcasing His supreme power.
• which thou hast made (אַתָּה יָצַרְתָּ, 'attâ yāṣar tā - literally, "you formed it/him"): Emphasizes God's direct, personal, and intentional creative act. This removes any ambiguity about Leviathan's origin or independent power; it is entirely subject to the Creator.
• to play therein (לְשַׂחֶק בּוֹ, ləśaḥeq bō - literally, "for playing in it/with it"): This is a remarkable and anthropomorphic image. The root śāḥaq implies frolicking, sport, amusement, or playing. It vividly depicts God's effortless sovereignty over this immense and powerful creature. Leviathan is not a threat to God; it is, in His hand, merely a playful inhabitant of His vast domain. This portrays divine control not as struggle, but as a light, joyful, and utterly supreme mastery. This challenges perceptions of creation's powerful aspects as uncontrollable or fearful, reassuring the audience of God's absolute peace in His governance.

• "There go the ships; there is that Leviathan...": This juxtaposition powerfully connects the ordinary human sphere (ships) with the extraordinary and seemingly untamed depths (Leviathan). Both are depicted as operating within God's expansive, ordered creation. It highlights the vastness of God's dominion, from the human scale to the monstrous.
• "Leviathan which thou hast made to play therein": This phrase is key to the Psalmist's theological message. It reframes a creature often associated with chaos and terror into a manifestation of divine power and even divine amusement. God isn't battling Leviathan; He "made" it to "play." This demonstrates God's sovereignty over the mightiest forces, implying effortless control and absolute supremacy. The "play" aspect shows that nothing is beyond God's capacity to control or to bring into His benevolent order. It implies God takes pleasure in the very creatures that inspire human fear.

Psalm 104 26 Bonus section

The concept of Leviathan "playing" in God's creation is a powerful theological statement. It shifts the perspective of what might be terrifying or chaotic (from a human standpoint) into an ordered and delightful aspect of divine design. This contrasts sharply with many ancient Near Eastern cosmogonies where the sea or its creatures often represented primeval chaos or antagonistic deities that had to be conquered through epic battles for order to be established. The Bible, consistently, portrays God as effortlessly bringing forth order, whether through speaking (Gen 1) or, as here, through His mere allowance for a mighty creature to frolic. This playful aspect could suggest God’s intrinsic delight and non-strenuous exercise of power over even the most awe-inspiring elements of His creation, emphasizing His infinite transcendence and self-sufficiency.

Psalm 104 26 Commentary

Psalm 104:26 offers a concise yet profound declaration of God's majestic sovereignty. It first presents human activity on the sea through ships, acknowledging mankind's place and endeavors within God's vast creation. Immediately after, it turns to Leviathan, a creature that in ancient thought embodied the raw, untamed power of the ocean and was sometimes feared or even deified in pagan cultures. By declaring that God "made" this formidable beast "to play therein," the Psalmist decisively establishes God's unchallenged authority. Leviathan is not an independent chaotic force but a creature entirely subject to its Creator, merely an expression of God's immense power, so fully controlled that it can be described as playfully residing in the sea. This vivid imagery dispels any notion of rival powers to the Most High, reinforcing the comforting truth that even the deepest, most mysterious, and most formidable parts of creation exist purely by His design and under His joyful, effortless control. It inspires awe for the God who holds all things, visible and hidden, great and small, in His hands.