Psalm 104:28 kjv
That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
Psalm 104:28 nkjv
What You give them they gather in; You open Your hand, they are filled with good.
Psalm 104:28 niv
When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.
Psalm 104:28 esv
When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
Psalm 104:28 nlt
When you supply it, they gather it.
You open your hand to feed them,
and they are richly satisfied.
Psalm 104 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 145:15-16 | The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food... You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. | God's universal and satisfying provision |
| Matt 6:26 | Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. | God's provision for creation, removing anxiety |
| Luke 12:24 | Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap... and yet God feeds them. | Echoes the birds, reinforcing divine care |
| Phil 4:19 | And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. | God's full provision for His people |
| Gen 1:29-30 | And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant... every green plant for food.” | Initial divine provision of food for life |
| Deut 8:3 | ...that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. | God provides physically and spiritually |
| Ps 23:1 | The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. | God's complete provision prevents lack |
| Ps 34:10 | The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. | Divine provision contrasting natural struggle |
| Ps 36:7-9 | ...You give them drink from the river of Your delights... In Your light do we see light. | Abundant satisfaction from God's presence |
| Ps 65:9 | You visit the earth and water it; You greatly enrich it... You provide them grain... | God's role in providing earth's bounty |
| Ps 107:9 | For he satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with good things. | God fulfills deepest desires and hunger |
| Ps 115:5-7 | They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk... | Polemic against idols, who cannot give provision |
| Jas 1:17 | Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights... | All true provision originates from God |
| John 6:35 | Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger...” | Spiritual fulfillment and satisfaction in Christ |
| John 10:10 | I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. | Abundant life provided by the Good Shepherd |
| Acts 14:17 | Yet He did not leave Himself without witness, for He did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness. | God's general provision for all humanity |
| Matt 6:11 | Give us this day our daily bread. | Prayer acknowledging dependence on God for provision |
| Ps 22:26 | The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him shall praise the LORD. | God’s provision leads to satisfaction and worship |
| Ps 16:11 | You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy... | Fullness and joy found in God's presence |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the LORD with all your heart... he will make straight your paths. | Encouragement to depend on God for guidance/provision |
| Col 1:17 | And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. | Christ as the sustainer of creation |
Psalm 104 verses
Psalm 104 28 Meaning
Psalm 104:28 declares God as the benevolent and consistent provider for all living creatures. It emphasizes His proactive and unfailing generosity ("You open Your hand") that directly results in their complete satisfaction ("they are filled with good things"), highlighting creation's dependence on the Creator's continuous sustenance, where creatures receive and gather what He freely supplies.
Psalm 104 28 Context
Psalm 104 is a hymn praising God as the magnificent Creator and the faithful Sustainer of the cosmos and all living beings within it. It meticulously describes various aspects of God's handiwork, from the heavens and earth to oceans, weather phenomena, and diverse life forms, mirroring the order of creation found in Genesis 1. Verses 25-26 speak of the great sea with its swarms of creatures and Leviathan, establishing the setting for verse 27 which states, "These all look to you, to give them their food in due season." Thus, verse 28 naturally follows, directly addressing God's response to this dependence. Historically, this psalm stands in contrast to common Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) cosmogonies which often depicted gods engaged in chaotic struggles or providing provision only through human sacrifice. Psalm 104 powerfully asserts Yahweh's effortless, sovereign, benevolent, and continuous sustenance of all life, highlighting that creation depends solely on Him, not on other deities or human rituals for its basic needs.
Psalm 104 28 Word analysis
- You give (תִּתֵּן - titten): Derived from the Hebrew root nathan, meaning "to give," "to place," "to set." This direct verbal action emphasizes God's initiative and active role. He is the ultimate, originating source of all sustenance. It's a continuous, habitual act of provision.
- to them (לָהֶם - lahem): This pronoun refers inclusively to "all" living things mentioned in the preceding verse (v. 27), including marine life and, by extension, all creation. It highlights God's universal care, extending to every creature.
- they gather it up (יְלַקְטוּן - yelaktu): From the root laqat, meaning "to gather," "to glean," "to pick up." This signifies the creature's active response in receiving or taking what is freely provided. It is not an act of self-sufficiency but an ability to avail themselves of God's abundant supply. It suggests an appropriate interaction with the available resource.
- You open (תִּפְתַּח - tiftaḥ): From pataḥ, meaning "to open," "to unbind." This is a powerful, active verb, picturing God physically opening His hand, symbolizing a vast, unrestrained outpouring of generosity. It contrasts with a closed or stingy hand, implying immense liberality.
- Your hand (יָדֶךָ - yāḏeḵā): The "hand of God" is a rich biblical metaphor for His power, active involvement, authority, and particularly in this context, His beneficent provision. It signifies His personal, direct action in upholding creation.
- they are filled (יִשְׂבְּעוּן - yiśbəʿūn): From śābaʿ, meaning "to be full," "satisfied," "to have plenty." This indicates a complete, overflowing measure of provision that leads to contentment and sufficiency. It implies satiety, not just a meager sustenance but abundance.
- with good things (טוֹב - ṭôḇ): Refers to that which is beneficial, pleasant, wholesome, and life-sustaining. In the context of provision, it encompasses everything needed for thriving, not merely existing, embodying God's perfect and sufficient design for their well-being.
- "You give to them, they gather it up": This phrase highlights a divine-creature relationship of active provision by God and dependent reception by creation. God initiates the giving, and the creatures respond by gathering what is provided, showcasing an effortless yet complete sustenance.
- "You open Your hand, they are filled with good things": This forms a powerful parallelism, re-emphasizing the abundant nature of God's provision. The metaphor of the "open hand" implies boundless generosity, leading directly to complete satisfaction ("filled") with beneficial ("good things") outcomes.
Psalm 104 28 Bonus section
This verse stands as a powerful testament against the ancient Near Eastern polytheistic belief that required deities to be appeased or that cosmic order was unstable and fragile. The psalmist boldly declares that Yahweh’s sustenance is constant, benevolent, and intrinsic to His nature, not a result of human manipulation or uncertain cosmic forces. It is an unmerited, continuous overflowing of grace. The divine initiative is paramount; life thrives not because creatures are inherently capable of self-sufficiency, but because God constantly provides. The act of "gathering" by creatures, while an action, is entirely dependent on the pre-existing, overwhelming act of God's "giving" and "opening." This extends beyond mere physical sustenance to encompass all forms of divine provision and blessing for humanity, affirming His ongoing faithfulness in spiritual nourishment and fulfillment.
Psalm 104 28 Commentary
Psalm 104:28 presents a vivid theological truth about God's continuous and immediate providential care for all living things. It's not merely a historical account of creation, but a present declaration that God remains actively engaged as the universe's sustainer. The verse demonstrates a beautiful rhythm: God acts ("You give," "You open Your hand"), and creation responds by receiving ("they gather it up," "they are filled"). This highlights creaturely dependence, but not a desperate plea; rather, it’s a confident expectation of divine benevolence. God's "open hand" metaphorically signifies limitless abundance, suggesting His capacity to supply all needs fully and satisfyingly. This comprehensive provision applies to every aspect of life, underscoring His wisdom in designing a world where even the most basic needs are perfectly met by His grace. It teaches trust and casts out anxiety, reminding believers that the same God who provides for birds and fish will surely care for His human children.