Psalm 104:6 kjv
Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
Psalm 104:6 nkjv
You covered it with the deep as with a garment; The waters stood above the mountains.
Psalm 104:6 niv
You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.
Psalm 104:6 esv
You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.
Psalm 104:6 nlt
You clothed the earth with floods of water,
water that covered even the mountains.
Psalm 104 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:2 | The earth was formless and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the deep... | Describes initial chaotic state, "the deep." |
| Gen 7:19-20 | And the water prevailed more and more... all the high mountains... were covered. | Parallels waters covering mountains during Flood. |
| Job 26:10 | He has inscribed a circle on the surface of the waters... | God sets boundaries for waters. |
| Job 38:8-11 | Who enclosed the sea with doors... I made clouds its garment... | God commands and clothes the sea. |
| Ps 24:1-2 | The earth is the LORD’s... For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. | God established the earth from waters. |
| Ps 29:3 | The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD over vast waters. | God's powerful voice over great waters. |
| Ps 33:6-7 | By the word of the LORD the heavens were made... He gathers the waters of the sea as in a heap... | God creates by word, controls waters. |
| Ps 65:7 | Who stills the roaring of the seas... | God's power over turbulent waters. |
| Ps 74:13-14 | You divided the sea by Your might... | God's might over the sea's power. |
| Ps 89:9 | You rule the surging of the sea; when its waves rise, You still them. | God's absolute rule over the sea. |
| Ps 90:2 | Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth... | God's pre-existence and role in creation. |
| Ps 93:1 | The LORD reigns; He is clothed with majesty... | God's majesty likened to clothing. |
| Ps 95:4-5 | In His hand are the depths of the earth... The sea is His, for He made it. | God owns and created earth and sea. |
| Ps 104:1-2 | Bless the LORD... Who covers Yourself with light as with a garment... | God's own clothing of majesty. |
| Prov 8:27-29 | When He established the heavens... when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep... | God's wisdom active in initial creation. |
| Isa 54:9-10 | For this is like the days of Noah to Me, when I swore that the waters of Noah would not flood... | References God's covenant after Flood, linking back. |
| Jer 5:22 | Do you not fear Me?... Who has placed the sand as a boundary for the sea... | God's absolute control over sea boundaries. |
| Amos 9:6 | He who builds His upper chambers in the heavens... He who calls for the waters of the sea... | God's dwelling and command over all creation. |
| Col 1:16-17 | For by Him all things were created... and in Him all things hold together. | Christ as active Creator and sustainer. |
| Heb 11:3 | By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God... | God's creative power through His word. |
| 2 Pet 3:5 | ...by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water. | Creation through God's word and water. |
Psalm 104 verses
Psalm 104 6 Meaning
Psalm 104:6 poetically describes God's initial work of creation, portraying the earth as being completely enveloped by a vast, primordial deep, much like a garment. This implies that the waters were so extensive that they rose above the newly forming mountains, demonstrating the Lord's absolute sovereignty and effortless power over the fundamental elements of the nascent world. It reflects a pre-ordered state, wholly under divine control.
Psalm 104 6 Context
Psalm 104 is a magnificent hymn of praise to the Creator, detailing God's work in ordering the cosmos. It follows the progression of Genesis 1, describing the creation of light, the heavens, waters, land, and the array of living creatures, all sustained by divine providence. Verse 6 specifically focuses on the initial state of the earth. Culturally, this psalm stands in contrast to ancient Near Eastern myths, which often depicted creation as a chaotic struggle with sea monsters or forces. Instead, Psalm 104 presents the God of Israel as effortlessly supreme, bringing order and beauty from what was a watery, formless expanse without any struggle. The imagery highlights God's unparalleled power and unique position as the sole Creator.
Psalm 104 6 Word analysis
- You covered it: The pronoun "You" directly addresses the Lord God, affirming Him as the active and powerful agent. "Covered" (Hebrew: kis-sī-tō from kasah) signifies an intentional and complete act of enveloping or cloaking. It emphasizes God's sovereign control over the primeval state, rather than a state of chaos beyond His grasp.
- with the deep: "The deep" (Hebrew: bat-təhôm from tehom) refers to the primordial, vast, and dark waters mentioned in Genesis 1:2. This term indicates a mighty, limitless body of water, symbolizing the unformed raw material of creation. It is not a force opposing God, but an element completely under His direction.
- as with a garment: The simile (Hebrew: kal-ləḇūš) likens the deep waters covering the earth to clothing. This imagery portrays God's action as effortless and fitting, much like one might dress. It conveys divine ease, intimate involvement, and perfect design, emphasizing that even the seemingly chaotic waters were subservient to His will and served His creative purpose.
- the waters stood: "Stood" (Hebrew: ya‘amḏūn) here conveys the vastness and pervasive nature of the waters, indicating their presence at an immense depth and height. It suggests that the waters rested in their assigned place, acknowledging God's command.
- above the mountains: This phrase emphasizes the complete inundation of the early earth. Mountains, typically symbols of grandeur and permanence, were completely submerged. This powerfully illustrates the extent of God's mastery over all geographical features, and also connects strongly to the imagery of the universal flood in Genesis 7, implying God's consistent power over tehom, whether for creation or judgment.
Psalm 104 6 Bonus section
The poetic conflation of "the deep" (tehom) with waters covering "mountains" in Psalm 104:6 provides a profound link between the initial chaotic state described in Genesis 1:2 and the global flood in Genesis 7:19-20. Many scholars interpret this verse as intentionally weaving together these two foundational biblical narratives of watery engulfment to demonstrate the enduring, consistent nature of God's dominion over the same primordial waters, whether for ordering creation or for judging the earth. This continuity emphasizes that tehom is not an independent chaotic force, but a magnificent instrument of God's power in every epoch. This verse illustrates the biblical worldview where God brings form and order to what is formless, initiating His ongoing work of providential care for creation.
Psalm 104 6 Commentary
Psalm 104:6 beautifully captures God's majestic power at the dawn of creation. Far from a turbulent struggle against primordial chaos, the Lord effortlessly drapes the formless earth with the boundless deep, treating the vast waters as a royal garment. This portrays His supreme sovereignty and intimate involvement in every aspect of cosmic formation. The detail that these waters stood "above the mountains" underscores the profound and all-encompassing nature of this primeval state, signifying the Lord's absolute authority even over the mightiest topographical features. It echoes the state of Earth described in Genesis 1:2 and is often seen as foreshadowing or alluding to the waters of the Great Flood, emphasizing God's continuous mastery over waters in both His creative and redemptive plans. The verse sets the stage for the subsequent divine commands that establish boundaries for these waters, bringing forth dry land and order.