Psalm 115:16 kjv
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
Psalm 115:16 nkjv
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's; But the earth He has given to the children of men.
Psalm 115:16 niv
The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to mankind.
Psalm 115:16 esv
The heavens are the LORD's heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man.
Psalm 115:16 nlt
The heavens belong to the LORD,
but he has given the earth to all humanity.
Psalm 115 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:26 | Then God said, “Let us make man in our image… and let them rule…” | Creation mandate; human dominion. |
| Gen 1:28 | Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion… | Command to rule and steward the earth. |
| Gen 9:1-3 | And God blessed Noah and his sons… Every moving thing… shall be food for you. | Post-flood reaffirmation of dominion. |
| Ps 8:6 | You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, | Humanity's God-given rule. |
| Ps 24:1 | The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, | God's ultimate ownership. |
| Is 45:18 | For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens… who formed the earth… He did not create it empty… to be inhabited. | Earth made for human habitation. |
| Ecc 3:11 | He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart… | Human longing for meaning/eternity. |
| Dan 4:17 | The Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. | God's sovereignty over earthly rulers. |
| Matt 6:10 | Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. | Prayer for God's will on earth. |
| Matt 28:18 | All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. | Christ's ultimate authority and reign. |
| John 14:12 | Whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do… greater works than these… | Human co-laboring with God through Christ. |
| Acts 17:24 | The God who made the world and everything in it… he is Lord of heaven and earth. | God's absolute sovereignty as Creator. |
| Rom 8:19 | For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. | Creation's groaning, linked to human role. |
| 1 Cor 10:26 | For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” | Reinforces God's ultimate ownership. |
| Heb 1:2 | In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. | Christ as heir, co-creator, connecting earth. |
| Heb 2:8 | You put all things in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. But at present we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. | Humanity's intended dominion, awaiting Christ. |
| Rev 4:11 | Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” | Creator's worthiness from creation. |
| Ps 95:5 | The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. | God's making of the earth. |
| Ps 148:1-4 | Praise the Lord from the heavens… Praise him, all his angels… Praise him, sun and moon… Praise him, you highest heavens… | Heavens created for God's praise. |
| 1 Chr 29:11 | Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. | God's absolute possession of all creation. |
Psalm 115 verses
Psalm 115 16 Meaning
Psalm 115:16 declares God's exclusive sovereignty over the vast heavens while asserting His deliberate and gracious bestowal of the earth to humankind. It underscores the profound difference between the Creator's inaccessible celestial dwelling and the human domain of the tangible world, implying both a divine gift and a mandate for human stewardship.
Psalm 115 16 Context
Psalm 115 is a communal prayer or liturgy emphasizing God's unique and transcendent nature in stark contrast to lifeless idols. The surrounding verses (115:3-8) deride idols as having eyes but not seeing, ears but not hearing, mouths but not speaking, hands but not handling, feet but not walking. These idols, crafted by human hands, are deaf, dumb, and inert. The psalm consistently urges Israel to trust in the living God (115:9-11). Verse 16 builds upon this contrast by declaring God's dominion over the heavens as His exclusive realm, while graciously bestowing the earth as humanity's sphere of responsibility. Historically and culturally, this passage serves as a potent polemic against polytheistic beliefs of the ancient Near East, where deities were often associated with specific limited domains, or were even represented by physical images thought to house divine power. This verse unequivocally declares YHWH's universal and supreme ownership and His unique benevolence towards humanity, differentiating Him from any human-made deity.
Psalm 115 16 Word Analysis
- The heavens: Hebrew "Haššāmayim" (הַשָּׁמַיִם). The Hebrew word for heaven, "shamayim," is inherently plural, often implying vastness, multiple layers, or the dwelling place of God. Its use emphasizes the celestial expanse beyond human grasp or control.
- are the Lord's heavens: Hebrew "šāmayim laYHWH" (שָּׁמַיִם לַיהוָה). The repetition of "shamayim" (heavens) emphasizes the singular and absolute ownership of God over the heavenly realm. It highlights His transcendence and sovereignty, affirming that this realm is exclusively His domain, where His unbridled glory resides, separate from earthly concerns in terms of direct human access. This implicitly refers to God's majestic and sovereign rule from above.
- but the earth: Hebrew "wəhā’āreṣ" (וְהָאָרֶץ). "’Areṣ" signifies the solid ground, the dry land, or the planet Earth itself. The contrast with "heavens" sets up the two distinct realms.
- he has given: Hebrew "nātan" (נָתַן). This verb is in the Qal perfect tense, indicating a completed action, a past, definite act of bestowing. It conveys the idea of a gift or a permanent grant. This is not a lease or temporary loan but an established delegation. The implication is of divine generosity and trust.
- to the children of man: Hebrew "livnê ’ādām" (לִבְנֵי אָדָם). This phrase universally refers to all humanity, male and female, without distinction. It indicates that the grant of the earth is to humankind as a collective. It ties directly back to the creation narrative in Genesis 1-2, where humanity is given dominion and a mandate to steward the earth.
Words-group Analysis
- "The heavens are the Lord's heavens": This phrase asserts God's ultimate, unchallengeable, and complete dominion over the celestial realms. It conveys transcendence and His exalted status above creation. It counters any polytheistic notion of lesser gods presiding over various heavenly bodies or forces, emphatically stating that the true God, YHWH, is sovereign over all of them. This also sets God apart from human-made idols which cannot control any sphere, let alone the vast heavens.
- "but the earth he has given to the children of man": This phrase establishes a profound covenantal relationship. The "giving" of the earth signifies a divine act of delegation and trust. Humanity is not to be a mere inhabitant but a steward, charged with responsibility over creation. This highlights human dignity and purpose, while simultaneously curbing human pride by reminding that the earth is ultimately a gift, not an inherent right. It's a contrast between God's ultimate ownership and humanity's delegated authority. This directly counters the futility of worshiping idols that neither give nor sustain life on earth.
Psalm 115 16 Bonus Section
The theological concept presented in Psalm 115:16 bridges the perceived tension between God's ultimate ownership of the earth (e.g., Ps 24:1) and humanity's delegated dominion (Gen 1:28). It clarifies that while God remains the absolute sovereign and proprietor of all creation, He graciously assigns the task of managing the terrestrial sphere to humankind. This stewardship implies accountability and requires humanity to act as vice-regents under divine authority. The verse also serves as a polemical statement against human attempts to elevate anything created (like idols) above the Creator or to believe that human activity is divorced from divine oversight. It implies that true worship is not seeking control of God's exclusive heavens, but fulfilling our assigned role on His given earth.
Psalm 115 16 Commentary
Psalm 115:16 is a foundational declaration of cosmic order, revealing God's absolute sovereignty over the heavenly realms while affirming His benevolent act of entrusting the earthly domain to humanity. The repetition of "heavens" emphasizes God's unchallenged possession and transcendence. This contrasts sharply with the earlier description of human-made idols, which possess no inherent power or sphere of influence. God, the living God, not only possesses the inaccessible heavens but also actively bestows the habitable earth as a gift and responsibility to all humankind. This grant is not an abandonment of His ownership but a delegation of stewardship, underscoring humanity's dignity and purpose within His created order. We are given the authority to subdue, cultivate, and care for the earth, reflecting the image of the divine Creator. It is a profound statement on divine generosity, human responsibility, and the vast distinction between the true, active God and lifeless creations. Practically, it encourages us to manage the earth with wisdom and care, recognizing it as a divine trust.