Psalm 135:7 kjv
He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.
Psalm 135:7 nkjv
He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain; He brings the wind out of His treasuries.
Psalm 135:7 niv
He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; he sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.
Psalm 135:7 esv
He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.
Psalm 135:7 nlt
He causes the clouds to rise over the whole earth.
He sends the lightning with the rain
and releases the wind from his storehouses.
Psalm 135 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:6-9 | "Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters..." | God established the water cycle and atmosphere. |
| Job 28:25-26 | "When He imparted weight to the wind, And meted out the waters by measure. When He established a law for the rain, And a path for the thunderbolt." | God's wisdom in ordering natural forces. |
| Job 36:27-33 | "For He draws up drops of water... Then they drip on mankind abundantly. Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds...?" | God as the orchestrator of rain and storms. |
| Job 37:11-13 | "Also with moisture He loads the clouds; He scatters His lightning abroad... Whether for correction, or for His world, or for lovingkindness." | God's command over weather for various purposes. |
| Job 38:22-26 | "Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, Or have you seen the treasuries of the hail...? Who has split a channel for the torrents of rain?" | God questions Job's control over elements. |
| Ps 104:3 | "He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters; He makes the clouds His chariot; He walks on the wings of the wind." | God's majestic control over heavens and wind. |
| Ps 147:8 | "Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains." | God provides rain and sustains life. |
| Prov 3:20 | "By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew." | God's wisdom evident in hydrological cycle. |
| Jer 10:13 | "When He utters His voice, There is a multitude of waters in the heavens; And He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth..." | Parallel verse directly affirming God's power over weather. |
| Jer 51:16 | "When He utters His voice, There is a multitude of waters in the heavens; He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth..." | Another direct parallel confirming God's weather control. |
| Amos 4:7 | "I also withheld rain from you... So I would make it rain on one city and not rain on another city." | God's ability to give or withhold rain. |
| Nah 1:3 | "The LORD has His way In the whirlwind and in the storm, And clouds are the dust of His feet." | God's power manifest in violent storms. |
| Zech 10:1 | "Ask the LORD for rain in the time of the latter rain... The LORD makes thunderclouds; He gives them showers of rain." | People are to seek rain from God, not idols. |
| Isa 55:10 | "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth..." | God uses rain to accomplish His purpose. |
| Lev 26:4 | "Then I will give you rain in its season, and the land shall yield its produce." | Rain as a covenant blessing from God. |
| Deut 11:14 | "That I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain..." | God promises rain for obedience. |
| Exod 9:23 | "So the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire came down on the earth... and the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt." | God's use of hail and thunder as judgment. |
| 1 Sam 12:17-18 | "Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call to the LORD, and He will send thunder and rain..." | Samuel demonstrates God's immediate power over weather. |
| Acts 14:17 | "Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons..." | God's general provision through nature for all. |
| Matt 5:45 | "...for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." | God's universal providence with natural elements. |
| Rev 4:5 | "From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder..." | Symbolic depiction of God's overwhelming power. |
| Ps 29:3-9 | "The voice of the LORD is over the waters;... The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars... The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire." | God's majestic voice revealed through the power of a storm. |
Psalm 135 verses
Psalm 135 7 Meaning
Psalm 135:7 declares God's exclusive sovereignty over the fundamental elements of weather and the hydrological cycle. It states that He alone orchestrates the ascension of clouds from the far reaches of the earth, initiates lightning flashes that accompany rain, and dispenses the winds from His divine storehouses. This verse powerfully attributes the meticulous processes of nature not to random chance or to false gods, but directly to the singular will and purposeful action of the Living God, emphasizing His omnipotent control and intimate involvement in creation.
Psalm 135 7 Context
Psalm 135 is a psalm of praise that exalts the uniqueness and power of the God of Israel, Yahweh, over all other gods and creation. It contrasts Yahweh's living, active presence and mighty works in both nature and history with the futility and impotence of man-made idols. Verse 7 specifically serves as a foundational declaration of God's sovereign control over the weather. In the historical context of ancient Israel, this assertion carried profound polemical significance, directly refuting the beliefs of surrounding pagan nations, particularly the Canaanites, who worshipped deities like Baal as controllers of rain, storms, and fertility. The psalm declares that it is not Baal, but the LORD who commands the clouds, lightning, and wind, thereby proving Himself to be the one true, living God worthy of exclusive worship and trust. This verse reinforces Israel's call to remember God's mighty acts and to praise Him for His greatness that extends across creation and human history.
Psalm 135 7 Word analysis
He causes: The Hebrew verb is ma'aleh (מַעֲלֶה), a Hiphil participle, indicating an active causation, a direct act by God. It signifies God is not merely allowing but actively bringing about these phenomena.
the vapors: The Hebrew nesiyim (נְשִׂאִים) can mean "clouds," "mists," or "vapors." It refers to the water ascending from the earth's surface to form clouds, highlighting the initial stage of the hydrological cycle. The term also carries a sense of elevation or rising up.
to ascend: Reinforces the upward movement of nesiyim. This points to God's direct orchestration of a continuous natural process.
from the ends of the earth: Miqṣe-'āreṣ (מִקְצֵה אָרֶץ) signifies from all corners or the utmost extremities of the earth. This emphasizes the universal scope of God's dominion over global weather patterns, not just localized control. It stresses His omnipresence in action.
He makes: The Hebrew `asah (עָשָׂה), implying active formation or production. God isn't passively observing but intentionally crafting.
lightning: Braqim (בְּרָקִים) refers to the sudden, bright flashes. Its juxtaposition with "rain" is significant, as lightning often precedes or accompanies downpours, a well-observed natural phenomenon.
for the rain: This specific purpose clause highlights God's design and intent. Lightning is not random; it serves a function in the atmosphere and in the larger system of bringing life-giving rain. This links powerful phenomena to beneficent ends.
He brings: The Hebrew mōṣi' (מוֹצִיא), a Hiphil participle, similar to "He causes," denotes active extraction or leading out. God releases these forces from a contained state.
the wind: Ruach (רוּחַ) in this context specifically refers to atmospheric currents. In biblical thought, ruach can also mean spirit or breath, but here it clearly denotes the element of wind.
out of His treasuries: ʾôṣerôṯāw (אוֹצְרוֹתָיו) refers to divine storehouses or arsenals. This powerful metaphor indicates God’s complete and ordered control. It suggests that winds are not haphazard occurrences but are kept, released, and directed by God at His will, emphasizing forethought, wisdom, and boundless reserve.
Words-group Analysis:
- "He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth": This phrase encapsulates God's universal command over the hydrological cycle's genesis, illustrating His role as the primary architect and operator of life-sustaining weather on a global scale. It underlines the consistent and widespread nature of His power.
- "He makes lightning for the rain": This phrase details a specific, intricate aspect of God's meteorological power. It shows that even dramatic and seemingly destructive elements like lightning are purposefully integrated into the broader benevolent system of providing rain, essential for life. It suggests a precise orchestration of phenomena.
- "He brings the wind out of His treasuries": This phrase paints a picture of deliberate, precise deployment of wind. The concept of "treasuries" implies immense, reserved power, released according to God's perfect timing and purpose, demonstrating absolute sovereignty and limitless resources in governing nature.
Psalm 135 7 Bonus section
The "treasuries" imagery used in this verse for wind (and elsewhere for snow, hail, and waters) suggests not merely a holding place but implies that these natural forces are fully within God's control, to be deployed precisely as and when He wills. It reflects the meticulous and purposeful way God governs His creation, acting with forethought and inexhaustible resources. This concept subtly teaches God's reliability; unlike pagan deities, who were often fickle or influenced by human appeasement, the LORD acts according to His perfect plan and nature. Moreover, the verse's focus on these elements serves as a reminder of God's omnipresent witness to humanity through His visible creation, testifying to His existence and power, as affirmed in passages like Rom 1:20. The continuous operation of these natural processes daily points to His sustaining power, which never falters.
Psalm 135 7 Commentary
Psalm 135:7 presents a foundational theological statement regarding God's unique authority over creation. It dismantles the polytheistic views prevalent in the ancient Near East by explicitly attributing control over the hydrological cycle – the mists, clouds, rain, lightning, and wind – solely to Yahweh. The verse emphasizes not only His power but also His intricate, purposeful involvement. The ascent of vapors "from the ends of the earth" underscores His global, all-encompassing reach. The creation of "lightning for the rain" highlights God's wise and interconnected design, showing even intense natural phenomena are purposeful. Furthermore, "bringing the wind out of His treasuries" portrays God as a careful custodian of immense, unseen power, dispatching elements with intention and precision, rather than through arbitrary forces. This signifies a God of order, provision, and meticulous control, providing for creation consistently and providentially. This active superintendence of weather speaks volumes of His active sustaining presence, contrasted with the inertness of idols.